Remember the wrath Gadar brought along with itself in 2001? Agar paida nahi bhi hue the toh mummy papa ne toh bataya hi hoga. 22 years later, director Anil Sharma is back trying to recreate the same magic again. That’s right, the hand pump is back in action, and so are the snarls that echo through time. Gadar 2, a sequel to the iconic Gadar: Ek Prem Katha, was here to unleash a storm of nostalgia and adrenaline-fueled action. But it hardly does justice to the original movie, leaving us with huge disappointment. Some sequels just shouldn’t be made.
Plot
Fasten your seatbelts, because Gadar 2 picks up 17 years after its predecessor– but with a twist! The grown-up Jeete is all set to take the stage, and this time, it’s Pakistan that’s the beech ka bandar again. As tensions between the two nations escalate, Lieutenant Colonel Devendra Rawat seeks help from the legendary Tara Singh to deliver ammunition to the border (yes it doesn’t make sense, but we move on). But things take a dark turn when Tara and his men find themselves captives in Pakistan, at the mercy of the vengeful Major General Hamid Iqbal. Phir kya, Tara’s son Jeete goes to Pakistan to pull off another Gadar, but also gets caught in the process. How do Tara and Jeete get out of Pakistan is what the rest of the movie unfolds.
Performances
Sunny Deol reprises his role as Tara Singh, and boy, does he bring the heat back again! With the innocence of his character intact, Deol’s scenes light up the screen. He is scary, and you feel it in the theatres. His death stares, loud roars, everything’s back alive. Utkarsh Sharma steps into the limelight as Charanjit Singh, aka Jeete, and while he shows promise, it’s hard not to notice that Gadar 2 feels like a (re)launchpad for the director’s son. It’s his story all the way, yet he fails to have a strong screen presence. Ameesha Patel‘s Sakeena seems like a carbon copy of the original, and doesn’t have anything new to offer. The chemistry between Tara and Sakeena remains heartwarming, even though Ameesha’s performance is somewhat lackluster. Manish Wadhwa is back playing a Pakistani General who hates India (Pathaan flashbacks). But his role feels very one dimensional. A blind general who knows only rage. Idk man, feel nahi aayi.
Direction and Writing
Anil Sharma takes the helm once again, steering the ship through familiar waters. Gadar 2’s story holds moments of brilliance, but it also faces a lot of rough patches. It feels all nostalgic, but only for 10 mins. The old school story doesn’t really work this time. The tale of hatred between India and Pakistan, seen through the lens of a father-son bond, could have been more impactful. While Sharma manages to capture the essence of mass entertainment, the majority of elements feel recycled and lack the original’s charm. The pacing could use a bit of a tune-up, as the movie’s nearly three-hour runtime might test the patience of even the most die-hard fans.
Screenplay and Cinematography
The poorest aspect of the movie ngl. Shaktimaan Talwar’s writing doesn’t hit the mark. While the dialogues carry a sense of patriotism, they are mostly cringe. Yes, you will feel ignited by Sunny Deol’s dialogue delivery, but wo bhi kab tak? The film’s length could certainly be trimmed, giving the audience a tighter and more engaging experience. The production design and VFX are just sub-par. Even the action is edited very weirdly. Random cuts and transitions daal diya hai like my class 7 self used to on Inshot. On the bright side, the recreated versions of classic songs like “Main Nikla Gadi Leke” and “Udd Ja Kale Kaavan” infuse the film with a sense of nostalgia, transporting viewers back in time. Notice the number of times I used nostalgia? Yeah.
Seedha seedha bolu toh this movie will work in the B and C centres. But multiplex mein bilkul nahi chalegi. In the grand scheme of things, Gadar 2 might not be the revolutionary sequel we were all hoping for, but it still manages to pack a punch. Sunny Deol’s portrayal of Tara Singh keeps the spirit of the original alive, even as the story falters in places. The handpump scene is fcking hilarious and full marks for that, but OMG 2 wins this clash for me!
