Producer Aditya Chopra, through his YRF productions, has initiated an ambitious endeavor to create a Spy Universe. The project kicks off with Salman Khan’s Tiger franchise, along with Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan and Hrithik Roshan’s War films. While previous YRF spy films included brief appearances of other ‘spy’ stars, reports indicate that War 2′s storyline is pivotal in connecting the narratives of both past and forthcoming films within this exciting universe. Additionally, YRF’s upcoming spy film, Alpha—starring Alia Bhatt and Sharvari Wagh in leading roles—has been indicated to have ties to the plot of War 2.
Story
In the film, Kabir (Hrithik Roshan), an elite R&AW agent, becomes a freelance contract killer targeting influential figures. Meanwhile, a coalition of powerful nations forms a cartel named ‘Kali’ with the intent to undermine India. Kali views Kabir as the ideal candidate for executing their plans and assigns him the task of dismantling both India and R&AW.
However, another R&AW agent, Vikram (Jr. NTR), intervenes to thwart Kabir’s actions. The film raises questions: Can Vikram stop Kabir? What led Kabir to betray his own agency? How does he relate to Agent Vikram and Wing Commander Kavya Luthra (Kiara Advani)? What are the origins of Agent Vikram? These inquiries form the essence of the movie.
Performances
Hrithik Roshan reprises his role as Kabir with a depth that is far more intense than anticipated. He embodies a character that is both deadly and deeply conflicted regarding duty versus deceit. His commanding presence and emotive performance breathe life into this role, making him impossible to overlook, whether engaged in brutal combat or silently grappling with his past.
Jr. NTR bursts onto the Hindi film scene as Vikram, a passionate and unpredictable officer determined to apprehend Kabir. From his first appearance, he emits a raw intensity that energizes the film. His chemistry with Hrithik stands out as one of the movie’s highlights, with the tension, playful interactions, and eventual alliance between the characters creating some memorable moments that evoke both cheers and smiles from the audience.
Kiara Advani portrays Wing Commander Kavya with grace and strength, infusing the film with emotional depth, particularly in scenes connected to her family and her history with Kabir. Anil Kapoor brings a subtle authority to his role as the new operations head, while the ensemble cast, including Ashutosh Rana and Soni Razdan, effectively adds emotional layers to the narrative.
Behind the scenes
The music composed by Pritam is mediocre and lacks memorability, whereas the background score by Sanchit Balhara and Ankit Balhara effectively enhances the action sequences. Nevertheless, the choreography of the “Salam” song leaves much to be desired, particularly given the involvement of two outstanding dancers, which naturally elevates expectations.
The VFX in War 2 surpasses that of Pathaan and Tiger 3 but still falls short of setting a new benchmark, especially given the substantial budget allocated for the film’s production, and its a collosal mess in this film. Ayan Mukerji’s storytelling is inconsistent, a flaw reminiscent of his previous project, Brahmastra where he faltered badly and this was repeated once again in War 2.
The complex roles of the protagonists present significant opportunities to enhance the narrative’s intrigue, but Ayan opted for a more straightforward approach in the film’s latter half. Furthermore, the editing could have been more polished, while Benjamin Jasper ACS’s cinematography shines in select moments.
Final Verdict
The plot meanders aimlessly, jumping illogically from Paris to Delhi’s Palika Bazaar without smooth transitions. For instance, after Jr. NTR is shot in one scene, he’s inexplicably fine in the next. The mid-air fight scenes are so ludicrous that viewers may find themselves laughing—or crying—from their sheer absurdity. As for the VFX, they resemble low-budget mobile game visuals poorly presented on a grand IMAX screen. Overall, the film lacks coherence, squandering a hefty budget and the goodwill of the audience. Ultimately, it represents a disappointing attempt that fails to leave a lasting impression.
When you handle two biggest stars of Indian screen, a gripping story, a taut narrative, stunning visuals and catchy sequences that bring out the best out of the stars need to be the prerequisites. Unfortunately, these are missing in War 2 and this turns it into a run of the mill spy thriller without the much needed spark. Hence, it may not please all the audience but this will appease the fans as there are many collar raising scenes that may appeal to the fans of both stars.
