Border 2 Review: Worthy spiritual sequel of cult war drama
Border 2 Movie Rating: 3.5 Stars
Watched Border 2 movie in Hindi in Cinema. Let’s focus on the complete details, story, positive/negatives and at last my view on this movie.
Cast: Sunny Deol, Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh, Ahan Shetty, Mona Singh, Sonam Bajwa, Anya Singh and Medha Rana
Director: Anurag Singh
Release Date: 23rd January 2026 in cinemas
Story: Movie revolves around three young officers Major Hoshiar Singh Dahiya (Varun Dhawan), Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon (Diljit Dosanjh), and Navy Officer Mahendra S. Rawat (Ahan Shetty) mentored under Lt Col Fateh Singh Kaler (Sunny Deol) at the National War Academy. The trio forges a deep bond during training, one that goes beyond uniforms and ranks.
Just when they are on a short break for Sekhon’s wedding, duty calls. A radio message orders them to cut short their celebrations and report immediately, as war looms large. With most Indian forces stationed in East Pakistan, a smaller but determined unit is tasked with defending the western front.
Major Hoshiar is stationed in the Jammu-Pathankot area with his battalion, Sekhon guards the Srinagar airbase while Rawat guarding the borders at sea. The challenges are immense in front of them. Much of the forces have been transported to East Pakistan. Hence, the Western border is being defended by a smaller number of armed forces. Meanwhile, the Pakistani army is all set to cross the border at Rajasthan, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir and create havoc. What follows is a tale of courage, sacrifice and brotherhood under fire.
Positives
1. Performances
2. Cinematography
3. Music
4. Direction
5. Story
Negatives
1. Length
2. Climax
3. Uneven Screenplay
Durgesh Tiwary’s View: When I watched the trailer of this film planned to watch this movie on its release date as loved the trailer and big fan of our unsung heroes’ movies. Set against the backdrop of the India–Pakistan war of 1971, the film serves as a multi-front war drama, expanding the scope of its predecessor by featuring the combined operations of the Indian Armed Forces – Army, Air Force, and Navy.
Border 2 arrives carrying the towering legacy of J.P. Dutta’s 1997 classic Border, a film that defined patriotic war cinema for an entire generation. With such a formidable predecessor, expectations are naturally sky-high. Director Anurag Singh steps into this daunting space with confidence, crafting a sequel that clearly understands the emotional soul of the original while upgrading its scale, spectacle, and storytelling for contemporary audiences. While Border 2 may not recreate the once-in-a-generation impact of its predecessor, it succeeds as an emotionally charged and crowd-pleasing war epic that largely delivers on its promise. The first half is devoted to establishing the characters The first half of the film revolves around the friendship between the three leads, and these portions work quite well. What begins as an ego clash gradually evolves into camaraderie. The comedy and music are neatly woven into the narrative, keeping the proceedings engaging. Romantic/wedding tracks of Hoshiyar Singh with Dhanvanti and of Sekhon with Manjit is also entertaining. The interval block, where he warns the enemy with a punchy dialogue, is sure to strike a chord with the masses. The post-interval portion is devoted to the war scenes and hence it moves at a much faster pace than the first half. It truly succeeds is in capturing its emotional undercurrents, even though its action sequences do not always match the gritty believability of the original. Thankfully, the film does not rely solely on battlefield spectacle. It takes time to invest in themes of brotherhood, duty, and sacrifice. The moments of camaraderie among soldiers, the quiet exchanges before combat, and the emotional toll on families back home lend the film surprising warmth. These softer beats prevent Border 2 from becoming a hollow action extravaganza and instead ground it in genuine human stakes. One of the most poignant scenes features two jawans exchanging notes after letters from their respective homes arrive. One is elated to become a father to a baby girl but suppresses his joy on seeing his colleague mourn the news of his mother’s death, who quickly brightens up on hearing the arrival of the newborn.
Anurag Singh’s direction is very good. He narrates the story with elan and succeeds in arousing not just patriotic feelings but also appropriate family emotions among the audience. Music is excellent, thanks mainly to Ghar kab aaoge and Ae jaate huwe lamhon, the two songs of Border. Anshul Choubey’s cinematography is lovely but the dark lighting in the last 35 minutes is a minus point. Sunny Deol emerges as the film’s undisputed powerhouse. His screen presence remains formidable, and his thunderous delivery evokes nostalgia for fans of the original Border. Even at this stage of his career, his intensity feels almost unreal, with many of the film’s most electrifying moments belonging entirely to him. Varun Dhawan delivers a restrained and sincere performance, displaying noticeable maturity and emotional control. Diljit Dosanjh is remarkable as fighter pilot and is super-endearing in light scenes and extraordinary otherwise. His every nuance and expression is so outstanding that acting-wise, there are very few who can touch him. Ahan Shetty is fair a Navy officer Rawat, but he needed to immerse himself more into the character. The supporting cast performs reliably, with special mention to Paramveer Cheema and Vansh Bhardwaj, while a few well-placed cameo appearances add surprise value.
However, the film is not without its flaws. The main problem begins once the war episodes unfold. They lack naturality and look very artificial on the big screen. The war tactics and one-on-one combat sequences feel highly similar to the first installment, offering little novelty. While the war scenes afford thrill and excitement, the drama stretches in the last around 35 minutes. Besides, since the computer graphics and visual effects are not very good and the scenes have been probably shot in dark lighting, the visual appeal of the last 35 minutes (climax) is lesser than what it ought to have been. The air combat portions featuring Diljit and the action sequences on water with Ahaan Shetty look extremely shoddy due to poor VFX. These tacky visuals undo the good impression created in the first half. When aiming for something ambitious, every element must align to leave a lasting impact. Since war scenes from the heart of the Border franchise, the second installment doesn’t quite hit the mark. The runtime, particularly during the extended battle sequences in the second half, often feels stretched, and several emotional moments come across as familiar and predictable. This war drama also leans heavily into overt nationalism; while this works for its core audience, it leaves little room for nuance or moral complexity.
Overall movie is a solid, emotionally resonant, and technically accomplished war film that honors its legacy without being shackled by it. It may not redefine the genre, but it confidently reinforces the enduring power of big-screen patriotic cinema. It tries to focus not just on the battlefield but also on how war affects relations, friendships and loved ones. It honors real heroes, celebrates inter-service unity, delivers rousing action and solid performances, and provides audiences with the comforting familiarity of patriotic spectacle. My view on this film Highly Recommended for its rousing spirit, and the emotion it wears proudly on its sleeve.
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