Gadar 2 Review

Gadar 2, titled “Rebellion 2” in English, is a Hindi-language period action drama film released in 2023, directed and produced by Anil Sharma, with a screenplay by Shaktimaan Talwar. Serving as a sequel to the 2001 film “Gadar: Ek Prem Katha,” the movie features Sunny Deol, Ameesha Patel, and Utkarsh Sharma reprising their roles from the original. The story is set 17 years after the events of the first film and revolves around Tara Singh’s quest to locate his imprisoned son during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.

The film made its theatrical debut on August 11, 2023, and has achieved remarkable success, amassing a worldwide box office collection of ₹175.5 crore (approximately US$22 million) as of August 13, 2023. This performance positions it as the seventh highest-grossing Hindi film of the year 2023.

Plot Synopsis: In the backdrop of the “Crush India” campaign of 1971, Tara Singh mysteriously disappears during a border skirmish and is believed to be held captive in Pakistan. Upon learning of this, Tara’s son Charanjeet “Jeete” Singh embarks on a mission to rescue his father. However, he ends up being captured and subjected to torture by Pakistani soldiers under the command of Major General Hamid Iqbal. This military officer seeks revenge against Tara for eliminating 40 of his men during their escape from Pakistan in 1954, along with Tara’s wife Sakeena and Jeete. After being reunited with Sakeena and becoming aware of the dire situation, Tara sets out to save Jeete from Hamid Iqbal and his forces.

Cast: The film boasts an ensemble cast, including:

Sunny Deol in the role of Tara Singh
Ameesha Patel as Sakeena, Tara Singh’s wife
Utkarsh Sharma portraying Charanjeet “Jeete” Singh, Tara and Sakeena’s son
Manish Wadhwa as Major General Hamid Iqbal
Gaurav Chopra as Lieutenant Colonel Devendra Rawat
Simrat Kaur as Muskaan, Charanjeet’s love interest
Luv Sinha as Farid, Muskaan’s brother
And various other talented actors in supporting roles.

Development: The film’s creation was officially announced by Zee Studio, Sunny Deol, Ameesha Patel, and Utkarsh Sharma on October 15, 2021 (Dusshera) through their social media platforms. The initial motion poster revealed a release date in 2022. The first official poster, titled “Gadar 2,” was unveiled on January 26, 2023 (Republic Day) and prominently features Sunny Deol’s character, Tara Singh, wielding a hammer. As a precursor to the sequel’s release, “Gadar: Ek Prem Katha” was re-released in theaters on June 9, 2023.

Casting: Sunny Deol, while initially uncertain about reprising his role as Tara Singh, eventually agreed to return to the character. Director Anil Sharma played a pivotal role in persuading Deol, emphasizing the public’s desire for a sequel and the emotional significance attached to it. Ameesha Patel and Utkarsh Sharma also returned to portray their respective characters, Sakeena and Charanjeet “Jeete” Singh. Simrat Kaur joined the cast as well. Notable actors such as Manish Wadhwa, Rohit Choudhary, Luv Sinha, and Gaurav Chopra were cast in significant roles. Principal photography was concluded by May 2023.

Music: The film’s music is composed by Mithoon, with lyrics penned by Sayeed Quadri. The soundtrack includes soul-stirring tracks like “Udd Jaa Kaale Kaava,” “Khairiyat,” “Main Nikla Gaddi Leke,” “Dil Jhoom,” “Sura Soi,” and “Chal Tere Ishq Mein.” A special version of “Udd Jaa Kaale Kaava” is included as well. The teaser for the film was launched on June 12, 2023, coinciding with the 22nd anniversary of “Gadar: Ek Prem Katha.” The official trailer premiered on July 26, 2023, aligning with Kargil Vijay Diwas.

Box Office Performance: “Gadar 2” hit theaters on August 11, 2023, collecting an opening day total of ₹40.10 crore (approximately US$5.0 million) in India and ₹53.71 crore (approximately US$6.7 million) globally. As of August 13, 2023, the film’s cumulative worldwide earnings stand at ₹175.5 crore (approximately US$22 million). However, it faced challenges due to a leak on YouTube just two days after its release, impacting its theatrical business and leading to a clash with the film “OMG 2.”