The silver screen has been graced with an audacious display of nationalism and star charisma with the release of ‘Fighter,’ a cinematic voyage that professes to underpin the love for the nation, yet it’s quite evident that its core veneration is directed toward Bollywood’s own Hrithik Roshan. As the breathtakingly chilly landscapes of Jammu and Kashmir serve as a mere backdrop, Roshan’s chiselled features steal the spotlight, captivating audiences with his time-defying dance prowess and boyish charm, despite his mature age of 50.
Anticipation builds as one feasts their eyes on close-ups that celebrate his hazel-green eyes, or when the camera boldly caresses his athletic physique. Immersed in his role, Roshan delivers powerful verses beside a warming fire, but what truly captures the essence of the moment is the slight flutter of his eyelids as he steps away, embracing the gentle melancholy of the character that has enthralled fans for over two decades.
In ‘Fighter,’ he embodies Squadron Leader Shamsher a.k.a Patty, a decorated pilot of the Indian Air Force (IAF). Posted in Srinagar amongst an elite response team, including Minal played by Deepika Padukone and Sartaj, portrayed by Karan Singh Grover, under the hawk-eyed supervision of group commander Rakesh Jai “Rocky” Singh, played by Anil Kapoor. The friction between Rocky and Patty is instantaneous, with Rocky issuing stern warnings against fancy stunts, whilst Patty, in a rebellious streak reminiscent of Top Gun’s Maverick, executes complex aerial maneuvers that leave Rocky outmaneuvered.
The film’s trailer preempts the charged sequence where the narrative intersects with real-life events, depicting terrorists targeting a CRPF convoy in a reimagined Pulwama attack, jolting India into a retaliative stratagem aimed at a Jaish-e-Mohammed camp in Balakot, Pakistan. The mission sees Patty and Sartaj providing aerial support, with triumphal cinematography reflecting the film’s collaboration with the Air Force and its seemingly unambiguous patriotic message.
Director Siddharth Anand, renowned for creating some of the most visually arresting action films such as ‘War’ (2019) and the recent ‘Pathaan’ (2023), upholds his reputation in ‘Fighter’. The fusion of actual aircraft with likely computer-generated imagery crafted by the acclaimed VFX house DNEG is seamless, delivering an immersive experience that artfully sidesteps the disorienting aspects often associated with 3D cinema.
Alas, beneath the sheen lies a discordant script, penned by Abbas and Hussain Dalal, which delivers lines from the archetypal Hindi war drama lexicon. It falters, with characters using jingoistic and provocative rhetoric, straying from the official stance of ‘non-military preemptive strike’ to openly advocating for ‘revenge’ against adversaries, reflecting a shift in cultural expressions that may appeal to nationalistic fervor but are thematically misaligned.
It is particularly disheartening to witness Roshan’s character succumb to this tonal shift, forsaking the subtlety of heroism seen in his former roles for more glaring and aggressive posturing. Roshan truly shines when the film downshifts, such as when Patty must temper his bravado to aid a trainee pilot. Padukone, on the other hand, seems disconnected even at lofty altitudes, her interactions with Roshan marked by a stilted awkwardness. The villains, by contrast, almost seem amplified to caricature, enabling even the less nuanced Indian characters to make an impression.
‘Fighter’ is a paradox of cinematic craftsmanship, a testament to the advancements and failings of Hindi action films. Anand has mastered facets of coherence, fluidity, polish, and realism often lacking in contemporary cinema, yet the final product reveals an emotional naiveté, akin to watching adults partake in juvenile banter on combat radios, a reflection of an industry catering to the superficial demands of entertainment.
As this film takes to theaters, it is sure to arouse passion and despair in equal measure amongst Hindi cinema aficionados. ‘Fighter’ expresses a yearning for commercial success which some may label as greed. With its glossy veneer and its heartstring-tugging patriotism, the film launches into a dogfight with the box office, and only time will tell its destiny.
