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War (2019 film)

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War
Theatrical release poster
Directed bySiddharth Anand
Screenplay byShridhar Raghavan
Siddharth Anand
Dialogues byAbbas Tyrewala
Story byAditya Chopra
Siddharth Anand
Produced byAditya Chopra
StarringHrithik Roshan
Tiger Shroff
Vaani Kapoor
Ashutosh Rana
CinematographyBenjamin Jasper
Edited byAarif Sheikh
Music by
Production
company
Distributed byYash Raj Films
Release date
  • 2 October 2019 (2019-10-02) (India)
Running time
156 minutes[1][2]
CountryIndia
LanguageHindi
Budget₹170 crore[3]
Box office₹475 crore[4]

War is a 2019 Indian Hindi-language action thriller film directed by Siddharth Anand, who co-wrote the script with Shridhar Raghavan, Abbas Tyrewala and Aditya Chopra, and produced by Chopra's Yash Raj Films. The film stars Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff in the lead roles, alongside Vaani Kapoor, Ashutosh Rana, Anupriya Goenka, Dipannita Sharma, Sanjeev Vatsa, Mashhoor Amrohi, Yash Raaj Singh, Arif Zakaria and Mohit Chauhan. It is the third installment in the YRF Spy Universe. In the film, an Indian RAW agent, is assigned to eliminate his former mentor who has gone rogue.

Principal photography commenced in September 2018. Tentatively titled Fighters, the title was announced as War through a teaser on 15 July 2019. The film was made on an estimated budget of ₹150 crore (US$18 million) with a further ₹20 crore (US$2.4 million) spent on print and advertising. Two songs were composed by Vishal–Shekhar while brothers Sanchit Balhara and Ankit Balhara composed the background score, replacing Anand's frequent collaborators Salim–Sulaiman, who had previously composed the background score of Bang Bang!, which also starred Roshan.

War was theatrically released on 2 October 2019 along with dubbed versions of Telugu and Tamil languages, coinciding with Gandhi Jayanti.[5] It eventually emerged as a major success grossing ₹4.75 billion (US$67.45 million), becoming the highest-grossing Indian film of 2019.[6] A sequel titled War 2 is in production and is expected to release on 14 August 2025.

Plot

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In New Delhi, Major Kabir Dhaliwal is assigned to assassinate an Iraqi terrorist named Farid Haqqani, but instead kills veteran RAW agent V. K. Naidu. Defence Minister Sherna Patel and Colonel Sunil Luthra assign Kabir's former student Captain Khalid Rahmani (Tiger Shroff) to eliminate him.

In a flashback, Khalid Rahmani yearns to join Kabir's squad, but is initially rejected due to Khalid's father Major Abdul Rahmani betraying the army in a previous mission, leaving Kabir with two gunshot wounds and his partner dead. After being persuaded by Luthra, Kabir reluctantly agrees to let Khalid join his team. The squad consists of agents Saurabh, Prateek, Muthu and Aditi.

The team goes on a successful mission in Tikrit, Iraq to kill Haqqani's associates and are able to arrest a terrorist named Basheer Hassib, causing their main target Rizwan Illyasi, a terrorist turned businessman to come out of hiding. Despite the mission's success, Kabir notices that Khalid missed many of his targets from his right side and lacks peripheral vision, leading to Kabir threatening Khalid for removal from his squad. Khalid reveals that as a result of his father's betrayal, his eyesight was partially damaged due to a bullying incident in his childhood. Seeing his love for his mother and country, Khalid is reinstated. The team captures Illyasi in a mission in Marrakesh, during which Illyasi informs Kabir that he planted a mole within the team. Saurabh reveals himself as the mole and kills Prateek and Muthu. A shootout ensues between Kabir and one of Illyasi's men. Kabir gets injured and wakes up in a hospital a few days later. There, he meets an injured Khalid who tells him that he killed Saurabh.

In the present, Khalid is nearly taken off the mission until Lt. Col. Jimmy Shroff is brutally killed by Kabir, who organises a meeting with Khalid on a metro, revealing his next target is Dr. Uptal Biswas in Lisbon. Khalid fails to prevent Biswas from being killed by Kabir, leading to his suspension. Khalid tracks down Kabir through a previous mission, where he learns that six months ago, Kabir was on a covert operation to find a government hard drive with secret codes and was targeting Illyasi's known associates. Khalid also learns that Kabir faked a relationship with a dancer named Naina Sahni in Italy in order for her to spy on Firoze Contractor, one of Illyasi's associates. Naina was ultimately killed by Firoze, and Kabir deduces that Firoze was Illyasi, who became Firoze through plastic surgery. Kabir and Khalid agree to work with each other, but Kabir's hideout is attacked; and the duo flee to Kerala where they attend Aditi's wedding and recover a hard drive with the codes. Kabir hands the drive to Khalid for safekeeping.

