In this age of biopics (Sanju and the tonnes of other biopics done in the past 2 years, we’re looking at you!) Soorma (Warrior), released 13 July 2018, is a refreshing change.
Perfect Casting
With renowned Punjabi singer and movie star Diljit Dosanjh portraying the role of Indian hockey legend Sandeep Singh, Angad Bedi as his supportive brother Bikramjit Singh, and Taapsee Pannu as a hockey player and Sandeep’s lady love Harpreet Kaur (Harjinder Kaur in real life), the main characters are well-cast.
Hard Work And Stellar Acting
Dosanjh has clearly put in a lot of effort to mark the physical transformations of Sandeep Singh- from the build of a star hockey player to the thin and frail body of a paralysed man and back to the bulk of a star athlete, changing his body for the movie couldn’t have been easy.
The stellar acting makes the film a treat to watch- scenes like when Sandeep screams in bed on finding out he’s paralysed from the waist down, Harpreet’s heartbreak when she visits him in the hospital and sees his condition, and the ensuing argument between the two brothers have been portrayed with finesse and restraint.
Realistic Portrayal
The movie is quite realistic in the sense that it seems to have very few fictionalised aspects, with most of the story staying true to fact.
The backdrop of small-town Haryana and Punjab blends perfectly with the story, and the other actors adhere to the mannerisms and speech of these areas accurately.
Another factor that helped to keep the film realistic was the exact date of the events been shown being displayed as those scenes were being portrayed. While many other biopics usually let the audience figure out the time and place through subtle changes in the background, Soorma explicitly states it, making the story easier to follow.
Read More: Sanju Review: How The Movie Presented A Biased Tale In The Name Of Biopic?
The One Flaw…
The only noticeable flaw, if you can call it one, was that some of the boys who played hockey alongside Dosanjh looked 10-15 years younger than him- they were probably teenagers. In real life, such huge age gaps rarely exist between players of the same team.
A Good Musical Score
The musical score of the film is certainly a point that deserves to be mentioned. The romantic track Ishq Di Baajiyaan and the highly motivational and fast-paced Soorma Anthem stood out. I can also see the party song Good Man Di Laaltain being played at every Punjabi baaraat in the foreseeable future!
Hockey Vs Cricket
At times, the film is reminiscent of Chak De! India – not because it’s a hockey film, because those aspects of the two films are vastly different- but because of the subtle digs taken at India’s obsession with cricket, and subsequent negligence towards its national sport.
All in all, I can say with conviction that Soorma is a sensibly made sports movie that is the product of a lot of hard work.
It flits between the practical as well as the bureaucratic aspect of the Indian sports world frequently- the latter might make some viewers feel that the film is a little slow, but this is just one of the factors that, according to me, add to the realism of the story.
If not for the natural acting and wonderful music that touches the heart and perfectly suits the scenes being portrayed, Soorma would have been another ordinary struggle-to-success sports film.
I also see the possibility of an award for Diljit Dosanjh and Angad Bedi.
Bottomline: Don’t miss it!
Image Credits: Google Images
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http://edtimes.in/2018/07/sunil-dutt-is-the-real-hero-of-sanju-not-sanjay-dutt-lets-give-the-man-some-more-credit/
Nationalism and hockey when mixed together give rise to Soorma. Before you even feel the pain of the character, their problem gets resolved! With beautiful locations and great music. Diljit Dosanjh and Taspsee Pannu just nailed it. Superb Performance.