War Review: A High-Octane Bollywood Action Thriller Recap

Welcome to The Movie Time, your ultimate destination for spoiler-filled recaps and reviews of cinematic blockbusters! Today, we’re revisiting War, a Hindi action thriller that exploded into theaters on October 2, 2019, coinciding with Gandhi Jayanti. Directed by Siddharth Anand and starring Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff, and Vaani Kapoor, this YRF Spy Universe installment pits two action icons in a pulse-pounding showdown. Does it deliver adrenaline-fueled thrills or fizzle out? Stream it on Amazon Prime Video, join the buzz on X with #MovieTimePicks, and let’s dive into this action-packed saga!

The Rise of the YRF Spy Universe

War, produced by Yash Raj Films, is the second chapter in the YRF Spy Universe, following Ek Tha Tiger (2012) and preceding Tiger 3 (2023), per Wikipedia. With a ₹150 crore budget, it grossed over ₹475 crore worldwide, becoming 2019’s highest-grossing Indian film, per Boxoffice Pro. Directed by Siddharth Anand (Pathaan), it’s a high-stakes espionage thriller showcasing Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff’s action prowess, filmed in exotic locales like the Arctic Circle, per Hindustan Times. For global readers, the film’s R&AW (Research and Analysis Wing), India’s intelligence agency akin to the CIA, drives the spy narrative, with Gandhi Jayanti—a national holiday honoring non-violence—adding ironic contrast to the action, per Times of India. Let’s unpack this stylish, action-packed spectacle

A Mentor-Protégé Showdown: Plot Recap

War follows Major Kabir Dhaliwal (Hrithik Roshan), a rogue R&AW agent who leads the Elite Shadow Unit, a crack team for high-risk missions. The story opens in Syria, where Kabir, tasked with neutralizing terrorist Rizwan Ilyasi, shockingly kills an Indian intelligence officer, going rogue, per IMDb. Colonel Luthra (Ashutosh Rana) assigns Khalid Rahmani (Tiger Shroff), Kabir’s protégé, to hunt him down. Khalid, burdened by his traitor father’s legacy and a blind spot in his peripheral vision, idolizes Kabir, setting up a tense dynamic, per NDTV.

The first act unfolds through flashbacks, showing Kabir training Khalid, a skilled but impulsive soldier, in Delhi’s Connaught Place, per NDTV. Their bond—mentor and student—crumbles as Kabir’s betrayal unfolds. Khalid teams with analyst Naina (Vaani Kapoor) and officer Aditi (Anupriya Goenka) to track Kabir across global locales—Marrakesh, Malta, and Portugal. A thrilling Morocco chase sees Khalid sprinting over rooftops, while Kabir outsmarts foes with slick moves, per New Indian Express. A twist reveals Kabir’s rogue status ties to a mole in R&AW, with clues pointing to Ilyasi’s network.

The second act amps up the action. Kabir and Khalid clash in a Portugal car chase, with Kabir driving a jeep off a crashing plane, evoking Race 2, per India Today. Naina’s romance with Kabir adds tension, while Khalid grapples with loyalty and doubt. A subplot involves Dr. Mallika Singhal (Dipannita Sharma), a Zurich plastic surgeon, hinting at identity swaps, per Wikipedia. The duo’s dance to Jai Jai Shiv Shankar—a vibrant Holi sequence—trends for its fluid choreography, per IMDb. A major twist reveals Kabir’s true motive: he’s hunting Ilyasi, who faked his death, but a deeper betrayal emerges.

The climax, shot in the Arctic Circle, is a brutal showdown. Khalid and Kabir face off on an ice-breaker ship, with bone-crunching fights and a shocking reveal: Ilyasi used plastic surgery to impersonate a key figure, per Bollywood Hungama. Kabir’s plan to expose the mole succeeds, but at a cost—Khalid’s sacrifice in a bloody duel, per IMDb. The 154-minute film ends with Kabir honoring Khalid, setting up his Tiger 3 cameo, per Wikipedia. A post-credits tease hints at War 2, fueling X buzz. The global settings and high-octane action keep viewers glued, per Hindustan Times.

