Review: 'Gadar 2' re-introduces Sunny Deol as 'desi Thor' who can lift almost anything but not the script

Gadar 2 review

'Hindustaan zindabaad tha, zindabaad hai aur humesha zindabaad rahega'- A phrase that has been etched in our hearts as Sunny Deol mouthed it with all his aggression and passion almost 20 years ago. Now after two decades, Anil Sharma is back with a continued saga, while introducing a bunch of new characters and keeping the magic alive with the OG's. 

The Katha Continues

In a striking homage to its predecessor, Gadar 2 treads the familiar path of nationalism and jingoism. The narrative follows the indomitable Tara Singh, portrayed by Sunny Deol, as he embarks on a mission into Pakistan. This time, his objective is to rescue his son Jeete (Utkarsh Sharma) from the clutches of the malevolent Major General Hamid Iqbal (Manish Wadhva). Tara's disappearance after a border skirmish leads to the presumption of his capture by Pakistani forces. Jeete ventures across the border to rescue his father from Major General Hamid's hold, who holds a strong aversion to India.

The narrative then unfurls into a flurry of action, with intense gunfights, pursuing soldiers, and the chase of our protagonists by their Pakistani pursuers. Meanwhile, a new love story featuring Jeete and Pakistani girl Muskan (Simratt Kaur) starts brewing. Having a wafer-thin plot line, filled with unnecessary sequences, makes it feel stretched. The melodrama part of the franchise still remains this time intensifying it with much louder dialogues and hyperviolence. At times the actors start talking in English which feels so out of context and almost makes things look less serious. 

Reliving the Nostalgia

'Gadar 2' presents a vanilla narrative woven with themes of patriotism and nationalism. Building on its predecessor's legacy, the sequel adeptly employs nostalgia as a powerful tool, heightening its impact. It encompasses a quintessential '90s style, leveraging factors like dramatic dialogue delivery, slow-motion action sequences, and emotions. However, amidst the moments of exhilaration, certain aspects might be bothersome. From the songs like 'Main Nikla' and 'Udd Ja Kale' to the iconic handpump reference, it keeps the flavour of 'Gadar' alive which will also have you cheer and blow whistles in a few instances, but we cannot take away the fact that, if the nostalgic part is erased, it remains a bland 'nothing new to offer' saga. 

Sunny Deol as Your 'Desi Thor'

Somehow Sunny Deol still has it in him. His screen presence is enigmatic and powerful. Tara Singh is a character that feels like the one who actually walked up from Gadar and lives up to the whole continuation factor. He almost lifts everything and anything, be it a cart wheel, a hammer, or even an electric pole. The dialogues are heavy as nationalism, this time also wavering towards secularism (Hindustan Muslmano, Sikho, Christiano, Hinduo, sabka hai) is at its peak. With seamless ease, he embodies Tara Singh's fury, masking the two-decade gap effortlessly. Amidst intense action, he captivates, demanding unwavering attention.

Other Performances

Talking about other performances, Ameesha Patel's role remains confined. She is just there weeping on the screen waiting for the men in her life to return back home. While there is a lot of emotion to portray, she fails to tap it. 

Utkarsh Sharma as Jeete, despite significant screen time, displays occasional shortcomings. While excelling in action, he struggles with heavier dialogues. Simratt Kaur as Muskan is graceful but has a scope to improve. Manish Wadhwa's portrayal of General Hamid is laced with intensity, although his character's one-dimensional nature limits his depth. His efforts to embody menace and enmity are commendable though. 

There are a few other noteworthy cameos like that of Dolly Bindra. Gaurav Chopra as the commander officer is sketchy and robotic.  

The Verdict

'Gadar 2' reeks of a loud, hyperviolent, and patriotic narrative with a few nostalgic moments that are worth reliving, making the rest of the film bland and irrelevant in 2023. 

Rating 

**1/2 (2.5/5) stars