Film Ek Tha Tiger Review

Director: Kabir Khan
Cast: Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif

Salman Khan is a superstar that gets admiration and clapping in any kind of movie format or movie genre. In the past we have seen enough of him in mindless comedies and inflated action films. But the Yash Raj banner and, more particularly, director Kabir Khan project him in a sober, debonair and sensible way over his patented pedestrian image. And since the movie follows a sensible storyline over silly humor, one is able to appreciate and enjoy it better.

In the prologue chase-sequence where he is introduced as an intelligence officer on assignment in a foreign country, Salman Khan escapes his opponents by splurging money in an open market and later camouflages in the crowd that is busy pouncing on the currency. Be rest assured that what follows would be 'paisa vasool' entertainment.

Tiger (Salman Khan) is an Indian intelligence officer who's sent by RAW to Dublin to keep an eye on a science professor. There he comes across Zoya (Katrina Kaif) and expectedly falls for her. Until it turns out that even Zoya is on an undercover mission. Now Tiger has to choose between duty and love.

Aditya Chopra develops his story on the unusual premise of what would happen if an Indian intelligence officer falls in love with a Pakistani spy. The conflicts in the love story come quite naturally through the bitterness between the two neighboring nations, common for decades. On a broader level the movie implies how love can overpower all inherent differences. Yet it never makes a very mindful attempt to sound preachy or positive about the state-of-affairs between the countries. Chopra's story is credibly crafted into a fascinating screenplay by Neelesh Misra and Kabir Khan.

In the beginning, it seems like the love story is blending in the spy-drama. Until you realize that Ek Tha Tiger, largely, is a love story on the backdrop of a spying thriller and not the other way round. Director Kabir Khan admirably balances the love story and the spy drama, with each element taking precedence at different junctures in the movie as per the requirement.

The beauty of the movie is that, though the protagonist goes against his establishment for a girl from a rival country, you still root for him. Their integrity towards each other makes you overlook the fact that the two spies went rogue. Thereby Ek Tha Tiger is more of a rooted romance story over a mechanical spy-thriller. Where it scores above most Indian spying films is that fact that though it frequently changes geographical boundaries, the narrative never wanders pointlessly.

Not like most desi auctioneers where the stunts are often exaggerated, convoluted and commonplace, Ek Tha Tiger boasts of some creative action sequences smartly choreographed by Hollywood stunt coordinator Conrad Palmisano. It isn't of the existing variety where a dozen goons go flying in the air by hero's one kick. Kabir Khan strikes a perfect balance between heroism and realism in this department. So the background score or editing patterns don't have to be magnified for the impact. The tram sequence in first half and the freeway chase in the second is sure to invite applause in cinema-halls.

Regardless of a serious spy setup, the movie has a very cool sense of humor. The tongue-in-cheek lines often make you smile even in the most bizarre circumstances. Aseem Mishra's cinematography lends the movie a grace that the genre demands, as he captures the essence of Ireland, Cuba, Istanbul and other countries with élan.

Salman Khan carries an urbane charm and looks uber-cool dressed in formals. He is cleverly restrained sans his customary buffoonery. His acting ability is best exploited in this movie after a long time. Katina Kaif is beautiful as always and puts in a convinced act. Her agility in action sequences adds to her confidence. And more significantly she shares terrific chemistry with Salman Khan, something that was missing in all their previously pairings. Ranvir Shorey as Salman's associate makes for a good supporting cast. Girish Karnad and Gavie Chahal lend honest support.

On the whole, Ek Tha Tiger is Salman's most enjoyable and accomplished works in recent times. It is praiseworthy to watch once.