The Good: Stylish Action and Star Power

Siddharth Anand’s direction delivers a glossy, adrenaline-pumped thriller, with action sequences rivaling Mission Impossible, per IMDb. Hrithik Roshan’s Kabir is magnetic—his suave charm and athletic stunts, like the plane-jeep escape, trend on X, per Hindustan Times. Tiger Shroff’s Khalid matches him with raw energy, their Jai Jai Shiv Shankar dance a visual spectacle, per IMDb. Benjamin Jasper’s cinematography—Malta’s azure seas, Arctic’s icy vistas—stuns, per Wikipedia. Vishal-Shekhar’s soundtrack, with Ghungroo and Jai Jai Shiv Shankar, pulses with energy, topping Spotify charts, per IMDb.

The 154-minute runtime packs twists, like the plastic surgery reveal, keeping audiences hooked, per Bollywood Hungama. Cultural elements, like Holi (India’s festival of colors) and R&AW’s spy world, are explained as vibrant celebrations and elite espionage, making the film accessible globally. The YRF Spy Universe tie-ins excite fans, earning a “Certified Fresh” 93% on Rotten Tomatoes. X calls it a “Hrithik-Tiger banger,” with the Arctic climax trending globally. The film’s scale—shot across 14 cities—makes it a Bollywood benchmark, per Hindustan Times.

The Not-So-Good: Weak Story and Overlong Action

War stumbles with a flimsy storyline, prioritizing style over substance, per India Today. The script’s reliance on convenient twists, like the mole reveal, feels contrived, per The Indian Express. Action sequences, while slick, overstay their welcome, with the 154-minute runtime dragging, per NDTV. Vaani Kapoor’s Naina is underused, her romance with Kabir feeling forced, per Scroll.in. Some VFX, like the plane crash, look exaggerated, drawing X nitpicks. A tighter script or deeper character arcs could’ve balanced the spectacle, per The Hindu.

Performances: Hrithik and Tiger Shine

Hrithik Roshan dominates as Kabir, his charisma and physicality—trained for Arctic stunts—making him a “James Bond contender,” per Amazon.in. Tiger Shroff’s Khalid is electric, his admiration-turned-betrayal arc gripping, per IMDb. Their fight-dance synergy, especially in Jai Jai Shiv Shankar, is “visual poetry,” per IMDb. Vaani Kapoor’s Naina adds charm but lacks depth, per India Today. Ashutosh Rana’s Colonel Luthra is solid but functional, per NDTV. Supporting roles, like Anupriya Goenka’s Aditi, are sidelined, per New Indian Express. The leads’ chemistry drives the film.

Technical Aspects: Glossy but Overdone

Benjamin Jasper’s cinematography dazzles, capturing Marrakesh’s rooftops and Arctic’s ice with flair, per Wikipedia. Vishal-Shekhar’s score, with Ghungroo’s Arijit Singh vocals, elevates action, trending on Spotify, per IMDb. Aarif Sheikh’s editing shines in transitions, like the Connaught Place wipe, but drags in fights, per NDTV. Sound design—gunshots, revving engines—immerses, ideal for Amazon Prime Video streaming. Production design, from R&AW offices to Malta’s forts, feels authentic. Overdone VFX, like the plane crash, draw criticism, per IMDb, but the polish is undeniable.

Audience Reaction: A Blockbuster Hit

X erupted with War love in 2019, with fans memeing Hrithik’s entry and the Arctic climax, per Hindustan Times. The Jai Jai Shiv Shankar dance and mole twist trended globally, per IMDb. Some criticized the “weak story,” but its ₹475 crore haul and 6.6/10 IMDb rating cement its success, per Wikipedia. Bollywood Hungama’s 4/5 and Taran Adarsh’s praise highlight its appeal, while Rajeev Masand’s 2.5/5 notes its style-over-substance flaw, per News18. War 2 buzz, tied to its August 14, 2025 release, keeps it relevant, per Wikipedia.

