‘Fighter’ review: Hrithik Roshan, Deepika Padukone shine in adrenaline-fueled patriotic aerial drama

Director: Siddharth Anand

Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Deepika Padukone and Anil Kapoor

Rating: 3.5/5

Siddharth Anand's 'Fighter' attempts to replicate the success of Tom Cruise starrer 'Top Gun' as his movie seems to have drawn inspiration from the American action drama to create a fast-paced narrative centered on valor, patriotism, and the air force officers of our nation. Its bonus is that it features two good-looking stars, Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone as elite combat pilots. Does the film appear as a genuine action spectacle? Let's find out.

About the film

‘Fighter’ is India's first aerial action drama which is about the Pulwama attack and what happened before and after it. This time, besides his heroes, director Siddharth Anand has introduced Deepika's character Minni in a cool way. The first half of the movie introduces Air Force pilots, led by Rocky (Anil Kapoor), including Minni, Patty, Taj, and Bash and it has a good balance of emotions and action. The second half is a bit slow but it gets exciting towards the end. The climax with Pakistan bashing rhetoric could have been toned down.

Deepika and Hrithik bring a serious and determined attitude when they're in uniform. Anil Kapoor proves he can compete with the younger actors effortlessly. Playing a stern officer, he embodies the character perfectly with his body language.

Comparison with ‘Pathaan’

Having watched Siddharth’s last directorial ‘Pathaan’, we can honestly say that ‘Fighter’s storyline tries its best to balance commercial appeal with emotional depth. While the VFX and action action sequences are brilliant, the writing could have been sharper.

Karan Singh Grover and Sanjeeda Shaikh provide solid support to the main cast. The villain, Azhar Akhtar, played by Rishabh Sawhney, is a weak link in the movie who looks more pretty than menacing.

Overall, ‘Fighter’ might once again initiate debate about Bollywood's obsession with jingoism and stereotypes.

Also Watch: Fighter Twitter Review: Hrithik and Deepika Padukone’s movie gets blockbuster response from audiences