While celebrating the mission's success on a houseboat, Khalid poisons Kabir's drink with TTX, revealing, in a shocking twist, that he is in fact, Saurabh. In a flashback, upon learning Saurabh's true colors, a fight between Khalid and Saurabh ensued. In the midst, Illyasi shoots Khalid in the back multiple times before being stabbed by Saurabh, killing him. Saurabh informs Illyasi of his troubles regarding the plan and brings him to Dr. Mallika Singhal, a renowned plastic surgeon, to change his identity to Khalid so that Kabir does not know about his true identity. Mallika changes Saurabh's vocal cords and adjusts his face, making Saurabh's scars only visible to become Khalid. After Saurabh reveals his true identity to Kabir, he throws a weakened Kabir into the river. In the Arctic Circle, Saurabh returns to Illyasi who is located on an icebreaker ship. Kabir arrives in a parachute onto the ship, and kills Illyasi's men. Kabir confronts Saurabh for his betrayal and reveals to him that he knew his true identity all along, after having seen him shoot perfectly from his right side, which Khalid couldn't due to his eye defect, and drinking alcohol, something Khalid abstains from owing to his religious beliefs. Aditi had provided Kabir with an antidote for the poison and inserted a GPS tracker in the drive, when handing it over to Saurabh for safekeeping.

Saurabh kills Illyasi and escapes to a derelict church, while being chased by Kabir. A fight occurs, ending with Saurabh being crushed by a falling church dome killing him as Kabir walks out.

Khalid is posthumously honoured for his sacrifice, while his mother Nafeesa receives an award from the Prime Minister on his behalf. Kabir, who is still believed to be a traitor, takes care of Naina's daughter Roohi whom he has adopted. After speaking with Luthra, Kabir agrees to go on a covert mission to kill Haqqani. Later, Kabir and Roohi surf together at Bondi Beach in Sydney, fulfilling Naina's wish of surfing with her.

Cast

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Production

[edit]

Development

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On Yash Chopra's birth anniversary and following the success of Ek Tha Tiger (2012), Yash Raj Films announced a new action film starring Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff.[7] Vaani Kapoor was finalised to play the female lead.[8][9] Two international action choreographers from Hollywood and South Korea were employed to design action sequences.[10]

The climax scene of the film was shot on the Arctic Circle; the first Indian film to do so.[11] Siddharth Anand, the director of the film stated, "We want to push the benchmark of action movies that are made in our country. So, we are bringing two of the biggest action choreographers together to design some of the most outlandish and visually-spectacular sequences. On one hand, we have Andy R Armstrong from Hollywood and on the other, we have Mr SeaYoung Oh, who is an outstanding martial arts action choreographer from South Korea."[10]

Filming

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Principal photography began in the second week of September 2018.[12] The film also has a dance off between the two stars in the song "Jai Jai Shivshankar".[13] The film schedule was wrapped up in the beginning of March 2019.[14] The film was shot in multiple exotic locations across Delhi, Uttarakhand, Kerala, Portugal, Italy (Amalfi, Capri, Positano, Matera),[15][16] Finland, Sweden, Switzerland, Georgia and Australia.[17][18] The bike chase sequence between the two stars was filmed in Portugal.[19] The car chase sequence which was the climax of the film was shot at the Arctic Circle.[20]

Music

[edit]
Main article: War (2019 soundtrack)

The music of the film is composed by Vishal–Shekhar, while lyrics are written by Kumaar in his first formal collaboration with Yash Raj Films. All themes are composed by Sanchit Balhara and Ankit Balhara, who replaced director Siddharth Anand's frequent collaborators Salim-Sulaiman.[21]

Release

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The film was released on 2 October 2019, coinciding with Gandhi Jayanti.[22]

Reception

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Box office

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War opened with collection of ₹53.35 crore on its first day. It was the highest opening day collection for a Hindi film.[6] On the second day it collected ₹24.35 crore, On the third day it collected ₹22.45 crore, taking its total collection to ₹100.15 crore.[23] War has already created six new records as the film reaches to 100 crore mark at the box-office.[24] The film entered the 100 Crore Club in three days of its release.[25] The extended opening weekend collection of the film at ₹166.25 crore is the highest opening weekend collection for any 2019 Bollywood film.[26] The film by crossing ₹200 crore in its opening week has become the fastest Bollywood film of 2019 to achieve the feat.[27]