What’s your favorite War moment? Vote below!

• Arctic Circle showdown

• Jai Jai Shiv Shankar dance

• Plane-jeep escape

• Morocco rooftop chase

Top 5 Moments in War

For action fans, here are the film’s most thrilling scenes:

1. Arctic Circle Showdown: Hrithik and Tiger’s brutal fight on an ice-breaker ship is heart-pounding, trending on X.

2. Jai Jai Shiv Shankar Dance: The Holi sequence is a vibrant spectacle, per IMDb.

3. Plane-Jeep Escape: Kabir’s daring jeep stunt off a crashing plane stuns, per India Today.

4. Morocco Rooftop Chase: Khalid’s sprint across Marrakesh is electrifying, per New Indian Express.

5. Post-Credits Tease: The Tiger 3 setup fuels YRF Spy Universe hype, per Wikipedia.

Final Verdict: A Stylish Action Fest

War is a high-octane Bollywood thriller with Siddharth Anand’s slick direction, Hrithik Roshan’s magnetic charm, and Tiger Shroff’s fiery energy. Its global scale and action dazzle, but a weak story and overlong sequences temper its impact. A must-watch for action buffs and YRF fans, it’s a popcorn entertainer.

Rating: 3.6/5 Stars

A stylish, action-packed ride that’s big on thrills but light on story, perfect for an Amazon Prime Video binge.

Why Watch (or Skip) War

Watch if: You love high-octane action, Hrithik-Tiger chemistry, or YRF Spy Universe films. Ideal for fans of Mission Impossible or Dhoom.
Skip if: You dislike style-over-substance plots or overlong action.

Stream War on Amazon Prime Video, share your take on X with #MovieTimePicks, and explore more Bollywood reviews at The Movie Time.

Tags: War, Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff, Hindi movie, 2019 movies, Siddharth Anand, Amazon Prime Video, movie review, movie recap, action thriller, YRF Spy Universe

 

Posham Pa Review: A Chilling Hindi Psychological Thriller Recap

Welcome to The Movie Time, your premier destination for spoiler-filled recaps and reviews of cinematic gems! Today, we’re revisiting Posham Pa, a Hindi psychological thriller that premiered on ZEE5 on August 23, 2019. Directed by Suman Mukhopadhyay and starring Mahie Gill, Sayani Gupta, and Ragini Khanna, this true-crime drama dives into the dark minds of serial killers. Does it grip with its intensity or falter in execution? Stream it on ZEE5, join the buzz on X with #MovieTimePicks, and let’s unravel this unsettling tale!

The Rise of Bollywood True-Crime Thrillers

Bollywood’s true-crime genre has gained traction with films like Raman Raghav 2.0 and Talvar, blending real-life grit with cinematic drama. Posham Pa, directed by Suman Mukhopadhyay, draws from the shocking true story of Maharashtra’s serial killers Anjana Gavit and her daughters Seema Gavit and Renuka Shinde, who kidnapped over 40 children and murdered at least 12 between 1990 and 1996, per Wikipedia. Released on ZEE5, the 76-minute film earned positive reviews for its performances, per The Hindu, despite mixed critical takes on its depth, per Scroll.in. For global readers, the film’s 1990s Maharashtra setting reflects India’s socio-economic struggles, with urban slums and transient populations shaping the killers’ crimes, explained as a backdrop of poverty and desperation. Let’s dive into this chilling narrative

A Disturbing True-Crime Saga: Plot Recap

Posham Pa opens in 1996 Aurangabad, Maharashtra, with sisters Regha (Sayani Gupta) and Shikha (Ragini Khanna) in jail, awaiting trial for murdering five children. The story unfolds through interviews with a documentary filmmaker, Bajrang (Imaaduddin Shah), whose probing questions frame the narrative. Flashbacks reveal their mother, Prajakta (Mahie Gill), a psychologically disturbed matriarch who coerced her daughters into a life of crime—kidnapping street children for begging and theft, then killing them when they became liabilities, per Wikipedia. The film’s title, a children’s rhyme, chillingly mirrors their crimes, per Film Companion.

