Rating:
3.5/5
Star
Cast:
Sudeep,
Suniel
Shetty,
Aakanksha
Singh
Director:
Krishna
Pailwaan
set
high
expectations
among
the
audience
by
acquiring
the
tag
of
a
sports-centric
film.
However,
only
upon
watching
Krishna's
directorial,
you
will
realise
that
the
movie
consists
of
all
the
elements
of
entertainment,
a
viewer
seeks.
Although
Sudeep
has
already
represented
his
filmy
nickname
in
Kiccha
in
several
of
his
previous
projects,
Pailwaan
has
added
yet
another
shade
to
it.
If
you're
planning
on
watching
this
Kannada
film,
read
our
complete
review
below.
Plot
Krishna,
a
young
orphan
is
spotted
by
Sarkar
(played
by
Suniel
Shetty),
a
professional
wrestling
trainer.
He
trains
the
young
boy
to
master
the
skills
of
wrestling
while
considering
him
to
be
his
own
son.
Fast
forward
a
few
years,
a
young
Krishna
grows
up
to
be
a
wrestling
champion,
which
is
essayed
by
Sudeep.
Besides
showcasing
the
protagonist's
sports
skills,
the
film
in
the
first
half
mainly
focuses
on
the
father-son
relationship.
However,
the
duo
faces
a
relationship
turmoil,
when
Krishna
aka
Kiccha
falls
head
over
heels
in
love
with
Rukmini,
played
by
Aakanksha
Singh.
When
Kiccha
chooses
love
over
his
father's
desire
to
see
him
emerge
as
a
national
champion,
their
relationship
falls
apart.
The
rest
of
the
movie
focuses
on
the
hero
working
his
way
towards
fixing
various
issues
he
encounters
in
life.
Screenplay
&
Direction
A
compelling
storyline
paired
with
catchy
dialogues
form
the
highlights
of
Pailwaan.
Although
it
comes
across
as
a
film
based
on
sports
ruled
by
action,
director
Krishna
has
successfully
managed
to
fit
in
all
factors
that
make
it
highly
entertaining.
We
wouldn't
be
wrong
if
we
called
the
climax
a
cliché,
which
shows
the
triumph
of
the
hero
over
the
villains,
but
the
rest
of
the
plot
isn't
as
predictable.
Unlike
other
commercial
films,
which
hardly
throw
light
on
the
role
of
the
female
lead,
Aakanksha
Singh's
character
in
Pailwaan
is
pivotal.
Her
chemistry
with
Sudeep
is
appreciable
and
their
love
story
will
leave
you
awestruck.
The
scenes
consisting
of
traditional
wrestling
and
professional
boxing
are
gripping,
but
the
makers
could
have
polished
it
further
by
paying
more
attention
to
the
technicalities.
Somewhere,
the
representation
of
sports,
seems
to
lack
logic.
But,
the
humour,
quirky
dialogues
and
the
fight
sequences
serve
the
interest
of
the
mass
audience
entirely.
Performances
Frankly,
showcasing
Suniel
Shetty
as
Sudeep's
father
has
compromised
on
realism,
as
both
the
actors
are
of
a
similar
age
group
and
it
is
evident
in
the
odd
appearance
on
screen.
But,
both
actors
have
done
justice
to
their
roles,
striking
the
right
chord
with
the
audiences.
For
a
debutante,
Aakanksha
comes
across
as
cheerful,
adding
more
prominence
to
her
screen
presence.
The
antagonists
Sushanth
Singh
and
Kabir
Singh,
have
acted
well
enough
to
make
the
viewers
despise
their
characters.
The
actors
also
add
decent
value
to
the
story.
Music
&
Background
Score
The
makers
could
have
been
more
innovative
with
respect
to
the
background
score,
which
included
some
of
the
most
commonly-heard
sounds.
But,
we
ought
to
give
credit
to
Arjun
Janya
for
composing
some
of
the
finest
tracks,
which
sets
the
right
mood.
The
track
Kanmaniye,
sung
by
Sanjith
Hegde,
drives
the
audiences
into
a
frenzy
of
excitement.
Pros
Sudeep's
screen
presence
Gripping
storyline
Emotionally
rich,
yet
entertaining
Cons
Predictable
climax
Loophole
in
techniques
Verdict
As
promised,
Pailwaan
offers
more
than
just
a
fight
and
Sudeep's
sculpted
body.
A
typical
commercial
film
that
serves
the
interest
of
the
mass
audience.
Showcasing
Kiccha
in
yet
another
shade,
Pailwaan
is
one
of
Sudeep's
finest
works
in
Sandalwood.