In 2013, actor Farhan Akhtar and director-producer Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra collaborated on BHAAG MILKHA BHAAG. The sports activities biopic of Milkha Singh received unanimous reward and it resulted in field workplace collections of Rs. 100 crore plus. 8 years later, each have joined palms as soon as once more for one more sports activities movie, TOOFAAN. This time, Farhan has stepped in as a producer as properly, alongside along with his companion Ritesh Sidhwani. So does TOOFAAN handle to be as compelling as their earlier movie? Or does it disappoint? Let’s analyse.
TOOFAAN is the story of a avenue brawler’s transformation right into a top-class boxer. Aziz Ali aka Ajju (Farhan Akhtar) is an orphan who was raised by Jafar Bhai (Vijay Raaz). Aziz now lives along with his buddy Munna (Hussain Dalal) in Dongri, Mumbai and does all of the soiled work for Jafar bhai. Whereas thrashing a restaurant proprietor (Imran Rashid) over a feud with Jafar bhai, Aziz will get injured. He goes to a charitable hospital for therapy the place the physician, Ananya Prabhu (Mrunal Thakur) ousts him after studying that he’s a goon. Just a few days later, Ananya witnesses Aziz shopping for presents for youngsters in an orphanage. This makes her notice that he’s a very good particular person at coronary heart. Sooner or later, Aziz visits a gymnasium in his neighbourhood, run by a person referred to as Service provider (Deven Khote). Service provider trains boxing aspirants in his premises. Aziz witnesses it and will get right into a brawl with a participant practising there, Parvez (Arhan Chowdary). As a substitute of hitting again, Parvez praises him and says that he has numerous power. Aziz will get stunned and realizes that boxing could make him a greater human. He begins his coaching. However he nonetheless continues working for Jafar bhai. Sooner or later, Ananya witnesses Aziz evicting an individual from his store violently. She admonishes him and insists that he ought to wholly concentrate on boxing. Aziz realizes she’s proper. When Service provider sees a possible in him, he takes Aziz to Nana Prabhu (Paresh Rawal), the perfect boxing coach in Mumbai. Nana will get Aziz to combat along with his pupil. Aziz will get defeated and he asks Nana to coach him. Nana, nonetheless, refuses at first attributable to Aziz’s Muslim id. In the meantime, Aziz goes again to the hospital to get handled for the harm sustained within the match. That is when he tells Ananya that he met Nana sir, unknown to the truth that she is Nana’s daughter. Quickly, Nana agrees to coach him and turns him right into a high boxing participant. Aziz additionally will get chosen for the state championship the place he manages to defeat a seasoned participant, Dharmesh Patil (Darshan Kumaar). That is additionally a time when Aziz begins courting Ananya. After his victory, Aziz is having a drink with Nana when he blurts out that he’s in a relationship with Ananya and that he needs to marry her. Aziz had no concept that she’s Nana’s daughter. Nana, in a match of rage, slaps Aziz and accuses him of conning his daughter. Nana then forces Ananya to finish the connection and remarks that Aziz is finishing up ‘Love Jihad’. What occurs subsequent varieties the remainder of the movie.
Farhan Akhtar’s story concept and Anjum Rajabali’s story is clichéd. The rise, the autumn and the rise of a sportsperson has been witnessed in lots of sports activities movies, from Mithun Chakraborty starrer BOXER [1984] to the newer SULTAN [2016], and likewise in Hollywood movies. Anjum Rajabali’s screenplay (extra screenplay by Vijay Maurya) is respectable but in addition predictable. You already know what will occur subsequent in most components of the movie. Fortunately, the writing is peppered with lot of attention-grabbing moments. However ideally, the story ought to have been novel and screenplay ought to have been gripping. Vijay Maurya’s dialogues are easy and sharp.
Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s route is first-class. The director is again in kind, after delivering two forgettable fares within the type of MIRZYA [2016] and MERE PYARE PRIME MINISTER [2019]. He executes a clichéd and bizarre story very properly. The sports activities and coaching scenes handle to engross. What’s additionally praiseworthy is that in the course of the second half, one other spherical of coaching observe is infused when Aziz makes a comeback after a spot. Even these scenes are properly shot and don’t look repetitive. TOOFAAN nonetheless additionally has different subplots and raises some pertinent problems with the society. On the flipside, the second half is the place the movie drops a bit. The tragedy is available in immediately and a few viewers may discover it tough to digest. At 161 minutes, the movie is just too lengthy and its run time ought to have been trimmed. Lastly, one expects loads from this movie because it’s made by the BHAAG MILKHA BHAAG director and likewise stars the identical actor. In that regard, TOOFAAN isn’t any match to their earlier movie.