The first act sets a grim tone. In 1977, Prajakta, a single mother, trains young Regha and Shikha to steal in slums, normalizing violence. By the 1990s, their crimes escalate—kidnapping orphans, using them for petty theft, and disposing of them brutally. A chilling sequence shows Regha luring a child with sweets, only for Prajakta to drown them in a pond, set to an eerie Posham Pa rhyme. Bajrang’s interviews reveal Regha’s cold detachment and Shikha’s conflicted guilt, with flashbacks showing Prajakta’s abusive control—beatings, psychological manipulation—shaping their psyche, per The Hindu.

The second act deepens the horror. A key flashback depicts the 1996 murder of a toddler, the daughter of Anjana’s ex-husband, sparking police attention, per Scroll.in. Bajrang uncovers Prajakta’s childhood trauma—a vague hint of abuse—fueling her rage, though the film leaves details murky, per Film Companion. A subplot involves a cop, Inspector Deshmukh (Shivani Raghuvanshi), whose pursuit leads to the sisters’ arrest. The interviews grow tense—Regha’s defiance clashes with Shikha’s breakdowns, hinting at a rift. A twist reveals Shikha’s attempt to protect one child, only to be overruled by Prajakta.

The climax, set in the sisters’ jail cell, delivers a gut-punch. Bajrang’s final question—whether Shikha is truly innocent—triggers a shocking reveal: she’s acquitted, assumed innocent, but a flashback shows her complicity in a murder, leaving her guilt ambiguous, per IMDb user reviews. The 76-minute film ends with Regha facing the death penalty, Prajakta dead in prison (1997), and Shikha free but haunted. A post-credits tease hints at Shikha’s continued crimes, sparking sequel speculation on X. The gritty Maharashtra setting—slums, dusty streets—grounds the horror, per The News Minute.

The Good: Raw Performances and Disturbing Tone

Suman Mukhopadhyay’s direction crafts a chilling, if uneven, thriller, using stark visuals to evoke 1990s Maharashtra’s desperation, per Scroll.in. Mahie Gill’s Prajakta is terrifying—her volatile rage and cold manipulation haunt, per The Hindu. Sayani Gupta’s Regha is a standout, her icy detachment chilling, earning X praise for “lit af” acting. The non-linear storytelling, weaving interviews with flashbacks, keeps viewers hooked, per IMDb. Bickram Ghosh’s score, with eerie whispers and 1980s Hindi songs (Aap Jaisa Koi, Zooby Zooby), adds unsettling nostalgia, per IMDb.

The film’s 76-minute runtime is taut, avoiding bloat, per Film Companion. Cultural elements, like Maharashtra’s slums (poverty-stricken urban pockets), are explained as a breeding ground for crime, making the story accessible globally. The true-crime basis—Anjana, Seema, and Renuka’s real murders—adds weight, per Wikipedia. X fans call it a “psycho-thriller gem,” with Gupta’s “heartless” Regha trending. Its raw performances and grim tone make it a compelling ZEE5 watch, per JustWatch.

The Not-So-Good: Shallow Depth and VFX Flaws

Posham Pa falters in exploring the killers’ psyche, offering vague hints of Prajakta’s trauma without depth, per Scroll.in. The script, per Film Companion, prioritizes atmosphere over substance, leaving the “nature vs. nurture” debate underdeveloped. Some performances, like Ragini Khanna’s Shikha, feel inconsistent, per IMDb user reviews. The 1980s songs in a 1977 setting are anachronistic, jarring viewers, per IMDb. VFX, like a poorly lit drowning scene, feel cheap, drawing X nitpicks. A longer runtime or deeper character study could’ve elevated it, per The News Minute.

