Mukkabaaz

This insightful and true story reveals what is both beautiful and ugly in India and sheds light on what keeps the second most populous country in the world at the bottom of the Olympics. It is also the story of a young couple in love who struggle to live on their own terms in an arena that is far less forgiving than a boxing ring.

Defeating other boxers is the easy part for Shravan. He is tough, well-trained and smart. Troubles really begin when Shravan falls for Sunaina. In the process he picks a fight with her uncle Bhagwan, also Shravan's coach. Next to Bhagwan, Rocky's coach Mickey looks like Miss Kitty. Bhagwan relentlessly punishes and humiliates Shravan with severe beatings, false charges, imprisonment, disqualifications by corrupt officials and more. When he cannot shake Shravan, Bhagwan goes after his support network; torture, kidnapping, rape and robbery. He throws his own brother on the street and breaks his knees. Bhagwan claims to be the victim. "When a boxer is knocked out," he says "it is the coach that bleeds." Shravan tries to turn his anger into positive energy, and funnel it into his boxing gloves and his love for Sunaina.

"Boxing is not a world of glamor like it is in West," said director Kashyap after the film's world premiere in Toronto. This film shows why this is sadly the case. It also provides a balanced snapshot of contemporary India with its amazing colors, song, dances and light, as well as its haze, corruption, crime and debilitating caste system. Actor Vineet Kumar Singh took a year off to train for his role as Shravan, and such thorough preparation is evident in his tremendous performance. The story is too long and disjointed in places, yet all together it is a fantastic, enthralling and dramatic portrait of the hypocrisy and corruption, as well as the beauty and color, in India. Seen at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Mukkabaaz is full entertainment package of performance, direction, music, dialogue and message for society. Hats off to Anurag Kashyap (director) (undefined) for sport drama with social issue. Script include Caste discrimination, Beef issue, Bharat Mata ki jai Issue, Struggle in the area of sport, Passion and Love. Dialogues were witty and full of punches e.g. Inki Bidi ka tambakoo khatm ho gaya hain(His cigaretts without Tabocco) and Hum UP ke Mike Tyson hain (I am Mike Tyson of UP). Vineet Kumar Singh mesmerized audience with spell-bounding performance. Debut-ant Zoya Hussain (https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Zoya_Hussain&action=edit&redlink=1) brilliantly act through expressions. Jimmy Sheirgill another big pillar of this cinema who showcase evilness. Ravi Kishan and Shree Dhar Dubey (https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Shree_Dhar_Dubey&action=edit&redlink=1) have delivered strong supporting performance. Nawazuddin Siddiqui (Bollywood Film Actor) (undefined) 's guest appearance was catchy. Music was raw and really impressive as Rachita Arora's first music direction in the Bollywood. "Mushkil Hai Apna Meil Priye", "Paintra" and "Bahut Hua Samman" were unique and great one songs.

As the experts say "Form is temporary, class is permanent". And Anurag Kashyap has come roaring back to form with 'Mukkabaaz'. Although one can argue that he never was out of form except for 'Bombay Velvet'.

In this do-or-die movie, as stated by Anurag Kashyap himself he shows his true class. The dark narrative, brutish characters are all present in this film. The protagonist Shravan Kumar(Vineet Kumar Singh) is an aspiring boxer from Bareilly who trains under a retired boxer and present state minister Bhagwan Das Mishra(Jimmy Shergill) and falls in love with his mute niece Sunanina(Zoya Hussain). But Bhagwan, a Brahmin treats his boxers more like his laundry boys. This irritates Shravan and the two have an early faceoff.

But Bhagwan is the real Godfather of Bareilly who can clutch anyone he wants under his feet and all he wants is to never let Shravan take part in any Boxing competition ever. This is where Kashyap is a treat to watch. He gives you these Scorsese-Tarantinesque characters who can you flinch with their terror and Bhagwan is exactly the same no-nonsense kind. He has no emotional vulnerability, no principles and will use his whole power to do anything he wants "Kyunki wo Brahman hain,wo aadesh dete hain" and its your duty to oblige.

