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Director: Abhishek Kapoor
Banner: Telebrands Entertainment India Pvt. Ltd.
Cast: Sohail Khan, Sneha Ullah, Inder Kumar and Puneet Issar.
Attempting a Bollywood masala film based on sports other than cricket is a commendable effort. Actor turned director Abhishek Kapoor should be applauded for making a fairly watchable film devoid of the usual masala. Aryan was lying in the cans for almost 2 years now but never once gives a dated product feeling.
Aryan (Sohail Khan) is an inter-collegiate boxing champ who dreams about winning the Nationals. His coach Ranveer Singh Bagga (Puneet Issar) has high hopes for him. There is a new addition to Bagga's team, Ranjit (Inder Kumar). While taking steroids, he is caught red-handed by Bagga and thrown out of the team. Three months before the National Championships, Aryan's girlfriend, Neha (Sneha) gets pregnant and he decides to marry her. Furious by his chela's marriage mid-way, Bagga guruji chucks him out of his team as well. Aryan leaves his boxing aspirations and starts working with a Sports Channel as a presenter. Though coming from a super rich family, Neha adjusts to her new middle class home and also starts working with a Music Channel as a VJ. Time passes by and they have a son Ranveer (Master Ahsaas) who idol worships Ranjit, now a National Boxing Champ.
When Ranjit comes to Aryan's studio for a television interview, Aryan tries to be friendly with him reminding him of their old bonding. But, Ranjit not only insults him but also speaks dirty about Neha. An angry Aryan tries to hit back but Ranjit thrashes him in front of everybody. Aryan leaves his job and sits at home jobless for months. He starts getting insecure about everything he loves. He doubts his wife of having an affair with her boss (Fardeen Khan).
One day, drunk, he abuses her and hits her. She leaves her home and goes back to her parents. Days pass and Aryan sinks further into depression. Though away, Neha senses it and goes and meets his old coach, Bagga. She pleads with him to bring Aryan back into boxing. Bagga manages to convince Aryan to get back in shape and restart boxing. He even pitches him for the National Championships. Ranjit who is the reigning champion is convinced he is going to rule again. Aryan takes winning the championship as a personal challenge and decides to teach Ranjit a lesson in the boxing ring. Gradually, Aryan manages to reach the finals and is pitted opposite Ranjit. In a tough bout that follows a down but not out Aryan manages to knock out Ranjit in the final round. Aryan not only wins the new National Championship but also gets back the respect he had lost amongst his loved ones.
Devoid of any big stars Aryan holds together and manages to keep your interest alive, right till the end, because of it's technical competence and the good story telling technique of Abhishek Kapoor. Abhishek is also the writer of the film and has handled various sequences such as the relationship between the husband and wife, the special bond between the father (Satish Shah) and daughter (Neha) well. Not for once does the audience feel bored in the entire 30 minutes boxing climax. He has shot it brilliantly. The clichéd scene of the heroine rushing to the boxing match venue and the hero getting more motivated on seeing her and eventually winning the fight could have been avoided though. The music of the film by Anand Raj Anand was a hit when it was released long back but it's the background score by Ranjit Barot that's more impressive.
Sohail Khan looks the part of a boxer. He does appear a bit expressionless during the emotional scenes but manages to give a convincing performance. Sneha Ullal is better than what she was in her debut film, Lucky, but she desperately needs a rapid course in dialogue delivery.
Inder Kumar carries one expression throughout the film that of gnashing his teeth with fire in his eyes. Puneet Issar is good. Satish Shah is okay. Supriya Karnik playing the vampish mom-in-law carries forward from where she left in Shaadi Karke Phass Gaya Yaar. Café Mocha owner Suved Lodhia grates on your nerves with his irritating dialogue delivery. Fardeen Khan is cool in a not so cool 3 scene role. Kapil Dev is shown being interviewed by the hero of the film but his dialogues are not audible.
Not many know that, a decade back Sohail was supposed to start his career as a director with a film titled Ram by launching Abhishek Kapoor in the lead. He had then dropped the idea and made his first film, Auzaar with a more saleable star, his own brother, Salman. Now it's a role reversal for both, Sohail has turned actor and Abhishek, a director.
-- Abhijit Mhamunkar
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