fighter (2024) movie review

Fighter (2024) movie

Hrithik Roshan plays Squadron Leader Shamsher Pathania, nicknamed Patty, a top-notch fighter pilot in the Indian Army. His colleague, Squadron Leader Minni (played by Deepika Padukone), shares the screen. Patty has a heartbreaking past, having lost his fiancée, Naina Jaisingh, who was also in the Air Force.

Anil Kapoor takes on the role of Group Captain Rakesh Singh, aka Rocky, leading the Air Force team, including Patty and Minni. The story kicks off with the team responding to the Pulwama Attack by Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists. The terrorist Azhar Akhtar, played by Rishab Sawhney, takes control of Pakistan's power center, even manipulating its Army General and going against the Prime Minister's decisions.

The plot unfolds as the Air Force, led by Rocky, takes on Azhar Akhtar's Jihadi mission. Patty's patriotic and heroic actions become a central theme in how the Air Force handles this orchestrated threat.

Hrithik Roshan gives an impressive performance, although he seems a bit tired and shows signs of aging in close-ups. His agility in executing high-action stunts as a fighter pilot is both convincing and captivating.

Deepika Padukone stands out with her sharp looks and subtle acting, particularly in a scene where she reunites with her parents after a long breakup.

Anil Kapoor does justice to his role, injecting enough drama into his character. Vinay Varma fits well as Air Commodore, showcasing an impressive screen presence. Rishab Sawhney is compelling in his portrayal of a cruel terrorist, serving as the main antagonist.

The film's visuals and special effects are top-notch. Vishal-Shekhar's songs are catchy, especially the first one with its lively beat. The background score by Sanchit Balhara and Ankit Balhara does the job, but it lacks those standout moments that give you goosebumps.

The editing is well-executed; no complaints there.

When it comes to military-themed movies, 'Border' from 1997 remains unmatched in its storyline. Even Steven Spielberg borrowed a climax scene from it for 'Saving Private Ryan' in 1998. 'Fighter,' set against the Pulwama attack in 2019, tries to follow suit but falls short in delivering a gripping and patriotically charged narrative.

The first half of the film mainly focuses on introducing characters and their camaraderie, showing typical scenes of parties, dinners, and predictable jokes among colleagues. Sometimes, the dialogues give away the fate of the characters, taking away the element of surprise.

The second half is more engaging but lacks a well-crafted screenplay. It heavily relies on scenes building up the hero, with Hrithik as Squadron Leader Patty taking center stage. While this may cater to commercial interests, it doesn't showcase the filmmaker's storytelling prowess.

The film tries to portray the Pakistani government as a puppet controlled by the army and influenced by terrorist groups. While this idea might have truth to it, the portrayal could have been more convincing, with added drama instead of simply showing a terrorist controlling the entire country, its army, and even the prime minister.

The chosen conflict, involving the Indian Air Force team rescuing officers held by the Pakistani military, could have been more engaging.

Some moments in the film work well, like Deepika reuniting with her parents, the death of an officer in captivity followed by his funeral, and Hrithik's emotional reaction upon hearing the name 'NJ' for the second time.

However, the action scenes towards the climax, particularly between the protagonist and the terrorist, feel forced and fail to generate excitement.

'Fighter' is designed for audiences who embrace anything labeled as patriotic and a classified operation without demanding much in terms of conviction, logic, and maturity in filmmaking. With more careful handling to provide a better adrenaline rush, this fighter flight could have exceeded expectations.