A former badminton champion who has become disillusioned by the politicization of the sport and an incident from his time is adamantly opposed to his son participating in any sport. Will the young boy's angry father back the future champion if he decides to play badminton at school?
Review: The sports drama is not about a jaded coach making a comeback and training a team to clinch a trophy. At its heart, writer and director Sudhanshu Sharma’s story is about shattered dreams and how they can embitter an individual and affect those around him. The tension in the Sharma household is palpable from the beginning when the viewers are introduced to the family. Siddharth Sharma (Kay Kay Menon) is a stern and unsmiling man who wants his son, Aaditya (Ark Jain), to have nothing to do with sports, so much so that Siddharth doesn’t let the young boy play and locks up his window facing the playground. Behind this austerity is Siddharth’s past as a badminton champ and thwarted dreams, no thanks to politics in the sports association, his humble background where he’s expected to be grateful and happy to land a gig as a khalasi (manual worker) through the sports quota, and an incident that left him injured.
As luck would have it, Aaditya decides to take up badminton at school with the help of his mother Jaya (Shirswara Dubey) and Viju, a boyhood friend of his father's (Sumit Arora). The rest of the movie is around the father's eventual decision to allow his son to pursue his gift and desire while supporting him in doing so.
Albeit a simple story, Love-All is a deep and emotional tale. The narrative does include the usual sports training and challenges Aaditya faces, including rivalry at school. Still, it’s balanced well and seamlessly interwoven into the story’s actual vein of looking beyond one’s past, which shouldn’t have to embitter the future. Sudhanshu Sharma’s taut screenplay and directorial command ensure that the serious story remains engaging. It has the right dose of drama without ever going overboard. However, the part where the antagonists try to disqualify Aaditya seems unconvincing and could have been better. Sudhanshu’s background as a national-level badminton player is evident in the authenticity he has lent to the sport’s portrayal. The movie also has poignant dialogues. When Viju meets Siddharth after decades, he describes his life, “Zindagi ke rang toh ab sirf kapdon mein reh gaye hain.” Saurabh-Vaibhav’s compositions are outstandingly melodious, whether a delicate ‘Geeli si subah,’ love-laced Baaton baaton mein’ the pumped-up energy of ‘Jhat Pat.’
In this case, Kay Kay Menon shows she is a champion actor. As spot-on as his change is his portrayal of the stern parent, husband, and disillusioned guy. He excels particularly in the sequences that are emotionally charged, and the subtlety of his altered demeanor reveals why he is one of the most admired actors of our day. The subtleties of a badminton player are expertly captured by Ark Jain. He performs admirably in the sequences where he briefly loses control of his growing fame and defies his father's guidance for the first time. As Siddharth's ex-girlfriend and a driving force in Aaditya's development as a player, Swastika Mukherjee plays the role. Her first meeting with Kay Kay is eloquently presented. Shirswara, as the loving and submissive wife,
Love-All is a touching tale about a father and son team that criticizes the unethical behavior in sporting organizations. It serves to remind the audience that since the funding for quality sports infrastructure comes from their taxes, it is their right and not a favor extended by political parties. It's worthwhile to watch this sports drama with your family. You'll leave feeling moved and impressed.
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