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Pehlwaan Movie Review: Kichcha Sudeep wins the bout against the highly predictable script
Pehlwaan is a film which completely runs on Sudeep’s shoulders and the actor has managed to do it effortlessly.
Pehlwaaan
Pehlwaaan Cast: Sudeep, Suniel Shetty, Aakanksha Singh Sushant Singh and Kabir Duhan Singh among others
Pehlwaaan Director: S. Krishna
Pehlwaaan Stars: 2.5/5
One of the recent trends in the Hindi film industry has been the advent of dubbed southern language films. Often, these are films made for masses with the predictable storyline that ride on the shoulders of a mega hero or star cast. Pehlwaan is the Hindi dubbed version of Kannada film Pailwaan. The film, which has been simultaneously released in five languages – Kannada, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu, also marks the launch of Suniel Shetty’s debut in Kannada cinema. It brings the actor-director duo of Sudeep and S Krishna back for the second time after the success of Hebbuli.
Directed by S Krishna, this sports drama is the story of an orphan Krishna (Kichcha Sudeep) who is brought-up and trained to be a wrestler by the benevolent Sarkar (Suniel Shetty). Like the usual Bollywood romance flicks, Krishna falls in love with Rukmini (Aakanksha Singh) who belongs to a wealthy family. As the attempt by the girl’s father to buy Krishna’s love is thwarted by the hero’s ethics and principles.
Tony Sebastian (Kabir Duhan Singh) is a pro-boxing league champion who becomes egoistic and humiliates his boxing coach, played by Sharath Lohitashwa. Raja Rana Pratap Singh (Sushant Singh) is a self-obsessed, egoistic quasi-ruler and pppressor of Ranasthalipura. Raja has never lost a bout and is the biggest hurdle in the way of Krishna and Sarkar’s dream to represent India. The script attempts to simultaneity paint of the lives of Krishna, Raja and Tony in the minds of the audience. Thereon, the movie takes the tried and tested path leading to the rise of the underdog wrestler who ends up beating a champion in the finale.
Pehlwaan is a long movie which could have benefited if the makers had chopped some parallel stories which were needless to establish Krishna’s character. For instance, the entire bit where it is shown that Krishna wants to win the championship to earn money and support orphan kids could have been avoided. Of course, it does have tangents to his childhood, but it is definitely stretched. The slow narration often gives you enough time to stretch your legs whilst watching the film. Dialogues are interesting, engaging and unblemished with vices of new-age films. However, the high dose of ethics and honesty gives you a feeling of watching a blockbuster script of 90s. The screenplay offers a concoction of drama, emotions, action, comedy and some legitimate battles to fight.
Kichcha Sudeep and Suniel Shetty’s bond is impressive. It’s amazing to see Suniel Shetty back on-screen after an unchiselled cameo in the disastrous A Gentleman. He will astonish you with the way he has maintained his physique. Therefore, action scenes by him don’t look out of place – it is his akhaada (arena). Aakanksha Singh is surely the surprise element. In a film which is completely dominated by Sudeep, the actress manages to stand out with her performance. The film has many characters with negative shades, but Sushant Singh doesn’t miss a chance to impress.
ALSO READ: Kiccha Sudeep spotted at the airport with Pailwaan co stars Aakanksha Singh and Kabir Duhan Singh
Pehlwaan is a film which completely runs on Sudeep’s shoulders and the actor has managed to do it effortlessly. He has performed brilliantly not only in the action sequences but also has a phenomenal grip in emotional scenes too. For Bollywood lovers, it will surely have glimpses of Sultan, Dangal and Rohit Shetty films. Sudeep will remind you of none other than Bollywood’s Salman Khan.
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