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Feature Name: Pehlwaan
Directed By: S. Krishna
Starring: Kichcha Sudeep, Suniel Shetty, Aakanksha Singh, Sushant Singh, Kabir Duhan Singh
Review By: Grinell Jacinto
Pehlwaan is the story of Krishna – an orphan who is brought up by a wrestling gymkhana owner Sarkar. Sarkar (Suniel Shetty) treat Krishna aka Kichcha (Kichcha Sudeep) as his own son and makes him a fierce wrestler. The duo has a dream to represent and win for India in wrestling. What happens to his relationship with Sarkar when Kichcha’s attention diverges from wrestling to love and his stint as a boxer is what the film is all about.
While the film uses sports – wrestling and boxing – as a backdrop, the film is mostly about the relationship between a father and son. While this relationship in the limelight, friendship, love, and teacher-student relationship is also shown.
The fight sequences are well-choreographed. The love story doesn’t seem forced but is one of the driving forces of the film. The film stretches for over 2 hours. While the first half introduces several subplots, the director succeeds in wrapping them in the second. You are not left wanting for more.
Talking about performances, it is Sudeep’s show all through. In spite of it, Suniel Shetty too shines as Sarkar in his Kannada debut film. Though the two don’t have any scenes fighting in the akhaada, when they fight your eyes are focused on them.
Aakanksha Singh as Kichcha’s love interest is breezy and captivates with her looks and emotions. Sushant Singh and Kabir Duhan Singh as the villains – yes Kichcha is so good he faced off two scoundrels in one film – do their parts well. Given that there are two of them, neither get enough screen space but succeeds in impressing you with it.
One of the drawbacks is the lengthy songs. The songs are lengthy and you will zone you out after the first stanza. Another drawback is the multiple introductory shoots given to the actors – more than once!
Overall this film is a beautiful mix of a masala entertainer with comedy, romance, drama, and tears. You will laugh and face-palm during the course of the film.
We give Pehlwaan 3 stars