Performances: A Menacing Trio

Mahie Gill steals the show as Prajakta, her erratic menace chilling, especially in a pond murder scene, per The Hindu. Sayani Gupta’s Regha is riveting—her cold stares and defiant interviews grip, per IMDb. Ragini Khanna’s Shikha is uneven, her emotional breakdowns powerful but inconsistent, per Scroll.in. Shivani Raghuvanshi’s Inspector Deshmukh adds grit but is underused, per Film Companion. Imaaduddin Shah’s Bajrang is a solid anchor, though his role feels functional. The trio’s dynamic—Prajakta’s control, Regha’s cruelty, Shikha’s conflict—drives the drama.

Technical Aspects: Gritty but Flawed

Arvind Singh’s cinematography captures Aurangabad’s gritty slums and dusty streets, creating a stark, oppressive vibe, per Scroll.in. Bickram Ghosh’s score, blending eerie strings and retro songs, sets an unsettling tone, trending on X. Antara Lahiri’s editing is sharp in flashbacks but jarring in interview transitions, per Film Companion. Sound design—creaking doors, whispered rhymes—amps up dread, ideal for ZEE5 streaming. Production design, with rundown shacks and jail cells, feels authentic. VFX flaws, like murky night scenes, draw criticism, per IMDb, but the overall grit holds.

Audience Reaction: A Cult Thriller

X buzzed with Posham Pa love in 2019, with fans praising Gupta’s “killer vibe” and the twist ending, per IMDb. The pond murder and Shikha’s acquittal trended, spawning memes, per The News Minute. Some slammed the “shallow script,” per Scroll.in, but its 6.2/10 IMDb rating and positive reviews (8-9/10 from users) signal cult status. ZEE5 streams, per JustWatch, keep it alive, with 2025’s Posham Pa Pictures-YRF partnership fueling sequel talk. Critics laud performances but critique depth, per Film Companion.

What’s your favorite Posham Pa moment? Vote below!

• Pond murder scene

• Shikha’s acquittal twist

• Regha’s chilling interview

• Prajakta’s abusive control

Top 5 Moments in Posham Pa

For true-crime fans, here are the film’s most chilling scenes:

1. Pond Murder: Prajakta’s drowning of a child, set to the Posham Pa rhyme, haunts, trending on X.

2. Shikha’s Acquittal Twist: The shocking reveal of her complicity stuns, per IMDb.

3. Regha’s Interview: Gupta’s cold defiance grips, per India Today.

4. Prajakta’s Control: Mahie’s abusive manipulation chills, per The Hindu.

5. Post-Credits Tease: Shikha’s hinted crimes spark sequel buzz, per X.

Final Verdict: A Gritty but Flawed Thriller

Posham Pa is a chilling true-crime drama with Mahie Gill and Sayani Gupta’s raw performances and Suman Mukhopadhyay’s stark direction. Its grim tone and Maharashtra setting grip, but shallow character depth and VFX flaws dim its impact. A must-watch for psychological thriller fans, it’s a haunting ZEE5 gem.

Rating: 3.4/5 Stars

A gritty, unsettling thriller that’s big on performances but light on depth, perfect for a ZEE5 binge.

Why Watch (or Skip) Posham Pa

Watch if: You love true-crime thrillers, intense performances, or Bollywood’s dark side. Ideal for fans of Raman Raghav 2.0 or Mindhunter.
Skip if: You dislike shallow scripts or weak VFX.

Stream Posham Pa on ZEE5, share your take on X with #MovieTimePicks, and explore more Bollywood reviews at The Movie Time.

Tags: Posham Pa, Mahie Gill, Sayani Gupta, Hindi movie, 2019 movies, Suman Mukhopadhyay, ZEE5, movie review, movie recap, psychological thriller, true crime