Sports dramas in films usually are underdogs to hero stories. In recent times #Toofan, #SaalaKhadoos, #MaryKom etc dealt with the subject of Boxing. Recently released #MainLadega too revolves around the sport of boxing and narrates a story of a youngster who takes up boxing to tide over the family complexities. The anger which is built up from the childhood in the lead chatacter gets chanelised in boxing, thus making this an emotional boxing drama.
Akash Pratap Singh (Akash Pratap Singh) is a youngster who keeps witnessing his father’s (Ashwath Bhatt) brutal behaviour towards his mother (Jyoti Gauba). As a growing up kid he wants to protect his mother and his younger brother from his boozard father. It is decided to shift Akash to a military school for his 12th class. He being a bright student becomes popular with fellow classmates. Gauri (Vallari Viraj) initially hates him as he scores more marks than her but later they become friends and end up being a couple. But in the meanwhile, Akash takes up boxing as he wants to win the prize money of Rs 1 lakh which he thinks would solve his mother’s problem and she can break free from a violent marriage. What happens around it forms he crux of the story.
Story, screenplay is credited to the lead actor Akash Pratap Singh and he has done a predictable but a decent job. The director has done a good job while narrating the story with emotional as well as sporting high points. But the movie has pace issues and the runtime of 148 min is long enough. At least 20-25 minutes should have been edited for more impact. The music is good and the song Tuzse Pyar Hai lingers in your mind. The background score is impressive and adds to the effectiveness of the scenes. Cinematography is excellent and the ‘ring-shots’ are beautifully captured. Akash Pratap Singh as an actor definitely has promise. His transformational journey is impressive as well as inspiring. He is good in emotional scenes too. Vallari Viraj looks good and fits the role to the tee. She has performed responsibly and has used light comedy to the perfection. She should work on her diction though. Her Maharastrian character helps her come over that drawback. But Vallari too has delivered a ‘punching’ performance. Divya Khansare, Saurabh Pachauri, Ahan Nirbhan, Ashwath Bhatt, Jyoti Gauba and others lend good support. Special mention requires for Gandharv Dewan as Gurnaam Singh as a classmate and a boxing coach. He too delivers a ‘punching’ performance.
Main Ladega is a sincerely made film on boxing with high emotional quotient.
Rating : ***1/2
