Review of Tiger Zinda Hai (2017) by Leizer S — 16 Nov 2018

Tiger Zinda Hai, the sequel to Ek Tha Tiger, is a gripping action-packed film which remains steadfast in its implementation of classic Bollywood themes of secularism, love, and morality. It stars three famous actors, Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, and Sajjad Delfrooz. Bollywood is a "cinema of interruptions" and this movie is no different (Ganti). Throughout the film, the action is interrupted by musical numbers and subplots. An example of this is Tiger and Zoya's love song in the early portion of the movie. It provides the audience with a sense of their passion for one another, especially with the huge mural Tiger makes of Zoya in the snow. The tension in the movie is again interrupted and relieved in a couple of scenes with humor from Junior (Sartaaj Kakkar) and Rakesh (Kumud Mishra). These breaks are integral in "shaping the narrative structure and viewing pleasure associated with Hindi cinema" (Ganti).

Similar to Raghavan in Main Hoon Na, Abu Usman is a ruthless villain and was not a terrorist until his dignity and sense of morality was snatched away. Interestingly, the United States is portrayed as both a good and bad entity. Although they are supposedly an ally to India, they are the source of the tension in the film.

Tiger, the hero of the film, adheres to classic Bollywood principles of morality as an Indian RAW agent. He is both a dedicated father and husband. Despite being on the run with his wife Zoya, a Pakistani ISI agent, his love for his country is unmatched. Although they are working for enemy countries, their extraction teams exemplify secularism and present a unified Indo-Pak front in order to save the nurses. The theme of love trumping all is also evident throughout the film. However, unlike other famous Bollywood movies, the lovers are already together as a family at the start of the movie. Tiger and Zoya's love is as powerful as ever and crosses national borders. They exemplify the relationship that Indians and Pakistanis should have with one another. Their passion for each other is seen through their love song at the beginning of the film and is emphasized in the closing song in which they sing "we are nothing without love." Although saving their respective countries are of extreme importance, once everyone is protected and the moral universe is righted, Tiger and Zoya feel that family is their top priority. Because of this, they sneak away from their respective countries and return to their life as a loving family.