The Baaghi franchise has always been synonymous with one thing: Tiger Shroff. More specifically, it’s been about Tiger Shroff pushing the boundaries of what is physically possible on screen, delivering a relentless barrage of martial arts, acrobatics, and high-stakes stunts. With its fourth installment, Baaghi 4, director A. Harsha and leading man Tiger Shroff return to this well-trodden path, promising an even grander spectacle of combat and carnage. The film arrives with immense hype, fueled by trailers that showcased Tiger Shroff in what was billed as his "beast avatar," a more brutal, unhinged version of his beloved character, Ronnie. The core promise was simple: more action, bigger explosions, and a Tiger Shroff who is more formidable than ever before. In this regard, Baaghi 4 delivers in spades. It is a visual and sonic thunderclap of a film, a showcase of combat choreography that few in Indian cinema can match. However, the film's singular focus on action comes at a significant cost, leaving the narrative thin, the characters underdeveloped, and the overall experience feeling like a highlight reel of stunts rather than a cohesive story.
The Unstoppable Force: Tiger Shroff's "Beast Avatar"
Tiger Shroff is, without a doubt, the undisputed star of Baaghi 4, and his performance is the film's greatest strength. From the very first frame, he commands the screen with a physicality that is truly a marvel to behold. His character, Ranveer, is a man pushed to the brink, and Shroff embodies this raw, unfiltered rage with a fierce intensity. Gone is some of the emotional vulnerability seen in previous installments; here, Ranveer is a force of nature, a one-man army driven by a singular purpose.
The physical demands of the role are immense, and Shroff handles them with a practiced ease that only comes from years of dedicated training. Every punch, every kick, every flip is delivered with a precision and power that feels authentic and bone-shattering. The film's action sequences are meticulously choreographed, allowing Shroff to showcase a wide range of martial arts styles, from Wing Chun to Kali. There are moments when you can't help but gasp in awe at his acrobatic feats—leaping across rooftops, free-running down vertical surfaces, and engaging in close-quarters combat with a ferocity that is genuinely intimidating. His "beast avatar" isn't just a marketing gimmick; it's a tangible evolution of his screen persona, one that sees him embracing a more visceral, less polished style of fighting. It’s a performance that solidifies his position as a pure action star, a niche he has carved out for himself in Bollywood.
Choreographing Carnage: The Action and Stunts
If you are a fan of high-octane action, Baaghi 4 is a cinematic treat. The film's action choreography is its beating heart and is executed with a scale and ambition that rivals Hollywood blockbusters. The sequences are designed to be grand and spectacular, moving from one explosive set-piece to the next with relentless energy. One standout sequence involves a a car chase through the narrow, bustling streets of a foreign city, culminating in a brutal, hand-to-hand fight on a moving train. The camera work in these scenes is dynamic and fluid, often following Shroff's movements in a seamless, unbroken take that immerses the audience directly into the chaos.
However, the action isn't just about large-scale set-pieces. The film also features several claustrophobic, intense one-on-one fights that are raw and gritty. The final showdown between Ranveer and the primary antagonist, played by Sanjay Dutt, is a highlight, a battle that is as much about psychological warfare as it is about physical prowess. The sound design is a crucial component of the action, with every bone crunch, metallic clang, and shattered window amplifying the impact of the stunts. The special effects are also top-notch, with the explosions and visual effects adding a layer of epic scale without feeling overdone. Director A. Harsha, known for his work in Kannada cinema, brings a fresh perspective to the Baaghi franchise, opting for a style that is both stylish and grounded in its brutality.
A Promise Unfulfilled: The Flaws in the Plot
Despite its breathtaking action, Baaghi 4 is a film that ultimately crumbles under the weight of its own narrative deficiencies. The plot, a flimsy and convoluted affair, feels like a generic template designed solely to connect one action sequence to the next. The story revolves around Ranveer’s quest to rescue his sister, a doctor who has been kidnapped by a ruthless drug lord, played by Sanjay Dutt. This is a formulaic premise that has been done countless times before, and Baaghi 4 does little to innovate or add any meaningful layers.
The biggest problem is the lack of character development and emotional depth. We are given little reason to care about Ranveer’s sister or the stakes of her kidnapping. The film's attempt at a backstory to explain Ranveer's "beast" mode feels rushed and unconvincing, failing to establish a strong emotional core. The villain's motivations are also generic and lack complexity, making him a one-dimensional character whose sole purpose is to be the final boss. The screenplay, credited to A. Harsha and a team of writers, feels like a series of disconnected events rather than a cohesive story. The dialogue is functional at best, and at worst, it’s cringe-worthy, with characters often spouting generic platitudes about honor and justice. The plot’s predictable twists and turns do nothing to engage the audience, leaving a large portion of the film's runtime feeling like filler between the main event—the action.
