Fighter Review: Hrithik Roshan, Deepika Padukone Soar High in Siddharth Anand’s Epic War Drama

Hindi films have an unofficial subgenre. It might be mistaken for masala by some. But not everything excessive or logic-defying is masala.

Its requirements are much more comprehensive and wholesome than it often gets acknowledged for. I am referring to the star vehicle. Under this sub-genre, who headlines the movie is enough to determine the bang for your buck. Siddharth Anand’s Fighter, starring Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone, falls under this category.

Phenomenally entertaining and consistently engaging, Fighter, for all the derivative genre components it compiles, is an action entertainer that crackles with energy. The film starts in 2018 just a few days before Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed carried out the tragic Pulwama attack.

To avenge the terror attack, the best team of aerial officers come together led by commanding officer Rakesh Jaisingh aka Rocky (Anil Kapoor) to form a unit called Air Dragons. The team includes Squadron Leader Minal Rathore aka Minni (Deepika Padukone) Squadron Leader Shamsher Pathania aka Patty (Hrithik Roshan), Squadron Leader Sartaj Singh aka Taj (Karan Singh Grover), Squadron Leader Basheer Khan aka Bash (Akshay Oberoi) among others.

In terms of plot, Fighter doesn’t offer anything new and everything is predictable about it. It is another film from Hindi cinema which is about India taking revenge against its ‘padosi mulk’ Pakistan. Anand, who has been credited for co-writing the script with Ramon Chib, gets into a bit of a superpatriotic zone. This feeling is elevated thanks to the rusty and heard a million times before dialogues which are written by Hussain and Abbas Dalal. Lines like ‘Unko dikhana ki baap kaun hai’ or ‘muh tod jawab dena padega’, quite a few of the dialogues might make you feel a tad bit uneasy.

Another weak link in the film is its pace in the second half which almost nosedives before it gets elevated during the climax. What is also becoming a tiring troupe is the nth repetition of proving your to Bharat. A few other things stick out like Hrithik getting into hand-to-hand combat with a terrorist. Fighter is also set to release in 3D. However, the film doesn’t require a 3D viewing.

Despite its shortcomings, Fighter remains slick and smart and keeps the audience engaged and absorbed. From the burnished opening shots of a Sukhoi 30 upside down, inches above the tarmac, to the interesting dog fights between India and Pakistan fighter jets that show tactical situations requiring the use of individual basic fighter maneuvers to attack or evade the opponents and also the helicopter stunts, the aerial combat scenes are far more exciting and captivating.

You feel as though you’re in the cockpit with these pilots. Any comparisons with the Hollywood franchise Top Gun will be put to rest and for good reason. Full marks to the director along with the action directors for pulling off some edge-of-the-seat fight sequences that are visually exciting.

Fighter packs a massive punch on the technical side too. The cinematography by Satchith Paulose is top-notch. Editor Aarif Sheikh lends the film a pacy rhythm that leaves little room for dull passages. The pulpy flair and style of Siddharth Anand’s directorial sleights are impressive. Together, they create Fighter, an utterly captivating film that readily accepts the suspension of disbelief that it both requires and thrives on.

Also, to put it straight and simple, Fighter gains as much from its aerial action sequences as it does from the smoldering chemistry between Hrithik and Deepika, which sets the screen smoking and sizzling. Be it the dance number, facing the enemy’s bullets together, or engaging in some emotional scenes, their perfect consonance and well-matched tuning and rhythm make them one of the best on-screen couples in recent times. To top it off, the loving glances and longing look that they constantly throw at one another seem to spell much more than innocent romance. Their chemistry is palpable and keeps you rooting for more!

Not that anyone is complaining. Certainly not when the buff, tanned Hrithik scorches the screen by merely walking across it or toward the audience. Glares on, the swagger supported ably by rippling muscles and just the right amount of attitude and panache. All this is complete with the tricolor fluttering away in the corner of a very fetching desi Top Gun frame.

On the other hand, Deepika looks drop-dead gorgeous and she takes her glam quotient a notch higher with Fighter. She simply makes you skip a beat and takes your breath away. Not only does she look sexy but she even kicks some butt. She is sultry but is also fiery, fearless and intelligent. After Pathaan and Fighter, it’s high time that the actress deserves her action film.

Anil Kapoor as the senior person in the crew is ever so dependable. Everything from his body language to his appearance is just a perfect fit to play the commanding officer. Karan Singh Grover and Akshay Oberoi play the parts perfectly well and they have some well-etched-out and meaty characters. Rishabh Sawhney who plays the main antagonist doesn’t leave any kind of impact.

However, the film belongs to Hrithik Roshan who steals the show and grabs your attention with his captivating and charming demeanour. His smouldering gaze, chiseled look, and toned physique are sure to leave many women swooning and men crushing on him.

Like the quintessential entertainer, Fighter serves up a little bit of everything in its narrative — action, drama, music, romance, and even emotions. The screenplay makes room for every commercial movie element. Fighter is a perfect popcorn entertainment thriller that plays to the gallery and lives up to the hype.