War 2, produced by Yash Raj Films, arrives at the cinemas today. In this section, we review the latest box-office release.
Plot:
Kabir (Hrithik Roshan), a former RAW agent, has become a major threat after he kills RAW chief Luthra (Ashutosh Rana) under the tutelage of Kali, a global cartel out to create chaos in India. To neutralize him, the RAW fields an elite special operative, Vikram (Jr NTR), since only he can sabotage Kabir in a cross-continental mission. The plot thickens when Kabir and Vikram share a complex equation. Vikram is not totally white and Kabir is not totally black. At stake is the life of the Indian PM.
Performances:
Jr NTR's performance in a spy universe is a breeze as well as a tornado. His intense gaze and earnest vocals enhance his easy prowess. The Hindi audience will find his ferocity and his character's emotions sharp. It is refreshing to see him in fashionable costumes and foreign settings after RRR and Devara, both of which were period films.
Hrithik Roshan brings lethal grace to the equation. He proves to be a powerhouse cast as someone who knows what the world of War feels like. He is excellent in each scene with Tarak. Kiara Advani shines as Kavya, bringing oomph and heart to her role, while Ashutosh Rana provides a steady presence in an extended cameo. Anil Kapoor is good as a RAW chief.
Technical aspects:
A katana fight sequence, an aerial action sequence, and many more add heft to the film. The Action Directors (read Spiro Razatos, Franz Spilhaus, Anl Arasu, Oh Sea Young, Craig Macrae, Sunil Rodrigues) use the sprawling backdrops, while the writing department makes sure they are not mere spectacles of violence. They make the audience genuinely care about the outcome.
The cinematography by Benjamin Jasper heightens the atmosphere and builds intrigue. The camerawork is fluid. The background score by Sanchit Balhara and Ankit Balhara adds to the emotional pulse of the film. The music amplifies the emotional undercurrents of several scenes. The Production Design by Rajat Poddar and Amrita Mahal Nakai is admirable.
Yash Raj Films is a past master at mounting lavish action spectacles. War 2 was a walk in the park for the banner, with director Ayan Mukerji in tandem.
Post-Mortem:
Aditya Chopra's story and Shridhar Raghavan's screenplay are plot-heavy but not bloated or dense. It must not have been easy for the writers to make the complex incidents resonate with the audience emotionally. They rely on the two heroes to take care of the nuances that couldn't be expressed through the script.
If you are a fan of spy movies, you would be in an 'I can predict what is next' zone. But that is only initially. In the second half, as Jr NTR's character reveals its cards and lays bare its emotions, the incidents remain predictable but the motives acquire new layers.
All through the film, this reviewer kept wondering how a new-age, neo-noir southern Indian director and music director could have reimagined the setting, the premise, and the genre. Take the Kali element, for example. It would have been given a mythic feel instead of a sci-fi world flavour. The colour palette would have been gritty except in the scenes set in snow-capping backdrops. What looks passable in a bright, sunny backdrop acquires a whole new weight when the atmosphere is grey.
War 2 could be a relatively slower one to pick up at the box office, given that its moments are in the writing. It is not your big-screen vehicle that relies on excessive violence.
Closing Remarks:
The technical departments, from the cinematography to the background score, are top-notch. While fans of the genre might anticipate some of the twists, the film manages to stay plot-driven. War 2 is a testament to Yash Raj Films' ability to mount lavish productions and is a worthwhile watch for those seeking high-octane action and star-driven drama.
