Fighter Review:’Fighter’, directed by Siddharth Anand, is a fantastic action drama for the big screen. Deepika Padukone and Hrithik Roshan play the major parts.
Back in 1986, a film about a pilot given another chance to save himself took the entire world by storm. Tom Cruise’s Top Gun defined the standard for what a plane-centric air action picture should be. Many tried to copy the formula, but nobody came close until 2022, when Cruise returned in an updated version of the series.
Siddharth Anand’s ‘Fighter’ is influenced by Top Gun and tells a fast-paced story about bravery, loyalty to the nation, and respecting the sky guardians that safeguard our nation. Having the lovely pair of Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone will not hurt either. But do they deliver, or does their greed show ‘Fighter’s promises for an action-packed adventure? Let us find out.
If Rajkumar Hirani succeeds at feel-good films and Karan Johar at family tragedies, Siddharth Anand has made a name for himself with larger-than-life, through image attractive cinema. With “Fighter,” he provides a patriotic style. When the story moves to Kashmir and the Indo-Pakistan rivalry, a familiar structure is used. Siddharth Anand uses this format, but injects style, high-energy action, and lots of patriotism with songs like ‘Vande Mataram’ and ‘Jai Hind’.
Anand has a very different style of presenting people in his films. Whether it’s SRK’s stylish introduction in ‘Pathaan’ or Hrithik Roshan’s powerful start in ‘Bang Bang’ and ‘War,’ he’s always looking for something new. In ‘Fighter,’ he provides Deepika Padukone’s Minni with an outstanding performance before introducing the main character, Hrithik Roshan’s Patty. Considering the film’s scope, the filmmaker takes the time to introduce us to the Air Force pilots, commanded by Rocky (Anil Kapoor), who include Minni, Patty, Taj (Karan Singh Grover), and Bash (Akshay Oberoi).
The story focuses upon the Pulwama incidents and the incidents that led up to and after it. In terms of plot, ‘Fighter’ excels in mixing patriotic values into an exciting drama.
The film’s real heroes are its action scenes, which avoid any Top Gun comparisons by building an own visual style.
The first half mixes energy and action, but the second half is missing pace before returning for an exciting finish. Deepika and Hrithik’s on-screen chemistry is excellent. They not only look excellent together, but they also do their own thing right in uniform, keeping a serious tone when needed. Anil Kapoor impress, illustrating why he is the actual boss, particularly in a row with Hrithik and the staff.
With regard to the simple air of ‘Pathaan,’ ‘Fighter’ feels a little complex in its try to combine financial success without losing emotional appeal. Scenes that highlight patriotism or Patty’s wordplay get difficult after a while, requiring patience for the going portions.
Hrithik Roshan’s performance in the movie ‘Fighter’ reminds us of his standing as a Bollywood superstar. His commitment to making Patty’s journey more personal is remarkable. Deepika Padukone does well in both action and emotional scenes, making their on-screen relationship thrilling to watch. Karan Singh Grover and Sanjeeda Shaikh offer great support. However, the bad guy, Azhar Akhtar, played by Rishabh Sawhney, is the weak link, since his polished look appears too attractive to be threatening.
“Fighter” is an entertainment extravaganza. When the planes fly, it’s hard to look away. Hrithik and Deepika look fantastic on screen, making them a possible go-to couple for big films. Siddharth Anand’s film ‘Fighter’ is very entertaining.