Pathaan
2023 · Directed by Siddharth Anand
Original language: Hindi
- action
- adventure
- thriller
The story
A soldier caught by enemies and presumed dead comes back to complete his mission, accompanied by old companions and foes.
What it’s like
Bright, saturated spy-action with high-key lighting, sun-baked deserts, and glossy digital polish: Dubai skylines at night in cool blue and neon, Spanish coastal daylight, Central Asian snowscapes rendered in crisp white. Camera work is kinetic and fluid, with sweeping crane moves, rapid handheld cuts through crowds, and slow-motion set pieces that linger on bodies in motion, while the score runs on pounding percussion, swelling strings and bursts of electronic pulse. The mood is brash, playful and unabashedly larger than life, with a steady swagger that moves between tense stealth and open-air brawls. Its heroes trade wisecracks and banter between firefights, and the emotional beats are about loyalty, old rivalries and a veteran reclaiming his nerve. Violence is frequent and stylised, with gunfights, hand-to-hand combat and explosions, but little gore; the romance and sensuality are light and mostly kept to flirtatious glances and brief embraces. Best for an evening of big-screen escapism, a loud weekend watch with friends, or fans of high-octane spy spectacle who want charm alongside the chaos.
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