Rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre : Drama
Year : 2021
Running time : 2 hours 45 minutes
Director : Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra
Cast : Farhan Akhtar, Mrunal Thakur, Paresh Rawal, Vijay Raaz, Supriya Pathak
Kid rating : PG
I had high expectations from Toofaan because it is directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra. Mehra has the knack of bringing emotions to the screen and presenting them with finesse – Delhi-6 and Rang De Basanti are great examples of the quality of his work. Toofaan though is a relative disappointment. Although not a bad film, it feels jaded and cliched.
Aziz Ali (Farhan Akhtar) is a small-time thug who works for Jaffar Bhai (Vijay Raaz). He is quick to get into bloody fights, and one day visits the local charity hospital to treat a deep gash on his face. There he meets Dr. Ananya (Mrunal Thakur), who treats the cut, but orders him out when she realizes that the wound is caused by his hooliganism.
Ali starts to develop an interest in boxing, and on another visit to the hospital (this time with a respectable boxing ring injury) Ananya encourages him to take the honorable path and leave his lawless activities. But the straight road is a hard slog. Will Aziz be able to remain true to his word?
First the good: fabulous acting all around! In fact the great emoting is what makes this film as watchable as it is. Props to Mrunal Thakur – she feels like a breath of fresh air. Farhan Akhtar has really worked out and built up his body for the role. He actually looks like a boxer and the boxing scenes feel realistic. I wouldn’t have thought Paresh Rawal could pull off the role of a boxing coach but he does – and how!
Then, there is director Mehra’s attention to detail, his ability to round off his characters so they feel believable and real. The film kept up the tempo, and the interest with some well-filmed boxing matches. Panga was another film which also did this well, although the sport in that film was kabaddi.
However, the plot feels like it is from the 80s, with all the attendant predictability and melodrama. Toofaan is a classic underdog story – and I like those – but it’s also full of cliches. There’s one temple scene which is so cheesy I almost missed Nirupa Roy! Then there’s the stereotypical golden-hearted hero who, in one scene, raises his hand against his wife, although he doesn’t actually hit her. Still, he shows no contrition.
Also, while the first half of the film was interesting and set up Aziz and Ananya’s romance nicely, the second half of the film was packed with predictable plot twists, and felt rushed. Shankar-Ehsaan and Loy dish out some uninspired music for the film. Vijay Raaz and Supriya Pathak, both talented veterans, seem wasted in their bit roles.
Toofan is watchable despite the long running time, but is a big come-down from Mehra’s Bhaag Milkha Bhaag which was also a sports movie and starred Farhan Akhtar. Still a decent one-time watch.
Kidwise: Some bloody fight scenes.
