DNA Movie Review| Anurag Kashyap film 'Mukkabaaz' will definitely shake you from your reverie

Mukkabaaz (Drama-Sport)

Cast: Vineet Kumar Singh, Zoya Hussain, Jimmy Shergill, Ravi Kishan

Direction: Anurag Kashyap

Duration: 2 hours, 25 minutes

Language: Hindi (U/A)

Story: Shravan (Vineet) wants to be Uttar Pradesh’s Mike Tyson. But that is not the only match he has to win. In lawless UP, where one has to fight corrupt politicians and custodians of caste on a daily basis, life itself is a boxing ring.

Review: Anurag Kashyap’s inner angst translates effectively in his cinema. In Mukkabaaz, he uses the boxing sport as a backdrop but tells you a story of romance, caste politics, corruption and other social evils that are rampant in India, more so in UP. And how the common man has to finally, hold up his middle finger and say, ‘Bahut hua samman, tumhari aisi taisi’ to bullies, whether they are in the administration, workplace or simply at home.

The film works on many levels because it is inspirational. To see an underdog go through daily strife and ultimately qualify for the National Level boxing championship is encouraging.

Also, the champ’s love story with a mute girl, Sunaina (Zoya) is charismatic and handled sensitively.

The couple’s enemy, Bhagwandas Mishra (Jimmy) who is a Brahmin and a third-class politician-bully, is also effective. However, his atrocities are unending. And though one knows that this is the true picture of goondas who often run a parallel government, this track gets really heavy. As the audience, you long for some reprieve.

But what genuinely goes against the film is its running time. Since Kashyap packs in so many aspects of society – sports, romance, corruption and caste politics – into one film, he wears you down. So much so, that at one point you’re too exhausted and like the hero of the film, you actually want to throw in the towel. He does it for a good reason but you want to do it because the film has gone on for far too long.

The performances of the lead cast – Vineet, Zoya and Jimmy – are pitch perfect and definitely worth a dekho.

Tip: Kashyap is still one of Hindi cinema’s better storytellers. His films definitely shake you from your reverie. So for those who don't wish to just sleepwalk through life, this Kashyap kand is a must.

Critics Rating: 3.5/5