“Farhan is the REAL PERFECTIONIST, Aamir Khan comes on No.2”- Farhan REACTS to this remark | Toofaan
TOOFAAN’s first half is truthful. The characters of Aziz, Dr. Ananya and Nana Prabhu are properly written and offered to the viewers. Additionally, the truth that Ananya has a connection to each provides numerous drama to the story. The boxing observe is nice however the faith angle significantly works massive time. The makers have additionally made a balanced viewpoint and have proven how each communities have components which have points with inter-religious romance. One other relatable a part of the movie is when Aziz and Ananya failing to discover a residence of their selection attributable to their separate non secular identities. The second half has numerous sudden developments and it takes some time to course of. Aziz’s comeback is nice however it’s bewildering to see how he manages to make it to the nationwide championship conveniently.
Farhan Akhtar is in an excellent kind. He seems to be very convincing as a boxer however even in dramatic and emotional scenes, he rocks massive time. After DIL DHADAKNE DO [2016], he wasn’t seen in memorable movies and performances. Therefore, it’s a pleasure to lastly see him in a movie the place he will get a chance to shine. Mrunal Thakur is the shock of the movie. She has an important half to play within the happenings of the film and she or he does whole justice together with her efficiency. Additionally, her hundred watt smile is infectious. Paresh Rawal is terrific and pulls off a difficult function with ease. He’s lacking to start with of the second half however makes up for it within the pre-climax and climax. Hussain Dalal is gorgeous because the sidekick and contributes to the movie’s humour quotient. Vijay Raaz doesn’t have a lot to do surprisingly particularly since his character appeared sad with Aziz’s resolution. Darshan Kumaar is nice because the baddie. However it appears he’s getting typecast. Dr. Mohan Agashe (Bala Uncle) is cute and likewise is the voice of cause and sanity. This makes his character very particular. Supriya Pathak (Sister DSouza) is alright. Gauri Phulka (Myra) steals the present as Aziz and Ananya’s daughter. Gaganpreet Sharma (Prithvi Singh) is menacing as the damaging opponent of Aziz. Deven Khote is assured whereas Arhan Chowdary, Imran Rashid, RJ Anmol (State championship commentator) and Akashdeep Sabir (Mallik; match fixer) do properly. Sonali Kulkarni (Sumati) is there for a scene whereas director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra (IBF Secretary) is okay.
Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy’s music is disappointing and that is additionally one of many weak factors of the movie. Additionally, there are as many as 8 songs and on high of that, the album just isn’t memorable. Ideally the film ought to have been a music much less entertainer. That will have elevated the impression. The title observe is the perfect of the lot adopted by ‘Star Hai Tu’. Each are properly shot. ‘Ananya’, ‘Jo Tum Aa Gaye Ho’ (composed by Samuel and Akansha) and ‘Purvaiya’ fail to register. The rap songs, ‘Dekh Toofaan Aaya Hai’ and ‘Todun Taak’, don’t have recall worth. ‘Ganpati Vandana’ is performed at an necessary juncture within the movie. Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and Tubby’s background rating is outstanding and would have made an even bigger impression on the massive display.
Jay Oz’s cinematography is spectacular and elevates impression in a number of scenes. The boxing scenes, particularly, are very properly shot. Rajat Poddar’s manufacturing design and Abhilasha Sharma’s costumes are straight out of life. Alan Amin’s motion is uncooked. Cinegence and Futureworks’ VFX is suitable. Meghna Manchanda Sen’s enhancing is neat however ought to have saved the length in examine. Lastly, particular point out must also go to Farhan Akhtar’s health workforce – Drew Neal (Boxing coach), Samir Jarua (health coach) and Dr Anand Kumar (physiotherapist) – for making him seem to be a seasoned participant.
On the entire, TOOFAAN boasts of highly effective performances together with some heart-touching and dramatic moments. However the movie’s prolonged runtime, poor soundtrack, clichéd plot and the predictable narrative diminishes the impression to an amazing extent.