With a gross of ₹318.01 crore from India and ₹157.61 crore from overseas, the film grossed ₹475.62 crore worldwide.[28] It is the highest-grossing Indian film of 2019.[25][29]

Critical response

[edit]

War received mostly positive reviews from critics; on the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a rating of 71% based on 17 reviews, with an average rating of 5.2/10.[30]

Among positive reviews, Anupama Chopra said "War is a popcorn entertainer and you can't ask too many questions but if you're willing to suspend disbelief, the twists and turns exert a solid grip."[31] A writer for Bollywood Hungama gave the film four stars out of five, and said "War is an action entertainer which has style as well as enough twists and turns to keep the viewers engrossed. At the box office, the extended weekend, dazzling action, stunning international locales and stylish execution will ensure mammoth footfalls for the film".[32] Taran Adarsh gave it four stars out of five and called the film "[e]scapist cinema at its best".[33] Komal Nahta of Film Information opined, "The film could prove to be the starting of a new franchise for the Yash Raj Films banner".[34] Writing for India TV, Sonal gave the film three and a half stars out of five, writing, "Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff of Abbas Mustan kinda twists, turns, characters, situations, logic, gravity, physics, chemistry, and some Ekta Kapoor-esque tricks all tossed together to make a visually spectacular concoction".[35] Rajeev Masand of News18 gave the film two and a half out of five stars and said, "Both Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff fully commit to the action, bringing swag to the big stylish sequences and a visceral energy to the one-on-one punch-ups in the movie."[36]

The Times of India rated it three stars out of five and felt the film had "lot of style, stunts and show, but lacking a solid storyline".[37] India Today rated it two and a half stars out of five and wrote, "War is a crowd-puller, but it isn't meant to further the cause of cinema".[38] Daily News and Analysis gave three stars out of five and wrote, "War seems more like a Hrithik Roshan and YRF come back than anything else".[39] Writing for The Indian Express, Shubhra Gupta granted the film two stars out of five, stating, "The chief trouble with War is that all the space is divvied up between Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff, that the poor baddies don't really get a chance".[40] Writing for Firstpost, Anna M. M. Vetticad gave two stars out of five, opining that the film "could have been a suspenseful, eyecatching, entertaining ride. But for its politics... [it] is a painfully condescending ode to Muslim loyalty to our vatan, an ode that is particularly cynical and offensive".[41] Saibal Chatterjee of NDTV gave the film one and a half stars out of five and stated, "Powered by two loose-limbed and resolutely stone-faced male leads, Hrithik and Tiger, War is all style and no substance".[42]

Accolades

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Award[a] Date of ceremony[b] Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Filmfare Awards 15 February 2020 Best Film Aditya Chopra Nominated [43]
[44]
[45]
[46]
Best Director Siddharth Anand Nominated
Best Female Playback Singer Shilpa Rao ("Ghungroo") Won
Best Choreography Bosco–Caesar ("Jai Jai Shiv Shankar") Nominated
Bosco–Caesar & Tushar Kalia ("Ghungroo") Nominated
Best Action Paul Jennings, Oh Sea Young, Parvez Shaikh & Franz Spilhaus Won
Best Special Effects Sherry Bharda, Vishal Anand for YFX Won
International Indian Film Academy Awards 27–29 November 2020 Best Music Director Vishal–Shekhar Nominated [47]
[48]
Best Male Playback Singer Arijit Singh ("Ghungroo") Nominated
Best Female Playback Singer Shilpa Rao ("Ghungroo") Nominated
Sound Mixing Anuj Mathur – YRF Studios
Pritam Das 		Won
Best Choreography Bosco–Caesar & Tushar Kalia ("Ghungroo") Won
Best Special Effects YFX (YRF Studios) Won
Mirchi Music Awards 19 February 2020 Song of The Year "Ghungroo" Nominated [49]
Female Vocalist of The Year Shilpa Rao ("Ghungroo") Nominated
Song Engineer – Recording & Mixing Abhay Rumde & Vijay Dayal ("Ghungroo") Nominated
Screen Awards 8 December 2019 Best Film War Nominated [50]
Best Director Siddharth Anand Nominated
Best Actor Hrithik Roshan Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Vaani Kapoor Nominated
Best Choreography Bosco–Caesar & Tushar Kalia ("Ghungroo") Won
Best Action Paul Jennings, Oh Sea Young, Parvez Shaikh & Franz Spilhaus Won
Best Editing Aarif Sheikh Won
Zee Cine Awards 13 March 2020 Best Action Paul Jennings, Oh Sea Young, Parvez Shaikh & Franz Spilhaus Won [51]
Best Choreography Bosco–Caesar ("Jai Jai Shiv Shankar") Won
Best Special Effects YFX (YRF Studios) Won