On the other hand there is Shravan, determined to achieve both his passion and his love. He is ready to fight every situation but is desperately running out of time. Finally he meets Sanjay Kumar(Ravi Kishan) is a Boxing tournament who immediately takes him under his wing. He starts to train Shravan for the State-level Championship, the only way for him to marry Sunanina.

It is only Kashyap's excellence which even makes a love story this dark. You can sense the tension building in the second half but even then its impossible to predict the brutality in the second phase. Its noticeable that the whole focus of the movie is on Boxing and not the romance. Boxing is central to the film thus touching the plight of the sport in the state and country as you hear "Boxing pe picture banti hai to 40 crore kamati hai, par boxing tournament hota hai to chaalis log bhi dekhne nahi aate". The federation is being run by goons turning and twisting the sport according to their own benefits.

Zoya Hussain is a fresh surprise in her debut role. She manages to express the anger of Sunanina beautifully with her eyes without speaking a single work. Ravi Kishan does not have much screen time but is a delight to watch throughout. Its baffling to see how such a talented actor has been underutilized in the hindi film industry. Jimmy Shergill another stereotypes underestimated actor has nothing new which he hasn't done in the past. He plays the same corrupt minister who turns the system as per his own wishes. But he presents himself with such brutality you can literally feel the anger brewing inside you against this man. Though it is Vineet Singh Sharma who captures the screen in his first central role. One of Anurag Kashyap's trusted Banner-men, Vineet is ferocious, flamboyant and flawless at the same time. He makes you feel for Shravan without showing weakness in a single frame.

And what to say about Anurag Kashyap himself. He has made the actors act with their eyes rather than their words. This is where he is at his best. Where he tells the story of an underdog fighting against the system. The dark reality of the small towns where the God-men run the system without any intrusion. He has hit the right straps with 'Mukkabaaz' and we owe it to him for giving such peerless start to the new year. 'Mukkabaaz' sets the benchmark for this year's cinema. Go watch it now you can see the 'Tigers' in Corbett.

Anurag Kashyap is redefining himself. I didn't like his last two films Bombay Velvet and Raman Raghav 2.0. But I like this one. I was amazed to see the whole story which was shown to us in trailer was there in first half itself. I got excited to think what the film will tell in the second half. First half was full of love, songs, romance, fight, and happy ending. Second half contains the issues in Government sectors, offices, sports and above all Uttar Pradesh. I wish Ravi Kishan's character had been written more. He suits in his perfectly. Debutant actress Zoya delivers superb expressions. Jimmy Shergil is as usual outstanding. Vineet Kumar Singh is terrific. He is now become star. Everyone knows that he can act superbly. But after this film, everyone would know that he can hold the entire film too. Songs are superb. Mushkil Hai Mel, Pantra, Bahut Dukha hai - Every song has its own charisma. Overall, a very good start of this year with this film. Kashyap, take a bow!

#mukkabaaz 2hrs 35 mins

imdb -8.4/10.

PLOT A lower caste boxer struggles to keep up his career against different odds. Review So.... Anurag Kashyap after a decent film on a serial killer washed his hands for a film(told to be inspired by true events) related with street boxing in the alleys of UP. The film delivers as we all expect from Kashyap's film....brilliant performance,excellent direction and able screenplay.Remember,vineet kumar singh from ugly..he is the main character playing the street boxer shravan singh here.In his role he is more than perfect in his role...well adjectives will be short to describe his performance...he gets under the skin role so well that no one will be able to pick out a signle fault.His body transformation for this film is really inspiring.Jimmy Shergill was excellent in his role as Bhagwan Das mishra..the local goon leader and the villian..his body language and local accent was perfect.Zoya Hussein playing the role of a mute niece to shergill shines in her debut performance.Ravi kishan was also good....but the storyline was bit extended and fails to match the heights of gangs of wasseypur,Gullal...his previous masterpieces but this cinema is just short of achieving a classic tag because it slightly lacks kashyap's signature direction style which is unique.The gripping pace of the film will hold you to the seat but last 15-20mins seems to be forcefully extended. The songs of the film "paintra","Bohot hua samman" nicely fits into the film....this is rare type of sports drama made in bollywood with so much reality involved and must deserve a standing ovation for all the efforts the entire unit has made to create this film...9.2/10......