"We cannot let politics get in the way of humanity."
Hello everyone!
Last week, if you remember, we took a look at the first movie of the YRF Spy Universe, although at the time it wasn't actually that. Turns out, the Powers That Be decided only after tonight's choice and WAR aired that they're going to connect it all and come full circle.
I mean, if it's not baroque, amirite?
But regardless.
For us, now, this is the second movie in the spyverse, and I have to admit that it's the first ACTUAL spy movie in the universe that brings all the cards to the table: action, nail-biting suspense, a sprinkle of romance, and a good dose of humour so you don't end up flatlining out of pure boredom.
So without further ado, get those fancy scarfs out.
It's time we take a look at Tiger Zinda Hai.
If you remember, in the first movie, we met spies Tiger (Khan) and Zoya (Kaif), who worked for their respective agencies, RAW and ISI, until they decided to run away together and live happily ever after. Ek Tha Tiger is basically that story, and this second installment picks up five years afterwards.
They're now married, have a son together, and Tiger does as a lot of men do, which is forget about his wedding anniversary.
Meanwhile, in Iraq, a journalist is taken off the board by terrorist leader Usman, who gets himself shot for his efforts, and taken to a hospital where Indian and Pakistani nurses train together. Because the man is both dangerous and paranoid, he orders the hospital basically taken hostage, makes it his personal HQ while he recovers, and doesn't much care that he's got innocents there.
One of the Indian nurses manages to call the embassy, which then forwards the information to RAW; the chief gets a seven day window from the CIA, before the Americans simply go in and bomb the hospital site to save everyone a headache.
This is where Tiger comes in, because of course they're going to send him over there. At this point in time, Kabir's technically gone rogue already, and Pathaan's not back with RAW yet at all, so Tiger's their only option, so to speak.
He's reluctant to go, but Zoya reminds him that one of the top reasons she fell for him is his devotion to his home country; so, he packs his bags, assembles his own team - much to the chagrin of the guy supposedly in charge of getting him men - and they sneak into an oil refinery as illegal immigrant workers.
See, the oil rig is run by Usman's second in command, so if they plan things just right, they can get to the hospital.
Except, before Tiger can get the stuff he needs from his handler on the ground, he notices a bomb strapped to a young boy a little older than his own son, and decides he's not gonna let the kid sacrifice himself for someone else's ideals. He saves him, and then promptly needs saving himself, but luckily for him Zoya's on the case.
Oh, and so are some of the guys from ETT, because naturally nobody told Zoya Pakistani nurses were also being held hostage, and now she's in.
Tiger's like, well fine, we'll team up. Both their teams look from one to the other like they've decided the sky is green.
And then lo and behold, when push comes to shove? They realize they're all just human, not Hindu or Pakistani. And that there's one person on each team that brought their flag to plant high when this is over (naturally).
Finally cooperating, the guys set off an explosion which results in them getting hurt just enough to be taken to the hospital; during the trip, they learn the shady dude who seems to be dealing with every side of this conflict is actually a RAW undercover agent who's been on the ground for 30 years, so technically they CAN trust him. Theoretically.
While Tiger's being treated for his minor burns - and taking inventory of everything he sees - Zoya goes for Usman's second, who keeps female slaves for his personal enjoyment. Zoya enjoys that too, because she gets to kill him on the spot.
Unfortunately, Usman's now hunting for her, and things seem to go from bad to worse for a bit.
While our guys manage to successfully give food poisoning to most of Usman's army, it's literally the day of the airstrike, so they have to hustle. And when Tiger sees a captured Zoya, he surrenders - though not to Usman's delight, because them RAW agents just built different. They either shrug off mortal wounds like they're scratches, use their heads to rearrange stone pillars, or hold their breath to avoid inhaling poison for what seems like forever!
The action picks up since everyone's trying to get out, and unfortunately one of Tiger's team doesn't make it, but he gives the flag to one of the Pakistanis so they can fly it when it's all over. The group reconvenes, and Tiger orders everyone on the bus dressed like the Americans Usman was going to execute, with a heavily wounded Usman at the front to get them past the barricades, because naturally Tiger did what an actual tiger would do, and nearly killed him for hurting the people he loves.
He, meanwhile, is going right for Zoya, even as the airstrike launches.
But the group makes it out, the Indian and Pakistani flags fly side by side, proving that the people can and will work together in spite of politics, and the hostages are all saved.
A year later, Tiger gives the RAW chief a call, just like at the end of the first movie. He and Zoya survived, thank you very much, and adopted the boy Tiger rescued, then went back into hiding.
However, Tiger says, there's no need to worry - if his country ever needs him, he'll be on the front lines, like always (as we see in Pathaan, when he goes to rescue Shah Rukh Khan's butt). Because that's just who he is.
A much more enjoyable installment to the series than the first movie, Tiger Zinda Hai gives everything you could possibly want to its audiences, to great success. The plot is fast-paced, the wheels keep turning, and the humour is on point. Add to this that you literally get to see our heroes kicking ass and taking names, and you've got yourself a winner.
I thoroughly enjoyed this movie, and I hope that you all give it a chance. It's worth a watch for all the crazy Bollywood action sequences, at least!
Absolutely recommend.
xx
*images and video not mine
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