- Date of Release: 01 April 2022
- Genre: Biopic, Drama, Sports
- Language: Hindi
- Watch On: Disney+Hotstar
Kaun Pravin Tambe?
RATING
Introduction
The weekend is here and the IPL is in full swing! The cricket carnival has caught the imagination of the country like every year! And like every a normal Indian fan looks to unearth some of the home grown talent and see them shine and transform themselves in this prestigious tournament. As they say T20 is a game for the youngsters. But it was in 2014 when a 41 year old “youngster” took everyone by surprise when he made his debut for Rajasthan Royals against the Kolkata Knight Riders. The man was Pravin Tambe, a rather unknown entity then who was made immortal not only by his performance and fitness but that famous Rahul Dravid speech. And his biopic finally makes its way to the OTT platform Hotstar titled Kaun Pravin Tambe. Its trailer looked very promising and I had almost made up my mind to watch this film on the night if the release itself. I have finally watched Kaun Pravin Tambe and here are my two cents on it.
Story & Screenplay
Kaun Pravin Tambe is a biopic on the inspirational journey of Pravin Tambe who made his IPL debut at the age of 41. The story is sincere and truly inspirational. The spirit of a person is tested when things don’t go your way or when odds are stacked against you. The situation here was a bit of both for Pravin. A rather late bloomer, a man who began with medium pace only to be rejected every single time in the Mumbai Ranji Squad to finally making his IPL debut is quite a journey! And this needed some sharp writing to evoke the right kind of emotions. But I found the screenplay to be slightly patchy. The opening sequence of Pravin visiting his son’s school did not add up and could have done without. I wanted to know his story and more so his journey, so the start for me was wobbly.
Things keep getting better as the screenplay unfolds. The sequences involving the Shield tournament does evoke a sense of interest, coupled with the training portions which are very well shot and executed. Where the film falters is in creating humour which was just not there and honestly not required too. That was hindering me from fully investing in the drama. But there are some genuinely heartwarming moments like Pravin talking to his wife in bed soon after he was asked to pick coaching duties. A scene depicting him looking at his dream slowly die was truly heartbreaking and one of my favourite scenes in the film. But again the very next scene involving him and the great Rahul Dravid seemed a little random without any buildup. The final match sequence again didn’t quite evoke that sense of emotions. But it is still a sincere attempt at penning the screenplay with several moments to look forward to in what was an inspirational journey.
Dialogues, Music & Direction
The dialogues are well written and they aren’t preachy. They definitely drive home their point and leave a mark. The music was disappointing as was the BGM. The BGM should have been a lot better, probably like a recurring theme which was seen in 83. But here, the mood of the film was not justified by the BGM at all in my humble opinion. Some of the sequences of cricket are well shot here. Director Jayprad Desai has done a fair job. His attempt is sincere in bringing out this amazing tale although it needs to be said that it is a little rough around the edges.
Performances
The performances are excellent here. Arif Zakaria as Jamil delivers a very dignified performance. Chhaya Kadam as Pravin’s mother is quite fabulous to watch. Anjali Patil as Vaishali looks pretty and is such a natural onscreen. Parambrata Chatterjee as Sanyal again does a good job although his character isn’t seamless and seems a little comfused at the writing stage. The entire sequence of him losing a bet, only to dress up like a girl was atrocious to a cricket fan writing this review who is a purist. Ashish Vidyarthi as Pravin’s coach is splendid and quietly adds to the energy of the film. But the film belongs to Shreyas Talpade who returns to the cricket genre after Iqbal. As Pravin Tambe, he lives every bit of his character and delivers a well measured performance. I really wish to watch more of him in times to come. Such a talented actor and he deserves such well written roles.
Conclusion
Kaun Pravin Tambe is an earnest biopic of an inspirational cricketer who reminded us that age is just a number. But some sharper writing would have enhanced the overall journey even more! Available on Hotstar!