Sequel

[edit]

At the launch of War, Anand confirmed that he was working on the script of its sequel and had plans to convert the film into a franchise, depending on the audience response to the film.[52]

Following the success of War, Yash Raj Films confirmed plans for a sequel, intending to expand the film into a franchise within the YRF Spy Universe. The sequel, titled War 2, is currently in production. Hrithik Roshan will reprise his role as Major Kabir Dhaliwal, joined by N. T. Rama Rao Jr.[53], Kiara Advani, and Anil Kapoor in significant roles. Directed by Ayan Mukerji, War 2 is scheduled for release on 14 August 2025.[54]

It will mark Jr NTR's debut in Hindi cinema and will mark Advani and Kapoor's introduction to the Spy Universe. Principal photography commenced in October 2023.[55][56] The film aims to build on the established universe, connecting with other YRF Spy films to create a cohesive narrative landscape.

See also

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Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Awards, festivals and organisations are in Alphabetical order.
  2. ^ Date is linked to the article about the awards held that year, wherever possible.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "WAR (2019)". British Board of Film Classification. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  2. ^ "Certificate detail". Central Board of Film Certification.
  3. ^ "War Economics: Yash Raj Films makes a whopping 170 cr. as profits; approx. 100 cr. share for Hrithik Roshan". Bollywood Hungama. 21 October 2019. Retrieved 9 December 2023. Made on a budget of Rs. 170 cr. [CoP Rs. 150 cr. + P&A Rs. 20 cr.]
  4. ^ "War Box Office". Bollywood Hungama. 2 October 2019.
  5. ^ Hungama, Bollywood (21 October 2019). "War Economics: Yash Raj Films makes a whopping 1.70 bn. as profits; approx. 1 bn. share for Hrithik Roshan :Bollywood Box Office – Bollywood Hungama". Bollywood Hungama.
  6. ^ a b "War Box Office Collection Day 1: Hrithik-Tiger Film Becomes Highest Opener Ever, Earns Rs 53.35 Crore". News18. 3 October 2019.
  7. ^ "BREAKING: Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff to star in Yash Raj Films' Next". Bollywood Hungama. 27 September 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  8. ^ "I Don't Think Anyone Will Look at Me: Vaani Kapoor on Doing a Film with Hrithik Rohan, Tiger Shroff". News 18. 22 August 2018. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  9. ^ "Vaani Kapoor on dance-off with Tiger and Hrithik: I stand no chance". Indian Express. 21 August 2018. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  10. ^ a b "Two international action choreographers roped in for Hrithik Roshan-Tiger Shroff's action film". DNA. 31 July 2018. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  11. ^ "War: Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff's actioner becomes first film to be shot in Arctic Circle". India Today. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  12. ^ Pathak, Vedanshi (5 September 2018). "Tiger Shroff and Hrithik Roshan begin shooting for their venture with YRF". Filmfare. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  13. ^ "Tiger Shroff and Hrithik Roshan dance-off in next film: Confirmed". India Today. 1 May 2019. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  14. ^ "Hrithik Roshan And Tiger Shroff Wrap Schedule For Siddharth Anand's Film. See Pics". NDTV. 3 March 2019. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  15. ^ "War". italyformovies.it (in Italian). Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  16. ^ "'WAR'er Shroff performs parkour stunt atop 100 houses in Italy!". dnaindia.com. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  17. ^ "Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff's 'War' filmed in seven countries". Zee News. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  18. ^ "Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff's Chase Scene in War Shot in 7 Countries". News18. 6 August 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  19. ^ "WAR: Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff shot for a bike chase scene 6500 feet above sea level on Serra Da Estrela!". Bollywood Hungama. 23 July 2019. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  20. ^ "Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff Fight on Ice-breaker Ship in Arctic Circle for War". News18. 10 September 2019. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  21. ^ "War – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack". Jio Saavn. 27 September 2019.
  22. ^ "Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff's action film to release on October 2, 2019". Hindustan Times. 3 February 2018. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  23. ^ "War Second Day Business – Box Office India". boxofficeindia.com.
