Yodha Review: A Soldier’s Cinematic Struggles On and Off the Battlefield

Yodha thrusts viewers right into high-octane action as disgraced soldier Arun Katyal finds himself aboard a hijacked flight under mysterious circumstances. Made by newcomers Sagar Ambre and Pushkar Ojha, this muscle-bound thriller sees debutant Sidharth Malhotra flaunt formidable fighting skills as a commando suspended from service.

Arun once led an elite Rapid Response task force matching the finest soldiers from India’s military branches. But failure to save a scientist in a previous hijacking leaves him derobed and disowned. So when he mysteriously materializes on another captured plane, authorities and the airborne audience alike demand to know: is Arun out for patriotic vengeance or has he betrayed his country?

Muscles bulge and punches fly as Arun wreaks controlled chaos to unravel the real villains. But this is not a one-man show. Stewardess Disha Patani and pilot-in-training share key supporting roles, while Arun’s bureaucratic wife Raashii Khanna finds herself a VIP hostage in an escalating crisis. Production values soar for well-crafted combat that makes the most of an aircraft’s cramped playground.

If Ambre and Ojha stick to their debut, it’s thanks to Malhotra’s maintaining intensity amid muddled story beats. Yodha delivers a dizzying ride that looks the part but ignores finer character details in its rush to rack up mid-air notches on Arun’s duty belt. For better or worse, this is muscle movie mayhem that majors in maneuver over meaning.

Patriotism on a Platter

The protagonist, Arun Katyal, finds himself with everything to lose in Yodha. The son of celebrated soldier Surender, Arun dedicated his life to upholding the elite Yodha task force started by his late father. Nothing meant more to Arun than serving his country with the same valor and distinction.

Tragedy first strikes when the survivor is killed in action, leaving big boots for his son to fill. We see a young Arun vow to live up to his father’s memory, embarking on a military career that soon sees him leading the exclusive Yodha unit. But on one fateful mission, Arun fails to save a scientist caught in a hijacking crisis. This single error costs him dearly.

Stripped of his command and shamed as a scapegoat, a disgraced Arun finds little left to fight for. That is, until mysterious circumstances land him aboard another hijacked flight. Now everyone, from authorities to passengers, views Arun with suspicion. But is he really a rogue soldier enraged by past mistreatment? Or could larger forces be at play?

Arun’s wife, Priyamvada, soon emerges as a formidable opponent, hellbent on upholding protocol over personal ties. As a senior bureaucrat, she sees only a man who betrayed his sacred duty. Their once-steel bond now lies in tatters. Meanwhile, fellow Yodha Khan remains among the few still blindly loyal to Arun.

Fierce hostess Laila and ambitious pilot Zoya also get pulled into the aerial anarchy. Both prove themselves to be more than mere damsels, showcasing grit and combat skills that hold their own against Arun. Action scenes involving the memorable trio pushing limits within the plane’s tight quarters make for standout sequences.

As the twists keep viewers firmly in turbulence alongside Arun, Yodha poses a simple question: is our troubled soldier a patriot still fighting for his homeland, or has vengeance led him to darker paths? Only when the final flight lands will viewers share Arun’s fate, for better or worse.

Stepping Into Their Roles

For any action blockbuster flying high on fisticuffs and fleet footwork, the cast must carry their weight through combat grit alone. Leading man Sidharth Malhotra powers Yodha from the pilot seat with muscular acting, ready for takeoff. Having proved his mettle holding ground in Shershaah, Sidharth brings that military muscle memory to this airborne adventure. Whether dancing through danger thirty thousand feet in the sky or waging war amid the wreckage, his presence commands.

By his veteran side stands Raashii Khanna, keeping heads level as devoted wife Priyamvada torn between duty and heart. Raashii breathes nuance into a role that could’ve felt one-dimensional, respecting protocol with feeling. Her scenes share a lived-in love standing the test of time against turmoil. Disha Patani, too, elevates beyond eye candy as headstrong air hostess Laila. She matches Malhotra moves for volatile moves through standout sequences that appear improvised in invention.

Tanuj Virwani brings brotherly loyalty as Yodha teammate Khan, their history of service running deep. Others find their marks supportively. Against corruption cocked hats Sunny Hinduja portrays, evading caricature. Understated, he imprints a real sense of stakes. Even fleeting appearances, such as Ronit Roy’s tribute to fatherhood fallen, carry weight and warmth.

Through these performances, Yodha achieves liftoff. Each role contributes vital thrust aiding the story’s ascension. Their efforts ensure viewers remain invested from takeoff to touchdown, sharing this thrilling ride from introduction to conclusion with characters felt fully fledged along the way.

Standing & Delivering

One thing’s certain – they didn’t skimp on action packing this passenger plane! Yodha wastes no time zipping us thirty thousand feet, where the real thrills take flight. Within moments mid-air mayhem erupts, and hold onto your halwa folks because it doesn’t let up. Choreographers earned their wings crafting jaw-dropping stunts inside such tight confines. Sidharth sails through with star quality, pulling off acrobatics that’d win Olympic medals.

Remember that drink cart? Well now it’s a human projectile as bad guys go airborne. Sidharth smoothly intercepts with kickboxing flair. Fists fly faster than the fastest fasten seatbelt sign, even when orientations change. One breathtaking brawl spans the entire corkscrewing cabin as gravity goes loopy. Yet through the topsy-turvy tumult Sidharth’s purpose is pure pilot precision. He owns that plane like he’s the only passenger with a passport.