Supporting Cast and Character Depth
The supporting cast, while talented, is largely underutilized. Sanjay Dutt, in the role of the primary antagonist, has a formidable screen presence. His menacing voice and imposing physique make him a believable threat, but the character he is given to play is disappointingly generic. He is a stereotypical villain who exists to be defeated, and the film does not give him any scenes to showcase his acting range. It's a missed opportunity to create a truly memorable antagonist for Tiger Shroff's hero.
The film also marks the much-anticipated Bollywood debut of actress and former Miss Universe, Harnaaz Sandhu. Sandhu is captivating on screen, with a stunning presence and a quiet confidence that shines through. However, her role is disappointingly minimal. She is given little to do beyond being the damsel in distress, a cliché that feels particularly outdated in a modern action film. Her character's arc, if one can even call it that, is non-existent, and she is largely relegated to a passive role. This is a significant letdown, as her potential to be a strong female lead is evident. The film's focus on Tiger Shroff's character is so singular that it seems to forget that the other characters are there to support the story, not just serve as plot devices.
Direction and Technical Execution
Director A. Harsha's vision for Baaghi 4 is clear: he wants to create a visual spectacle of violence and redemption. On a technical level, the film largely succeeds. The cinematography, by C. S. Anup, is stellar, capturing the sprawling landscapes and the grimy urban environments with a slick, polished look. The color palette is vibrant, with each frame looking like a painting, and the use of slow-motion and quick cuts during action sequences adds a stylish flair. The background score is a mixed bag, with some tracks being pulsating and high-energy, while others are forgettable and generic.
The one area where the technical execution falters is the editing. While the editing during action sequences is sharp and dynamic, it becomes inconsistent and jarring in the film's non-action scenes. The transitions between scenes are often abrupt, and the pacing feels uneven, as if the editor was rushing to get to the next fight. This inconsistency disrupts the film's rhythm and makes the narrative feel even more disjointed.
The CBFC Factor: Censorship and its Impact
A notable aspect of Baaghi 4 is its brush with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The film, which was initially expected to be a brutal and uncensored spectacle, reportedly faced several cuts and modifications from the CBFC. While the exact details are not public, it is speculated that the cuts were made to tone down the film's intense violence and gore. The film’s final version, while still very brutal, feels like it has been slightly sanitized.
The impact of these cuts is most visible in the film’s crucial action sequences. While the choreography is still impressive, some of the more brutal moments seem to have been truncated or edited in a way that lessens their impact. This is a shame, as it prevents the film from fully realizing its potential as a gritty, no-holds-barred action thriller. The cuts also make some of the fight scenes feel slightly disorienting, as if they are missing a few crucial frames. For a film that prides itself on its action, this is a significant drawback.
A Comparative Look: Baaghi 4 vs. its Predecessors
The Baaghi franchise has always had a clear-cut formula: a basic, revenge-driven plot, a charismatic hero, and an abundance of action. While Baaghi 4 adheres to this formula, it feels like a slight regression in terms of narrative quality compared to some of its predecessors. The first Baaghi film, while not a masterpiece, had a coherent story and a strong emotional core. Baaghi 2 managed to find a compelling narrative in its gritty, realistic approach. Baaghi 3, with its larger-than-life scale and over-the-top action, pushed the franchise to its limit.
Baaghi 4 is an interesting case. It takes the action to a new level, with Tiger Shroff delivering what might be his best performance from a purely physical standpoint. However, the film lacks the narrative tightness of the first two installments and the sheer, mind-numbing spectacle of the third. It sits in an awkward middle ground, where the action is exceptional but the story is so threadbare that it becomes a chore to sit through. It’s a film that feels less like a narrative and more like a montage of action clips.
Final Verdict: A Visual Spectacle, A Narrative Letdown
In conclusion, Baaghi 4 is a film that will undoubtedly satisfy the appetites of die-hard action fans. Tiger Shroff is in his element, delivering a fierce, powerful, and captivating performance that solidifies his status as a leading action star. The stunts and action choreography are world-class, and the film is a technical marvel that looks and sounds incredible. It is a visual thunderclap, a high-octane spectacle of combat and carnage that rarely slows down.
However, a film cannot survive on action alone, and this is where Baaghi 4 stumbles. The plot is a hollow shell, the characters are one-dimensional, and the emotional core is completely absent. The film's narrative feels like an afterthought, a generic framework on which to hang its spectacular stunts. While Sanjay Dutt and Harnaaz Sandhu deliver commendable performances, their talents are wasted on characters that have little to do.
Ultimately, Baaghi 4 is a film of two halves. The action is incredible, a masterclass in choreographed violence that is a must-watch for anyone who appreciates physical performance and spectacle. The story, on the other hand, is a major letdown, preventing the film from being more than just a series of fight scenes. For those who go to the cinema purely for the adrenaline rush and the sight of Tiger Shroff in full "beast mode," this film is a triumph. For everyone else, it’s a beautifully shot, well-staged action film with a deeply flawed narrative. It's a film that's all thunder, with a surprisingly quiet plot
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