The last week saw two movies around boxing release on #AmazonPrime. Sports movies are usually centered around the themes of redemption and the underdog. I have said this before - Sports movies are not about the sport; they are to do with the underlying emotions of human beings. And which is why they are so visceral and raw. One of the releases is focused on the protagonist and follows the set pattern of underdog going through a personal tragedy, trials and tribulations, investing in rigorous training egged on by a support team and leading to an eventual triumph. The other one has all this but more - this is a period film and draws upon the real life rivalry between two communities and is the story of a whole set of characters - the boxing and the protagonist are material but not central to the narrative.
ASHOK’s FIVE presents for the first time a double whammy - reviews of both the new films on #Prime - #FarhanAkhtar’s #Toofan and #PaRanjith’s #SarpattaParambarai.
#Toofan features the redoubtable #FarhanAkhtar, whose dedication to the craft is immense. I loved his work in #BhaagMilkhaBhaag and here again you can see the effort he has made to work through the role. He plays a small-time gangster Aziz Ali who is reformed by the kind doctor at a charitable clinic Ananya(#MrunalThakur). Aziz Ali commits to his passion and takes up boxing under the tutelage of Narayan Prabhu (#PareshRawal). Ananya is the daughter of Prabhu and the love affair between the couple sets the cat among the pigeons. Prabhu is a staunch Hindu and does not approve. Eventually, Aziz Ali overcomes his personal loss, overcomes his professional demons and emerges victorious. Along the way, you have themes of Love Jihad and match fixing thrown in but the treatment is rather shallow.
#PareshRawal is an actor who looks similar in many roles that he does but amazingly effective and catches your fancy. Some of the best moments of the film are those between him and is friend played by #MohanAgashe where they debate their ideologies. The supporting cast comprises #SupriyaPathak, #HussainDalal, #VijayRaaz and DarshanKumar and they do full justice to their characters. This is the second outing for #FarhanAkhtar and #director #RakeyshOmprakashMehra after the 2013 #BhaagMilkhaBhaag but #Toofan does not have the same emotional heft; nor does it manage to steer clear of the tropes of a standard sports movie. The early scenes of the film are sparkling with the nascent romance set off against Aziz Ali’s efforts to get Prabhu to coach him. “The boxing ring is your home; don't let anyone break in” Prabhu advises Aziz. Some of these scenes are reminiscent of #Rocky and #MillionDollarBaby which would count in any top sports movies list.
Apart from the novel social narratives, #Toofan is a rather predictable film and the only salvage factor is the acting that rises above mediocre. The story spans a couple of decades and the sudden fast forwards are a tad bit irritating.
I can't remember when we have had two sports movies releasing in the same week; two movies around boxing - highly unlikely. Director #PaRanjith takes the sport which is a legacy in parts of North Madras and sets up a period film that is guaranteed to knock you over.
#SarpattaParambarai is the story of two warring communities in North Madras and scores are settled inside the boxing ring. The traditional rivalry spans ages and there is a lot of pride associated with the spoils in the ring. This is a period film set in the backdrop of the Emergency in the 1970s. The colour blocked polyester shirts and the elaborate hair-styles stand out for the retro feel. This was an era of transformation in Tamil Nadu when the DMK government was dissolved. MGR emerged as the charismatic leader for the downtrodden and served as Chief Minister between 1977 and 1987.
I was singularly impressed with #Pasupathy who plays coach Rangan Vathiyaar. Here is a man who as coach of the Sarpattai clan, offers the boxing mandate to newbie Kabilan (#Arya), rather than his son Vetriselvan ( #Kalaiyarasan). He emotes through his body language all through the film - a man of principles, frugal with his emotions and someone who cares deeply for the sport. He is a DMK activist and gets arrested during the Emergency. When he is released, Kabilan goes to the jail to welcome him but Coach Rangan dismisses him with disdain after a cursory look at his potbelly and out-of-shape physique. That scene where he comes back on to the ring to guide Kabilan in the final match gave me goosebumps.
The opening scenes of the film have a scintillating, pulsating energy that is unmatched. The screenplay, production design and sound scape blend the tension inside the ring with the cultural ambience outside. The raw energy of the people from the coal mines is palpable; winning at the boxing match is perhaps more important than even getting married! #PaRanjith captures the 1970s North Madras milieu brilliantly; you must watch #SarpattaParambarai just for this. The frenetic pace of the movie and the peculiar accent are just bonuses.
Sport also brings in jealousy, one-upmanship and sabotage. Between Raman (#SantoshPratap), Vetriselvan and Vembulli (#JohnKokken), there is a lot of dynamics that are set up. #JohnVijay plays a superlative character, the anglo-Indian, english-spouting father-figure and buddy to Kabilan. The cinematography by #MuraliG and music by #SanthoshNarayanan are a perfect compliment to the action. #Prathap and #Anthony set up the sound design.
Kabilan’s wife Mariamma (#DusharaVijaya) and his mother played by #AnupamaKumar have roles that are not meaty but both women do manage to leave an impact. #ShabeerKallarakal plays the charismatic boxer Dancing Rose who can put the best ballerina out of business.
While #Toofan follows the classic model of a sports movie centered around the life of the protagonist, #SarpattaParambarai is the story of a set of characters, a full village and community. Boxing is just the medium that is used as currency to set up the rivalry and the underlying themes of caste politics and the famous Dravidian roots of Tamil Nadu. Somewhere in the film, you even spot Kabilan venturing into the ring wearing overalls that have the DMK symbol on it. Director #PaReanjith brings his A game to this movie. Sports movies by their very nature tend to be visceral, unpredictable and full of drama - all characteristics that are suitable for the silver screen and which is why there are 4385 titles under the category of sports in the IMDb list !
