A
title
like
Lahore
gives
you
the
feeling
that
it's
an
Indo-Pak
story.
The
fact
is,
it
is,
but
it's
about
kick-boxing,
a
sport
that
hasn't
been
presented
on
celluloid
before,
at
least
on
the
Hindi
screen.
Cricket,
boxing,
hockey
and
football
have
found
their
way
on
the
Hindi
screen,
but
kick-boxing,
not
to
my
knowledge.
Sure,
there
are
references
to
the
precarious
Indo-Pak
relations
in
a
few
sequences,
but
let's
get
one
thing
clear.
This
is
not
a
'war
film'.
There's
no
slogan-shouting
or
Pak-bashing
here.
There's
no
jingoism
either.
In
fact,
the
culmination
to
the
story
--
a
shocker,
which
is
sure
to
raise
eyebrows
--
is
absolutely
outstanding
and
will
work
with
both
the
nations.
Lahore
isn't
about
kick-boxing
only.
It's
about
relationships
--
between
two
nations
and
also
between
two
brothers
--
with
a
strong
undercurrent
of
emotions.
It's
the
emotional
quotient,
besides
the
penultimate
do-or-die
match,
that
tilts
things
in
its
favour.
Final
word?
Take
a
trip
to
Lahore.
If
you're
a
sportsman
or
even
if
you're
not,
catch
this
one
for
sure!
The
selection
of
the
Indian
kick-boxing
team
is
to
be
done.
The
final
stage
of
qualification
is
in
process.
Amidst
all
this
there
is
a
minister
[K.
Jeeva],
who
wants
his
favourite
participant
to
be
selected;
a
coach
[Farooque
Shaikh],
who
wants
merit
to
be
the
order
of
the
day;
an
aspirant
[Sushant
Singh],
who
dreams
to
qualify
purely
on
the
basis
of
his
merit;
another
aspirant
[Kelly
Dorji],
who
is
over-confident,
well
connected
and
aims
high
to
represent
India.
The
focus
shifts
to
Kuala
Lumpur.
Two
opponents,
Dhirendra
Singh
[Sushant
Singh]
from
India
comes
face
to
face
with
Noor
Mohammad
[Mukesh
Rishi]
from
Pakistan.
But
an
unexpected
incident
takes
place.
The
sports
fraternity
stands
numb.
The
two
nations
meet
in
Lahore
for
a
fresh
kick-boxing
tournament.
This
time,
Noor
Mohammed
comes
face
to
face
with
Virendra
Singh
[Aanaahad],
Dhirendra's
brother.
Winning
the
game
is
not
the
only
thing
on
his
mind.
Virendra
wants
to
settle
some
old
scores
and
restore
the
lost
pride
of
the
nation.
Debutante
director
Sanjay
Puran
Singh
Chauhan
gives
you
an
insight
of
what
to
expect
at
the
very
start
of
the
film.
Thereafter,
he
unravels
two
tracks
that
run
concurrently
all
through
the
first
hour.
The
first
track
pertains
to
the
relationship
between
the
brothers
and
the
second,
the
two
neighbours
--
India
and
Pakistan
--
preparing
to
outdo
each
other
in
the
boxing
ring.
The
highpoint
of
the
film
are
the
kick-boxing
duels
--
in
Kuala
Lumpur
first
[first
half]
and
Lahore
[second
half]
later.
The
sequence
at
the
interval
is
shocking
and
one
looks
forward
to
an
equally
exhilarating
second
hour.
But
the
story
dips
in
the
post-interval
portions,
primarily
because
you
know
where
it
is
headed.
The
subtle
romance
between
Aanaahad
and
Shraddha
Das
is
well
knitted,
but
a
cricketer
[Aanaahad]
getting
chosen
to
represent
India
for
an
altogether
different
sport
[kick-boxing]
is
a
bit
difficult
to
absorb,
although
the
director
has
justified
the
decision
by
depicting
sequences
where
Aanaahad
is
shown
getting
trained
in
kick-boxing.
Yet,
despite
that,
it
appears
like
a
cinematic
liberty.
But
the
moment
the
Indian
team
sets
foot
in
Lahore,
right
till
the
culmination,
the
film
regains
the
lost
ground
and
moves
into
a
completely
new
zone.
The
matches,
shot
deftly,
are
pulse-pounding
and
even
if
you're
not
a
sportsperson
or
haven't
watched
a
kick-boxing
tournament
before,
you
can't
help
but
remain
hooked
to
the
proceedings.
The
fight-to-finish
duel
is
simply
outstanding!
Debutante
director
Sanjay
Puran
Singh
Chauhan
has
the
makings
of
a
highly
skilled
storyteller.
The
film
has
won
applause
and
awards
at
various
international
film
festivals
and
very
deservingly
so!
Aiding
the
director
in
his
mission
are
two
people
--
the
person
who
executed
the
kick-boxing
sequences
[action
director:
Tony
Leung
Siu
Hung]
and
the
cinematographer
[Neelabh
Kaul],
who
has
captured
them
with
such
precision.
There's
not
much
scope
for
music
[M.M.
Kreem]
in
the
film,
while
the
background
score
[Wayne
Sharpe]
is
effectual.
The
production
design
[Kesto
Mondal]
deserves
special
praise.
Farooque
Shaikh
is
top
notch.
Saurabh
Shukla
compliments
him
well.
Sabyasachi
Chakraborty
is
incredible.
Sushant
Singh
enacts
his
part
efficiently.
Shraddha
Nigam
is
good.
Mukesh
Rishi
conveys
a
lot
through
silence.
Shraddha
Das
carries
the
Pakistani
look
well.
Nafisa
Ali
is
restrained.
Ashish
Vidyarthi
is
proficient.
K.
Jeeva
is
perfect.
Kelly
Dorji
impresses.
Nirmal
Pandey
gets
minimal
scope.
As
for
Aanaahad,
it's
the
role
of
a
lifetime.
It
may
not
be
a
conventional
launch,
but
the
fact
is
that
the
role
seems
tailor-made
for
him
and
he
performs
it
with
gusto.
On
the
whole,
Lahore
is
a
small
little
gem
that
takes
you
by
surprise
and
catches
you
completely
unaware.
The
finale
in
the
boxing
ring
itself
is
worth
the
price
of
the
ticket
and
more.
I
suggest,
you
make
time
for
this
one.
Directed
by
-
Sanjay
Puran
Singh
Chauhan
Starring
-
Aanaahad,
Shraddha
Das,
Farooq
Sheikh,
Nafisa
Ali,
Shraddha
Nigam,
Saurabh
Shukla,
Aashish
Vidyarthi
...