Critics Rating: 1 Stars*

Cast: Nishan Nanaiah, Annu Kapoor, Saranya Mohan, Aman Verma

Direction: Shailesh Verma

Produced: Satish Pillangwad

Written: Shailesh Verma

Genre: Drama, Sports.

Duration: 123 Mins 

After the Pro Kabaddi League comes the sports film not to end all sports film, but definitely the hopes of the audience memberswho believe that there is an entertaining story here. The initial reels ring out the warning bells with some unbelievably hammy acting.

Badlapur’s local boy Vijay (NishanNanaiah) grows up to be a tormented child after his father immolates himself due to government inaction in constructing a canal at the village. The act is considered to be one of sheer madness, leaving Vijay and his mother to bear the stigma of it. While the widow may be stooped with the shame of the reckless deed, Vijay is determined to clear the dishonour in his family’s name and wants the canal to be constructed in his village.

His only shot at this is at a kabaddi competition in Allahabad where the Chief Minister will be present. The only way he qualifies to get there is via the village kabaddi team which does not have the best winning record, though that is an understatement. Kabaddi coach SurajBhaan Singh (Annu Kapoor) is sympathetic to their cause, but will he root for the underdog?

It sounds like an interesting premise that could have been made into a serviceable entertainer. Instead, the audience is riddled with the worst amalgamation of clichés in film, which takes the focus away from the genre itself. A lot of the first half goes in establishing characters through silly gags. There is a scene where one of the characters hits his cantankerous mother-in-law on the head with a stick while blind-folded, which tries (and fails) to be comical.

The editing in particular is the film’s biggest drawback, all poor production qualities aside. Most scenes in the film end abruptly, with very few getting the courtesy of a smooth transition. There are abrupt fade-ins and fade-outs, with little consideration for a timeline when it comes to date and night.

The mandatory romance angle, with a lot of boy-chasing-girl (literally) and two songs, has been thrown in, taking the focus away from other team players. All predictable banalities regarding attempts to sabotage the team, sports injuries and maudlin drama add to the drudgery of the plot. It does not help that the background is jarring and has often been heard before on TV shows.Badlapur Boys is not above using melodramatic violin strains for additional effect.The look of the film is more suited for television viewing as it is.

Worst of all is the climax of the film, which, though optimistic, has a futile twist which enters an ethically grey area and could have been done without altogether.

With nobody to root for and no redeeming factor for a compelling watch, Badlapur Boys makes for neither a decent sports drama or a relevant commentary on the current state of affairs in rural India.