  24. ^ "'War' box office: Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff starrer creates 6 new records as it inches closer to 100-crore mark – Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  25. ^ a b "Bollywood Top Grossers Worldwide Bollywood Hungama". Bollywood Hungama. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  26. ^ "War box office collection Day 5: Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff film earns Rs 166.25 crore". India Today. 7 October 2019.
  27. ^ "'War' box office collection Day 7: The Tiger Shroff and Hrithik Roshan starrer checks into the 200-crore club". Times of India. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  28. ^ "War Box Office". Bollywood Hungama. 2 October 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  29. ^ Hungama, Bollywood (7 October 2019). "War Box Office Day 5 Collections: The Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff starrer goes on rampage on Sunday, records huge collections :Bollywood Box Office – Bollywood Hungama". Bollywood Hungama. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  30. ^ "WAR". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  31. ^ Chopra, Anupama (2 October 2019). "War Movie Review: A Battle Won By Hrithik Roshan's Beauty". Film Companion. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  32. ^ "Movie Review: War". Bollywood Hungama. 2 October 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  33. ^ adarsh, taran (2 October 2019). "#OneWordReview... #War: BLOCKBUSTER. Escapist cinema at its best... Aces: Hrithik and Tiger's power-packed act and chemistry + dazzling action pieces + stunning visual appeal + ample thrills, twists, suspense... Dear BO, get ready for the typhoon. #WarReviewpic.twitter.com/iHGtaSk8cl". @taran_adarsh. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  34. ^ Information, Film (2 October 2019). "'WAR' | 2 October 2019 – Film Information". Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  35. ^ "War movie review: Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff's film is a flawed spectacle". IndiaTV.
  36. ^ Masand, Rajeev (3 October 2019). "War Movie Review: Hrithik Roshan-Tiger Shroff Film Gives You Your Money's Worth". News18.
  37. ^ "War Movie Review {3/5}: Lot of style, stunts and show, but lacks a solid storyline". The Times of India.
  38. ^ Nairita Mukherjee (2 October 2019). "War Movie Review: Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff film is 154 minutes of only action". India Today.
  39. ^ "'WAR' Review: Hrithik Roshan treats Tiger Shroff as collateral damage". DNAIndia. 2 October 2019.
  40. ^ "War movie review: Hrithik Roshan starrer is flashy but familiar". TheIndianExpress. 4 October 2019.
  41. ^ "War movie review: Hrithik-Tiger starrer runs a loyalty test for Muslims under cover of an exciting action drama". Firstpost. 2 October 2019.
  42. ^ "War Movie Review: Strictly For Fans Of Hrithik Roshan And Tiger Shroff". NDTV.
  43. ^ "NOMINATIONS FOR 65TH AMAZON FILMFARE AWARDS 2020". Filmfare. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  44. ^ "WINNERS OF THE 65TH AMAZON FILMFARE AWARDS 2020". Filmfare. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  45. ^ "Technical Nominations for the 65th Amazon Filmfare Awards 2020". Filmfare. 31 January 2020. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  46. ^ "65th Amazon Filmfare Award 2020 Technical and Short Film award winners". Filmfare. 2 February 2020. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  47. ^ "IIFA Awards 2020: Here are the nominations!". International Indian Film Academy Awards. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  48. ^ "IIFA Technical Awards 2020: All the Winners!". International Indian Film Academy Awards. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  49. ^ "Nominations for the 12th Smule Mirchi Music Awards 2020". Mirchi Music Awards. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  50. ^ "Screen Awards 2019 full winners list". India Today. 9 December 2019. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  51. ^ "Zee Cine Awards 2020 Winners List". ABP News. 14 March 2020. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  52. ^ "War is Not Over Yet, Director Siddharth Anand Reveals a Sequel is in Works". 6 October 2019.
  53. ^ "'RRR' Star NTR Jr to Face Off Against Hrithik Roshan in Spy Universe Film 'War 2'". Variety. 4 April 2023.
  54. ^ "'War 2' sets its release date for Aug 14, 2025". The Times of India. 29 November 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  55. ^ "War 2 shoot begins in Spain, director Ayan Mukerji clicked filming car chase". The Indian Express. 18 October 2023. Archived from the original on 18 October 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  56. ^ "Ayan Mukerji wraps up the first schedule of War 2 in Spain with Hrithik & NTR Jr's stunt double". Bollywood Hungama. 25 October 2023. Archived from the original on 25 October 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
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