Tiger 3 Movie Review: An Uneven Yet Enjoyable Actioner That Underuses Salman Khan’s Fame
Profiting off a celebrity’s following appears to be Bollywood’s go-to hit formula. What other explanation is there for a full theater on the morning of Diwali for a show? In the newest installment of the action franchise, Tiger 3, Salman Khan plays the role of Tiger, who has been recharged, renewed, and revitalized with greater strength, force, and power.
I wish the following notice had been included at the outset of the movie: Tiger 3 has nothing subtle, and it could be considered its unique selling point. With its exaggerated action, respectable acting, surprising turns, and compelling writing, it keeps you from blinking. Maneesh Sharma, the director, skillfully combines all the components to create a compelling visual experience.
Tiger 3’s story and overall plot are highly complicated, with fresh developments waiting to happen every few minutes, but the uneven pacing is still an issue. It’s really unimpressive, especially in the first half, with nothing particularly remarkable. The second half picks up steam with some excellent hand-to-hand fighting and ridiculous yet incredibly well-choreographed action scenes. You don’t complain because there are plenty of instances worthy of a whistle.
To be honest, after 1.5 hours, the espionage story feels a little long. You hope it ends soon so Shah Rukh Khan’s much-anticipated cameo—which he promised would happen in Pathaan—can begin, leaving everyone wanting more. The film’s high point, if not its best feature, is unquestionably the 15-minute battle scene that showcases Salman and SRK’s friendship.
Returning to Tiger 3, the movie revolves around a new assignment involving RA&W agent Tiger (Salman) and ISI agent Zoya (Katrina Kaif), much like its two previous installments, Ek Tha Tiger and Tiger Zinda Hai. The antagonist Aatish Rehman (Emraan Hashmi), a disgruntled former Deputy Director of ISI, arrives to settle old scores and heal old wounds. He must exact revenge for the murder of his wife Shaheen (Ridhi Dogra) and their unborn child. Tiger enlists the support of his former comrades for a new mission: protecting his son Junior from Aatish, who wants to use the army to overthrow the Pakistani government, but Tiger won’t allow him to do so. This mission is personal rather than national. The battle between Tiger and Aatish’s force that follows include several hand-to-hand fights, crossfires, and bombings, all building to a satisfying conclusion.
The main selling point of Tiger 3 is its script by Shridhar Raghavan, which is further enhanced by Anckur Chaudhry’s large dialogue. In the most dramatic moments or in between a fight, there are some witty one-liners and comedic jabs that will have you in stitches. Anay Goswamy’s cinematography is remarkable, perfectly capturing the breathtaking locations; but, Rameshwar S. Bhagat’s editing falls short, with certain scenes appearing incredibly uneven and fragmented. Tiger 3 may become dull at certain sections at two hours and thirty-six minutes, but fear not—there are plenty of explosions and gunfire to keep you alert.
Additionally, Tiger 3 doesn’t downplay the cliché of having enough heartfelt pride in both Pakistani and Indian homelands. A very poignant scene occurred when, in a completely unexpected turn of events, India’s National Anthem was performed, and everyone in the theater stood up in unison. In truth, Tiger 3 is one of several movies centered around Indo-Pak animosity that aims to create an idealized picture of the opposing countries in an effort to start peace negotiations and put an end to the pervasive dread of war. Thankfully, there aren’t any sanctimonious speeches about the same, and the storyline has been retained to appeal to a broad audience of people who are mostly interested in seeing cheesy action on television and don’t give a damn about anything else.
Salman, in his role as Tiger, is a rock star who exudes the same confidence that he did when he performed with Ek Tha Tiger 11 years prior. He displays the same feelings, has the same charisma, and, at fifty-eight, he has enough of endurance for all the actions he performs. Although I occasionally thought the director in Tiger 3 underutilized Salman’s star power, the actor doesn’t give me the opportunity to grumble. Katrina has improved, and in a big way. Her action scenes are up to standard, and she executes them with such ease and believable appearance. Tiger 3 lacks the chemistry Salman and Katrina had together, or perhaps the writers were more concerned with moving the plot along than they were with developing Tiger and Zoya’s romance. Emraan, the newest member of the franchise, is a surprising villain. His performance is almost flawless because of the mannerisms and body language he adopts for this brutal and merciless role. Although they are sparse, Emraan and Salman’s action sequences are highly effective.
Not because Tiger 3 is a masterpiece, but rather because it’s rare to witness two superstars (the Khans) sharing screen time, even if it’s just briefly, it’s a big, masala film that you must see. Alternatively, allow your Tiger fever to take hold while you witness some impressive long leaps and the hero diving straight for the helicopter rather than making a safe landing. After all, what fun is it to watch high-octane action if it’s not risky? Go ahead and take a chance and see Tiger 3 in 3D on a huge screen. After the closing credits and the last song, kick back for a while because there’s a huge surprise in store. I promise you won’t be dissatisfied.
