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Slick action debut

Everyone loves a good story! And, Moga da munda, who has earned a name for himself as an actor and masses’ hero, makes a rather ‘killing’ debut as a writer-director in ‘Fateh’. The story is set in Punjab, where villagers...
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Thrillers are the flavour of the times, and Sonu Sood makes his mark.
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film: Fateh

Director: Sonu Sood

Cast: Sonu Sood, Jacqueline Fernandez, Vijay Raaz, Naseeruddin Shah, Dibyendu Bhattacharya and Shiv Jyoti Rajput

Everyone loves a good story! And, Moga da munda, who has earned a name for himself as an actor and masses’ hero, makes a rather ‘killing’ debut as a writer-director in ‘Fateh’. The story is set in Punjab, where villagers become victims of a fraud online loan scheme.

Nimrit (Shiv Jyoti Rajput), because of whom this ‘ill’ had come to the village, goes to Delhi to set things right. Her neighbour Fateh (Sonu Sood), a do-gooder supervisor at a dairy farm, goes to find her and faces the big bad world of cyber terrorists who are in cahoots with the system.

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The story is set in the present times, where a seemingly harmless app gives access to cyber criminals. Sonu Sood is able to build an interesting enough narrative in the world of cyber crime. Our well-meaning hero goes on a killing spree, and even if there is bloody mayhem, it’s choreographed rather well.

Thrillers are the flavour of the times, and Sood registers a significant presence in this space. Fateh’s character is built with care — sleek and stylish ala Bond, Sonu Sood fits the mould well. An envious body, commanding demeanour and smooth action choreography, he scores well.

As a director, he gives stiff competition to South Indian filmmakers eyeing Bollywood’s larger-than-life action market. He fetches the best names from around the world — background score by Hans Zimmer and cinematography by Vincenzo Condorelli — for his ambitious project with high production value. That Sood is able to build a relevant present-day story is a sure win. The message is loud and clear in this action entertainer.

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One gets on this heady action ride, complimented by pulsating music. Just as one envisions a mask, a due prop in any espionage story, comes something even better, a deep fake video. Yes, there is a love angle and a cause, both propelling our hero on his mission. Sure, there is a deadly army too, just that they are not wearing the bright pink as in ‘Squid Games’, but deep red, and sophisticated weaponry.

The dialogues are crisp. Travelling from rural Punjab to Delhi’s bustling Chandni Chowk to the majestic Golden Gate in San Francisco, there are also some fancy scenes in the UAE — a chopper and a yacht in place, scoring well as an espionage thriller.

‘Saw’ meets ‘Animal’ meets ‘Bond’ in this film with its heart in the right place.

Where it lacks though is that this 127-minute outing is all about Fateh. Neither his lady love, Khushi (Jacqueline Fernandez), the London-returned ethical hacker, nor his antagonist, the disgruntled ex-agent, Raza (Naseeruddin Shah), get an arc. That said, we would need more of our hero’s backstory, apart from his glorious days as a patriotic spy on foreign soil.

The film’s climax is open-ended, so one can expect a sequel. We demand a fancy car befitting our ‘desi’ Bond in the next outing, along with well-etched characters.

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