All the Khan you could wish for
It’s a tense day in Syria. Forty nurses from India and Pakistan have been abducted by a terrorist group named ISC (read ISIS).
RAW is planning a rescue mission and they’ve put Salman Khan in charge. “Apna khayal rakhna,” his wife, a Pakistani agent named Zoya (Katrina Kaif), whispers in his ear. Khan smiles contemptuously. Safety is not his style.
It’s been five years since we first met Tiger. He’s 45 now. He’s spent the time flitting across Europe, but his heart still bleeds for India.
Incoming director Ali Abbas Zafar last worked with Salman on Sultan (2016), where the superstar played a middle-aged wrestler forced to re-enter the ring.
Zafar clearly sees Salman Khan as a guy on the cusp of maturity, if not already there. And that helps maintain a sense of sanity in the mayhem.
There is a cogent plot, with attempts at motive and a backstory even for the arch-villain, Abu Usman (Sajjad Delafroz). It’s predictable, but it works, because Delafroz is convincing as the haunted, hunted US-educated terrorist.
There is just one song, which is a good development; the plot twists are not too many, and they work.
Hollywood stunt director Tom Struthers’ action has novelty. Even Kaif’s Zoya has stunning action scenes.
And you get all the Khan you could want. Khan fighting wolves. Khan skiing like Vin Diesel and fighting like Batman. Khan wielding a bazooka.
At some point, you know that shirt is going to come off too.
This is all a prelude to that orgasmic moment for his fans.
Of course, the clichés persist. An astute and terrifying villain calls out to the hero from behind just when you think he’s a goner.
Hero and villain glare and stare into each other’s eyes, spit lines out like they’re bullets. There’s much talk of India-Pakistan friendship. It’s all very old-school.
The good thing is that despite its 161-minute runtime, the pace remains brisk throughout.
Khan is clearly enjoying himself, what with all the slow-motion and close-up shots. He delivers what is expected of him.
It comes at the cost of the others, though. Angad Bedi is forced to carry a constant fretful look. Kaif doesn’t get a lot of screen time.
Still, Tiger Zinda Hai is probably the best a filmmaker could do with a superstar. Just wait for the moment when Salman Khan dodges the dreaded criminals and their rocket launchers while riding a horse. Now that’s entertainment.
TIGER ZINDA HAI Direction: Ali Abbas Zadar Actors:Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif Rating: