After 22 years, Tara Singh returned and filled the screens with nostalgia, emotional punch and bone-crunching action in Gadar 2, a sequel to the blockbuster Gadar. However, the sequel is not even close to its classic predecessor. Starring Sunny Deol, Ameesha Patel and Utkarsh Sharma in the lead, it narrates the tale of an ordinary yet powerful man's endeavour to free his son from the shackles of the enemy and protect his country. Set in the backdrop of the Bangladesh Liberation War, this film is full of blemishes but Tara Singh manages to salvage the film. The half-baked and hackneyed story spoilt the magic of its predecessor. Except for one or two dialogues which were rich in nationalism, the film has nothing new to offer. Charanjeet Singh aka Jeete gets a huge portion of the runtime but fails to leave any significant impact while Tara Singh roars with his contagious energy. Although the film is witnessing record-breaking box-office collection, its flaws prove that every classic does not need a poorly conceptualised sequel. (I liked/didn't like Gadar 2 because... August 12)

Aayman Anwar Ali

One went to watch Gadar 2 because of the nostalgia for Gadar: Ek Prem Katha. In the sequel, we revisit the same story and characters, now set against the backdrop of the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war. Though a rehash of the original, a baby-faced Utkarsh Sharma (the same boy from 2001's Gadar, now all grown-up) and a surprisingly tenacious Manish Wadhwa in the role of a Pakistani general lend some freshness to the old tale.

The same heart-tugging Udd ja kaale kawa is played again and again and the same mindless gore is repeated. It is an out-and-out nationalist movie. Director Anil Sharma has tried desperately to infuse new blood into an old tale. However, it is Sunny Deol again who resurrects himself as the mighty Tara Singh, a truck driver, and saves the movie as well as the stray Indians (PoWs included) from annihilation.

Pampa Paul

Gadar 2 is a tale of hatred between India and Pakistan that refuses to die down, told from the lens of a father's bond with his son. The hand pump is back and so are the snarls. The kid has grown up and lands in Pakistan to take the villains head-on just like his father did 22 years ago. Gadar 2, a sequel to Gadar: Ek Prem Katha (2001), is a classic case of old wine in an old bottle and offers very little freshness in terms of its character arcs, settings and premise. Tara Singh (Sunny Deol) was a desh bhakt then, he is a desh bhakt now. He has a cosy life in India but still has a nemesis in Pakistan. Sunny Deol is 65 but defies every inch of it with Gadar 2. He still possesses the same energy, swag and his famous scream that stops a whole army. Tara Singh is an icon and Sunny proves that yet again with his acting prowess.

While Gadar was all about Ameesha Patel, this time it is more about a father and son’s love for each other. Tara and Sakeena's chemistry remains as sweet and pure as you'd expect. As for Utkarsh Sharma, while his dialogue delivery needs some work, he nailed the action sequences like a pro. Gadar 2 and Tara Singh also couldn't have had a better foe than the Pakistani general. Also, I truly enjoyed the recreated versions of the songs — Main nikla gaddi leke and Udd ja kaale kawa. They are the soul of the film and take you back in time. The additional songs are also a breath of fresh air that do not disappoint. Gadar 2 is for mass entertainment and is a paisa-vasool watch. As for valour and patriotic fervour, be assured there is no dearth of chest-thumping patriotism and it does give some whistle-worthy moments.

Roshni Ojha

I liked Gadar 2 because it is a patriotic movie with a family-oriented story. Sunny Deol gives a towering performance and he is the soul of the movie. The supporting cast is superb. Its music is soothing to the ears. The movie is a good one-time watch.

Rahul Krishnan

I liked Gadar 2 because it is a movie which brought back nostalgic memories of the original which we saw 22 years ago. Sunny Deol is at his best as Tara Singh. The supporting cast is first-rate. The action and dialogues are the USP of the movie. The songs of the original have been retained which is hummable even after two decades. On the whole, a perfect family entertainer and a decent one-time watch.

PVS Krishnan

I liked Gadar 2 and it is an awesome entertainer. The story has wonderfully captured the spirit of patriotism... it was heart-warming as well as gripping. The heart-touching tale was told in an engaging way too, which left me emotionally charged. Sunny Deol as Tara Singh delivered a stellar performance. Ameesha Patel's acting as Sakeena was also a treat to watch. It was nice to see the beautiful actress again on the big screen after so many years. Plus, I loved the action scenes and the dialogues of the movie.

Sourish Misra