'Toofaan': Will Farhan Akhtar’s boxing drama create a storm?

Farhan Akhtar in a still from `Toofaan` (Picture Courtesy: Mid-day Archives)

Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and Farhan Akhtar collaborated for the first time for the late and legendary sports figure Milkha Singh's biopic, ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag'. It was a sprawling, sweeping portrayal of a resolute, robust athlete with a traumatic yet inspiring life. The director and the actor come together again for another sports drama 'Toofaan', but this time, it's a fictional telling of a complexed ruffian.

For all those who have seen the trailer, Akhtar's a ticking time bomb that picks up a fight at the drop of a hat. Mehra edits the trailer and his early potions effectively, with punches and kicks, and the sound of bones breaking and glass shattering. Akhtar is Aziz Ali, who already has muscles and torso to ogle at. He has been suspended from boxing for five years and the reason is mercifully not revealed in the trailer.

Watch the trailer right here:

Barring this conflict that may act as a cliffhanger in the drama, ‘Toofaan' pretty much presents its cards to the viewers. There's an emotionally broken and physically bruised man who has lost the burning ambition to return to the ring. He's inspired by the woman he falls in love with (Mrunal Thakur). He's guided by a hot-headed coach who first scoffs at his idea of becoming a boxer (Paresh Rawal) and one incident that shatters his flourishing glory into smithereens.

He does return to the ring because if he doesn't, there won't be a movie, and there's also an unintentional reminiscence of Salman Khan's ‘Sultan' when Akhtar stands in one corner, ashamed of his paunch. No sports film can be made without an inspiring soundtrack and grueling training montages. This one ticks both the boxes right in the trailer. Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy compose a spirited, solid title track that suits the narrative and the conflict of the character.

This was supposed to release theatrically on September 18 last year but now premieres on Amazon Prime Video on July 16. To ask ‘Will it pack a punch?' sounds too cliched. Will this boxing drama score high? Or, will it create a storm on OTT? Even better!

Also Read: Toofaan director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra: We weren't satisfied with prosthetics