War Hindi Movie Review

            Grandeur is the signature of Yash Raj films. No guesses therefore at the scale. With Sidharth Anand going Bang Bang, the thrill-action quotient is bound to be as marketed, high, only a tad too high. So much so, that it is counterproductive. In case your eyes aint as fast sighted, or your attention not focused as the guys are quick-witted and fast-witted, you may even lose sight of the thrills that revel in excess. They get over the top. Literally. The mid-air attack over the ice clad mountains (can they be far behind with Yash Raj films!?) is mind boggling, literally and intelligence challenging consequently. 

            Arguably one of the biggest films after a pleasant spell of small films (Dream Girl, Article 15, Chhichore, Zoya Factor) the Big Bang all Thunder Dhoom is out as a prelude to the festive season. Our Dhoom villain hasn’t changed much and is in conflict with our little Baaghi. Tom and Jerry are playing adult warfare with global implications and outer orbit ramifications. Tiringly long, the production house picks a wafer-thin excuse for a three-hour espionage drama. 

            Kabir (Hrithik Roshan) a once respected army officer is now a turncoat. This comes to be known when Naidu (whoever) makes an early exit. Big Chief (Ashutosh Rana – no ham) after firing/briefing from Lady Defence Minister (that much for mainstream novelty) decides that Khaled (Tiger Shroff) an erstwhile fav of the target and son of a former traitor is the best guy in the armed forces to trace/capture/arrest and check-mate the wayward Kabir. Once this premise is told at the earliest opportunity in the midst of chase, thrill, smoke, guns, high voltage fights, low volt dialogues, the scrip is out incredulously in a self-contradictory high energy stupor. Go to sleep, wake up with an error in judgement, return to the film and you realise that the characters have moved nations but the narrative is stagnant. Tom and Jerry are still at one upmanship and in and at War.

            Sidharth Anand completely delegates his artistic responsibilities to the energetic stuntman (), wavering cinematographer () and the stars. In the midst of this there is a pathetic thin streak of romance and melodrama with Naina (Vani Kapoor) who plays a civilian asset. To the unfamiliar, a civilian asset is a citizen who is used by defence forces to get information from the bad cigar-smoking globe trotting palace inhabitant villains. Wholly irrelevant to the main story. Our filmmakers still need a bikini clad heroine even if the role is as long as the bikini. 

            Obviously, the entire film revolves around the presence and the chemistry of stars Hrithik and Tiger. But before that, in the midst of sculpted stars, Vani Kapoor looks like a statue. Obviously, it is easier to get her into a bikini than get her to emote. In all fairness, the director tries both and succeeds by half. Even as the heroes fight, Long Hair Baddie are hunks who show a sense of humour and a sense of timing. The comrade works, the clash doesn’t. This is largely because Sid Anand chooses technology and stunt over story and script. The clash is poorly presented with a self-defeatist slant towards graphics.

            Tiger musters attention under the table, up in the sky, splashing water, ruining chandeliers and of course, dancing. Hrithik Roshan is a class act. Be it romance, villainy, heroics, humour, angst, stunt, dance, he does it all without hiding his greying stubble with consummate ease. The star and the actor are in perfect tandem. For Hrithik fans, War is a must see. For the rest, it is a may see. For those who value time it is a nay see. In so far as the director is concerned, he is at sea. His over reliance on stunt takes you to the lyrics Itni Zor Se Naach Ke Ghunghroo Toot Gayi.

L. Ravichander.