Ek Tha Tiger

The Hindi film industry is not new to espionage themes. Rather, the secret agent thrillers date back to the 60s and 70s. Recall films like ANKHEN, INTERNATIONAL CROOK, FARZ, SPY IN ROME, JEWEL THIEF, also THE GREAT GAMBLER, SURAKKSHA, AGENT VINOD and GOPICHAND JASOOS…

Post WANTED, DABANGG and BODYGUARD, all Eid releases, Salman Khan and Yash Raj, the premier production house, unleash their first collaboration together, again on Eid. The Pied Piper of the Hindi film industry, who is on a dream run, delivering one Blockbuster after another, is expected to shatter previous records and set new ones at the box-office.

Is EK THA TIGER at par/better than the previous Salman starrers? All Id say is that the comparisons, though inevitable, are erroneous. As a standalone film, EK THA TIGER is enthralling and most significantly, an entertaining motion picture. On the exterior, it is a compelling love story/thriller. But beneath the entertainment that it offers, it carries a message as well. Loud and clear. If the spectators can see through the coating, great. Even if they dont, they will yet go back in high spirits.

Let me clarify, EK THA TIGER is not a dark film. No jingoism. No political statements. This is no James Bond duplication either. It reintroduces a megastar, who is at the pinnacle of his illustrious career, in a wholly new space. This ones made by a desi, with desi sensibilities, but targeting the desi audience as well as those beyond the shores of the country. So, there!

In the dark world of intelligence and espionage, all information is guarded in the name of national security. But some stories escape the fiercely guarded classified files...

In a government employees neighbourhood in New Delhi, there lived a rugged, handsome and mysterious bachelor about whom his neighbours knew nothing. That was because he was Indias top spy, an officer with the Research and Analysis Wing [RAW]. This man was known even in official corridors as Tiger [Salman Khan].

Tiger is sent on a relatively easy and safe mission to Dublin, Ireland to observe a scientist of Indian origin [Roshan Seth], who is suspected of sharing his research findings with the Pakistan defence establishment. Tiger attempts to meet the scientist, but is not successful. He tries to befriend the scientists part-time home caretaker, Zoya [Katrina Kaif].