'War-2' Movie Review

‘War-2’ Movie Review

Cast: Jr. NTR- Hrithik Roshan, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana, Anil Kapoor and others

Music: Pritam

Cinematography: Benjamin Jasper

Telugu Dialogues: Rakendumouli

Story-Produced by: Aditya Chopra

Screenplay: Sridhar Raghavan

Directed by: Ayan Mukerji

War-2 marks the Hindi debut of Tollywood’s superstar Jr. NTR. The film is a sequel to the blockbuster War, which starred Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff. In this installment, Jr. NTR teams up with Hrithik Roshan. Produced by Yash Raj Films and directed by Ayan Mukerji, War-2 released today amidst huge expectations. Let’s see how it fared out.

Story:

Kabir (Hrithik Roshan), a top RAW agent, pretends to be a traitor upon RAW chief Luthra (Ashutosh Rana)’s orders, in order to destroy the dangerous Khalil network that is threatening India. The Khalil gang, impressed by Kabir’s missions, brings him into their network, but during one of the missions, Kabir is forced to kill his mentor, Luthra. That sparks Luthra’s daughter Kavya’s (Kiara Advani) desire for revenge. Kavya then targets Kabir along with Vikram (Jr. NTR), a new RAW recruit, but Kabir manages to stay ahead. As events unfold, Kabir trusts Vikram and reveals the truth about his undercover operation, but Vikram surprises him with a shocking revelation. Vikram’s background, his connection with Kabir, and the outcome of their confrontation keep audiences guessing, and the answers to these mysteries are revealed on screen.

Story-Analysis:

When it comes to spy movies in India, Yash Raj Films has set the benchmark already, creating the ‘Spy Universe’ with blockbusters like Ek Tha Tiger, Tiger Zinda Hai, Tiger-3, War, and Pathaan. Over time, other studios also tried similar films, but the stories, heroes, and villains started feeling repetitive. Today, audiences expect something new or surprising in this genre, but that’s where War-2 struggles to deliver. Bringing Jr. NTR from Tollywood into the universe was a smart move; however, the filmmakers failed to create a character that matches his potential and stardom. Kabir’s role, which was memorable in the first War, is underutilised, and despite two big stars, a solid budget, and audience interest, the movie ends up being a straightforward spy story.

Action sequences alone cannot carry a film as they need proper buildup and emotional stakes. In War-2, the fights between Hrithik Roshan and NTR are intense and bloody, but never have that emotional weight. The flashbacks explaining Vikram’s (NTR) anger with Kabir and his hate for the country are weak. At the same time, even Kabir, though central to the plot, doesn’t get enough focus on his achievements. The conflict between the two heroes feels forced, and it’s hard to connect with their rivalry. Unable to mix negative shades in NTR’s character, War 2 neither made him a full-fledged villain nor did it fully explore him as a hero.

The villains, part of the Khalil network, also fall flat. Introduced as powerful mafia dons from different countries, they fail to create tension or feel threatening. Their schemes against India seem artificial and unconvincing. The only parts that hold attention are the action scenes, hero introductions, and the first face-off. The interval twist related to NTR’s character works, but the second half drags, with poor VFX and predictable sequences. While NTR’s performance and the large-scale stunts are entertaining, the lack of originality in story, characters, and emotional depth keeps War-2 from fully meeting expectations.

Performances:

Honestly, Junior NTR did not get a proper role in his Bollywood debut. Since it is a role with negative shades, Tarak may have tried to be diverse. He changed his look to suit the role. He made an effort to cultivate it. He expressed the character's essence and emotions quite well, but the role was not properly developed, and strong dialogues were not given. That turns NTR's efforts bite the dust. Hrithik Roshan impressed as usual in the role of Kabir. His look and screen presence were amazing. But Kabir's role was not elevated in this, like in 'War'. The heroine, Kiara Advani, got a crucial role in the story. She showed off her glam quotient in a song, but there is nothing to say in terms of performance. She did well in the action scenes, though. Anil Kapoor and Ashutosh Rana seemed okay in supporting roles, while the actor who played the villain Gulati has played spoilsport.

Technicians:

Technically, War-2 falls short of Yash Raj Films’ usual standards. Despite the massive budget, the visual effects feel inferior in several places, and the heavy action scenes often seem unrealistic. Pritam’s music is slow, with no chartbuster songs, and the background score fails to build any excitement. Benjamin Jasper’s cinematography is underwhelming. Though the story written by producer Aditya Chopra seems like a potential one, Sridhar Raghavan’s screenplay does not bring much to the table. At the same time, Ayan Mukherji’s direction lacks energy, and unlike Siddharth Anand’s sharp execution in War, the director struggles to present the key twists effectively. Overall, the narration feels flat, and the film does not have the sparkle expected from a Yash Raj production.

Finally: War-2, not enough dosage!

Rating- 2.5/5