A Potpourri of Vestiges Review
By Murtaza Ali Khan
By Murtaza Ali Khan
Soorma,
directed by Shaad Ali, is the latest sports biopic from Bollywood. The subject
of Soorma is the former captain of the Indian Hockey team, Sandeep Singh, who is known for his deadly
drag flicks and his famous comeback after being seriously injured by an
accidental gunshot that threatened to end his career. The film stars Diljit
Dosanjh in the lead role. While Taapsee Pannu plays his love interest, Angad Bedi
essays the character of his elder brother. The film costars Vijay Raaz, Satish
Kaushik, and Kulbhushan Kharbanda.
Most
sports biopics to come out of Bollywood are based on a ludicrous premise that every sportsman who
goes on to become great is driven by an urge to marry the girl he loves. And,
Soorma is no different. It is really the same story over and over again.
Romance if done well looks good on the big screen even if it is repetitive. But
the problem with Shaad Ali is that romance is not the strongest point of his
direction. Yes, he was brilliant in Saathiya and decent in Bunty Aur Babli but
his weaknesses were exposed in Ok Jannu which was the remake of the Tamil movie
O Kadhal Kanmani, directed by his mentor Mani Ratnam. Watching the two films
one can easily tell that Shaad still has a lot to learn about the art of cinematic
depiction of romance from his mentor who is known for delivering films like Roja,
Bombay, and Dil Se.
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| Diljit Dosanjh and Taapsee Pannu in Soorma |
Apart from its rather
placid romantic angle Soorma also suffers from some other weaknesses. Its
pacing is rather slow to begin with and the story picks up pace only around the forty minute
mark. Also, Dosanjh looks too old for the part of Sandeep. Moreover, the movie
plays around with facts, making us question its authenticity at key junctures. Having
said that the film is at its best during the Hockey sequences; there is just the
right kind of tension and exhilaration needed to make them work.
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| Angad Bedi (right) in Shaadi Ali's Soorma |
Overall, Soorma is an entertaining film but
one that’s far from satisfying. The single best thing about Soorma is Angad
Bedi. He delivers an earnest performance that may prove to be a career defining
one as well just like Udta Punjab had proven for Dosanjh. Another performance to
watch out for comes from Vijay Raaz who plays Indian Hockey Team’s Bihari coach.
His one-liners are so brilliant that one just can’t help but applaud his delivery
and timing. Then of course there is the legendary Kulbhushan Kharbanda who is
always a treat to watch. Soorma proves to be a decent watch but it could easily
have been much much better.
Rating: 5.5/10
Readers, please feel free to share your opinion by leaving your comments. As always your valuable thoughts are highly appreciated!
Soorma - Official Trailer (YouTube)
Soorma - Official Trailer (YouTube)
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