Review of the fighter – India’s Top Gun lacking excitement and burdened by nationalistic propaganda.

F

Coming after the blockbuster success of Pathaan, director Siddharth Anand returns with another highly anticipated film featuring Indian icons Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone sharing the screen for the first time. With a focus on showcasing the challenges and victories of the Indian air force, Fighter is bound to draw comparisons to the iconic Top Gun series. This similarity goes beyond just aesthetics, as both films have received the backing and endorsement of their respective military forces.

In the recent update for Top Gun, Maverick subtly creates an enemy without a face or a country, while Fighter dives headfirst into a showdown between India and Pakistan. With the current state of Hindi cinema, it’s not surprising to see such hyper-nationalistic storytelling, but the film lacks action and excitement. The heavily CGI-ed aerial combat scenes are dull, lifeless, and easily forgettable. The love story between Roshan’s confident squadron leader Patty and Padukone’s fiery fighter pilot Minni is weighed down by sentimental speeches of patriotism. When they are out of their uniforms, their characters become more relatable and human, making one wish for a propaganda-free romance between Roshan and Padukone instead.

The desire to combine nationalism and entertainment into a single, polished product leads to numerous absurd scenes. Sensual musical performances, known as “item songs”, are randomly included throughout the film. At one point, a serious flight mission abruptly switches to a fantasy sequence where the two main actors dance provocatively in a tropical resort. Even when the focus is on airplanes soaring through the air, the camera makes sure to capture advertisements for house paint displayed on roadside billboards. While patriotism may attract viewers, paid advertisement also helps cover expenses.

Source: theguardian.com