War - Coolness Overload

War turned out to be one of the very few Hindi movies that I got to catch within the first week of its realease. It is also one of the very few movies that I have watched without reading the reviews. And it was truly the only one Hindi movie that I have watched in a night show: the movie started at 10:40pm and got over at 2:00 am. It tells a lot about a movie that could keep me awake through out without even a yawn. The only times I opened my mouth was when my jaw dropped. That happened on many occasions I confess, what with the incredible single shot fights on land, in water, in the air and on ice alongwith the minor detail of these jaw dropping stunts being performed by a grizzled, muscled, chiseled, sculpted, edible, incredibly high on testosterone Hrithik Roshan and his puppy cute counterpart Tiger Shroff.

Be still my heart

This post is not a review of the movie. Nope, you have probably seen the two, two and a half starred reviews online. There are reviews that have thrashed the lack of story, reviews that have called it a no-brainer, reviews that mock the lead actors' audacity to have fun... you know, boys and their guns phrase. The truth is that this is a masala movie with all the elements added in right doses - the heroes' introduction scenes that are truly whistle worthy. Check. In fact I loved Tiger Shroff's introductory fight where he crashes painfully into walls and hard tables with a bone jarring thud and gives it back to the villains in kind. Poora paisa vasool fight. For Hrithik's introduction I don't think my eyes moved even a millimeter from his rough, muscled physique and equally attractive salt and pepper hair fringed face. Be still my heart. The movie also has foot tapping numbers with intricate choreography. Check.The stunt scenes are seen to be believed - with four stunt directors working on it, I am glad it did not result in too many cooks spoil a broth situation. The end result is a riveting face off between the lead stars replete with some kick ass action. Last but definitely not the least - the emotional hook to certify this is indeed a masala movie - the protagonist goes out on a limb to clear his mother's name and his after his father is labelled a traitor and is shot for his transgression. This piece of desh bhakti is parroted through out the movie just to lay it thick, but amidst the super fast, edge of the seat action scenes, one doesn't mind the force feeding. All in all it is a non-lazy, attention to detail, interesting masala movie and is rightfully running to packed houses in theaters near you.

This post is more an ode to Hrithik's transition from a metrosexual, chikna handsome dude to this intriguing, sauve, no-nonsensical, heart-breaker man who has many women weak in the knees. If thinking of a guy and lusting for an unreachable star is sinning, then we women have our books painted black. We were doomed from the moment he steps down in slo-mo from the helicopter, with his shiny salt and pepper hair waving in the wind. His eyes, (what colour are they? ) scan the premises "coolly" and for a moment you might be forgiven if you bared your soul to the guy. One might also forgive Tiger Shroff for mouthing one of the most tackiest line in the movie, at a time when a female team member tells Hrithik that she would have married him in a jiffy if he had only given the green signal. To which Shroff replies, Oh yeah, get in line. Did it mean he was in line too? Well, no matter. Men, women, anyone with raging hormones....get in line please. The King of Cool might grant the wish.

Weathered and brown vs young and white. Choose your poison. 

Anyway, kudos to Hrithik for making Kabir, a turned RAW agent, into someone super cool and capable.He has made a 40 something agent look like he means business and effortlessly does it with an overdose of coolness added. He has aged so well, with the lines on his face adding character and the tanned face reflecting his outdoorsy lifestyle. This movie is going to birth some sequels and if he keeps his mo-jo together, this will be our own fascinating Mission Impossible - Desi version. The boys were very clearly having fun, but we, the audience were every bit a part of it. The credit must go to the director, Siddharth Anand, for putting in good effort and presenting a neatly made movie.

All in all a winner for the makers and the viewers. Now if only someone could package Hrithik in a bottle...sigh.