Movie Review Paan Singh Tomar
Paan Singh Tomar is about a champion sportsperson who joins the army and knows his potential for running. It is a true story of a runner who didn’t get the appreciation he deserved. It is directed by Tigmanshu Dhulia and produced by UTV Motion Pictures. Irrfan Khan plays the lead character.
Paan Singh Tomar (Irrfan khan) is a humble village boy who joins the army to serve the nation. His potential for running makes him win national and international awards. He becomes a dreaded dacoit in the Chambal Valley due to uncertain circumstances. His career comes to an end when a family feud forces him to retire from the army and return to his village. Tomar sprints over hurdles with breathtaking ease and eventually displays the same stubborn determination while murdering men who have robbed him of his ancestral land. When his mother is killed and his son brutally assaulted, Tomar seeks help from the police, identifying himself as a former athlete. But the local police refuse to help, telling him his medals and certificates are of no use. Frustrated, Tomar decides to defend himself and his family, but ends up on the wrong side of the law.
Irrfan Khan’s acting as ever is realistic and suits the character. He certainly deserves appreciation for his brilliant performance. Director Tigmanshu Dhulia establishes a loving relationship between Tomar and his wife, Indra, played by Mahie Gill. But Indra and his two children largely disappear from his life when he becomes an outlaw and we never really see him ache for them.
Dhulia rises to the challenge, along with co-writer Sanjay Chauhan, penning a story that has traces of a typical movie from the ‘70s, but camouflages the larger-that-life aspect with some rooted characters and real dialogues. The film is full of witty repartees, most of them by Tomar, the banter lightening the mood even as the mood remains sombre, several times.
The location of the film makes it more realistic. Although there are not too many songs (like the usual Hindi movies), the story is quite entertaining to retain the attentionoftheviewers.
The director has done a good research about the protagonist and that’s what makes this film special.
