Bison Movie Review: Dhruv Vikram’s Kabaddi Sports Drama Arrives in Telugu
The much-anticipated Bison movie, originally released in Tamil during Diwali, has now made its way to Telugu screens. With a runtime of 2 hours and 45 minutes, this film, directed by Mariy Selvaraj, has garnered attention. While director Mariy Selvaraj’s previous works often featured a common thread of caste-based treatment and occasional narrative lag, “Bison” takes a different approach, surprising many who expected a similar pattern after viewing its trailer.
The Story of “Bison”: A Kabaddi Player’s Journey
The basic storyline of Bison revolves around a Kabaddi player in 1994, set against the backdrop of an impending India vs. Pakistan match. The hero, one of the players, delves into his past, recalling his journey to this point. The narrative explores how his guru, father, and sister encouraged him, the involvement of caste-based politics, and a love story. The core question is whether he triumphs in the present-day match.
A Strong Message with Engaging Storytelling
“Bison” delivers a social message that, while not entirely new, is presented with strong storytelling and maximum engagement. The film features several new violent scenes that keep viewers engrossed, along with interesting Kabaddi sports sequences. This unique blend contributes to the film’s overall appeal. Despite its perceived length, the film succeeds in maintaining audience interest throughout.
Performances That Stand Out
The cast delivers impressive performances in “Bison.” Dhruv Vikram, in the titular “Bison” role, gives an excellent performance, conveying a compelling journey. His acting, especially in the childhood school episodes, with innocent expressions, is particularly noteworthy. Pasupathi, playing the father, provides another best supporting performance. Rajisha Vijayan as the sister also performs well. Anupama Parameswaran has a limited but effectively portrayed role. Lal and another actor, portraying the opposing gangsters, both deliver strong performances.
Technical Prowess: Music and Cinematography
From a technical standpoint, the film features good music by Nivas K. Prasanna. While the songs are deemed “okay,” the background music (BGM) stands out as particularly good. The cinematography of Bison is also praised for its quality.
The Good, The Bad, and The Lengthy: A Balanced View
The film boasts several strong points. Mariy Selvaraj’s biggest success lies in integrating a Kabaddi-based sport with caste-based conflicts, a fresh take that works well. The screenplay is very good, enhancing the narrative by presenting the hero with a new challenge every ten minutes, making the audience wonder how he will continue playing Kabaddi. This indirectly highlights his resilience and ability to overcome numerous difficulties to reach his current position. The movie features some well-written violent scenes, like the bus incident, that create significant tension. Standout moments include the Kabaddi scene after the interval, the fight scene before the interval, and the climax. Despite the film’s length, the climax successfully brings the hero’s journey full circle.
However, “Bison” is not without its drawbacks. The second half, with a runtime of 1.5 hours, contributes to a feeling of lag, reminiscent of Mariy Selvaraj’s typical style, with repetitive conflict scenes. The overall movie length is considerable. For those who have seen many such films, the drama, especially in the second half, might feel somewhat familiar, and the climax can be predictable, much like other sports dramas. The heroine’s role is perceived as unnecessary, not aiding the story or the film’s flow. Additionally, the film contains an excessive number of songs and a high level of violence.
Is “Bison” Suitable for Family Viewing?
Viewers should be aware that Bison contains violence, including scenes of brutal killings. There is also a lip kiss involving Anupama Parameswaran in the latter part of the second half, and a five-second romantic moment in the first half. If these elements are acceptable, the rest of the film can be watched.
Final Verdict & Rating
Despite the identified minus points, Bison is definitely worth watching for its engaging Kabaddi scenes and well-written moments. While personally found to be a bit lengthy, the movie is ultimately a decent watch. We rate “Bison” as a 3.25 out of 5 – a decent action sports drama.