Things get really twisted when mid-flight mutiny spins the deck upside-down. How these performers plunge pandemonium without plummeting proves they’re the best in the business. Disha proves perfectly pivotal too, powerfully pounding pursers with pizzazz. Their team-up is a tour de force, perfectly in sync even when the world’s awry. It’s a cameo to remember—this sari-clad superwoman stands tall alongside our hero.

Thrill-a-minute mayhem rains from above as Arun ascends to the cockpit’s atmosphere. Control-grabbing combat surpasses any sci-fi’s zero-gravity fantasies. Sidharth makes complexity look casual with each graceful float and throw. He commands like he’s destiny’s own captain, charismatically calm amid chaos that’d leave others paralyzed. It all simply soars – the action and our action hero taking flights of fancy to new heights!

Punching Above Their Weight

Making your directorial debut with a high-flying action extravaganza crammed inside a plane wouldn’t be many filmmakers’ idea of an easy start. But Sagar Ambre and Pushkar Ojha pulled it off in style—they sure packed a wallop above their weight! Tension never lets up as these newcomers ratchet suspense to jaw-dropping peaks. From tight-quarters combat to zero-gravity brawls, each stunt’s a winner.

Visually, it’s a treat. Cinematography captures claustrophobic closeness while vast vistas wow through windows. Even mundane moments simmer with an invisible timer’s tension. Clearly, these directors squeezed every drop from each set piece. Impressively, they balance character arcs amidst the anarchy. Production values shine, from sleek stealth soldiers to sleeker steel birds stretched to breaking.

Music matches the moody meter too. The background score sustains suspense swimmingly. The remix of Qismat Badal Di fits like a custom glove, reflecting Arun’s plight perfectly. Song placements proxy plot points poignantly. Tracks transit threads tautly without jolting the jittery jeopardy. Sound design’s also stellar, ratcheting realism with each ricochet.

Potential was palpable from preview promos. Delivery exceeds all expectations. Newbies Ambre and Ojha proved perfect pilots to handle these hair-raising hijinks. Their tight directorial teamwork tackled technical tantrums terrifically. While not flawless, Yodha’s maiden mission merits much merit. With the skills shown here, the sky’s the limit for where their talent may take them next!

Stormy Skies Over Yodha’s Storytelling

While its aerial stunts take your breath away, the film’s story hits some heavy turbulence. Predictable turns and superficial themes keep it from soaring to greater heights.

The plot zips along fine at first. We get to know the hardworking hero Arun and feel for his dad’s sacrifice. But then things start spiraling—in all the wrong ways. It seems our boys are always in exactly the right place at the right time to save the day. Fun, but you can see every twist coming miles off!

Character depth is another casualty of the choppy script. Arun loves his country; we get that. Yet why’s he so hot-headed? A few more layers could’ve made him really fly off the page. His wife just feels like a plot device too. And what’s the deal with the villains? We never truly understood their motives.

The overblown patriotism starts to ring hollow without real insight too. Yes, honoring the uniform is great. But real complexity and nuance are missing; it’s all just surface-level flag-waving in the end.

Some neat social commentary hinted at too rarely gets its chance to shine. For instance, an early scene compares Indian and Pakistani leaders working as partners, not enemies. Yet this goes nowhere interesting.

All the high-speed action in the world can’t make up for flimsy story bones. When the basics aren’t solid, the whole film feels unsteady. It’s a real shame, as the ingredients were there for something truly sky-high. With richer development and more thoughtful themes, Yodha could have been a true airborne adventure to remember. As is, despite its thrills, it never quite takes off.

With more focus on characters over set pieces and deeper messaging over jingoism, their second effort could really reach new heights. Fans will hope Ambre-Ojha takes these lessons aboard next time to craft a story as smooth and powerful as one of Arun’s missions. The potential’s surely there; they just need a sturdier story to carry it all the way.

Promise Unfulfilled: Yodha Flies High then Plummets

This action flick really takes off at times. The aerial stuntwork gives you white-knuckle thrills. And Sidharth Malhotra is in fighting form; you can buy him as a super soldier. It’s his strongest lead role so far, no doubt.

But for all its high-flying moments, the script ultimately crashes hard. The plot goes off on wild tangents that make no sense. Characters act in ways you never understand. And the big climactic battle? Total nonsense, I tell you!

It’s like the filmmakers came up with awesome set pieces first without mapping out the full story. They clearly aimed high—to make India’s answer to top Hollywood blockbusters. But you need solid foundations, and this script fell way short.

Still, I wouldn’t rule out Yodha finding success streaming one day. Choppy as the narrative gets, those aerial dogfights are pulse-pounders. Folks may find it more forgivable at home too. As long as they know to expect gorgeous visuals versus tight storytelling.

As for Sidharth, I’m certain he’ll take on more action-lead roles after this. He proves he’s got the screen presence and physicality down. Now he just needs scripts that fit his talents. A Yodha sequel or spy franchise could fly if they address the first film’s issues.

Directors Ambre and Ojha showed flashes of promise too. With experience, they could definitely deliver hits. But next time, they need to spend more time in the writers’ room beforehand. An ironclad script is key to making a truly great action blockbuster that people remember.

Yodha had all the pieces to soar. But unfocused storytelling clipped its wings. Still, I appreciate the filmmakers’ big ambitions. With the polish and care given to scripting, their future projects may one day reach stellar heights this one couldn’t attain. For now, though, Yodha remains an unfinished work of promise unfulfilled.