Cast: Dhruv Vikram, Anupama Parameswaran, Rajisha Vijayan, Pasupathy, Ameer, Lal, Aruvi Madhan

Crew: 

Cinematography by Ezhil Arasu K.
Music by Nivas K. Prasanna
Editing by Sakthi Thiru
Written and Directed by Mari Selvaraj
Produced by Sameer Nair, Deepak Seigal, Pa. Ranjith, Aditi Anand

Mari Selvaraj is one of the highly talented directors of Indian Cinema. He creates realistic lived-in conditions on big screen, and sticks to talk about reality of violence and oppression effecting fellow humans. His new film, Bison starring Dhruv Vikram, released in Telugu today after gaining mixed responses in Tamil. Let's talk about the movie in detail. 

Plot: 

Kittaiah (Dhruv Vikram), from Vanathi, a talented Kabaddi player, represents India in Asian Games 1994. He is sidelined by Coach while Captain wants him in the side. When Captain talks to him about the same, Kittaiah says that all his life, he has been facing such obstacles and he is numb to them. But his turmoil takes him into a whirlpool of his memories. We see him for the first time being encouraged by his PT Sir (Aruvi Madhan) to play Kabaddi, after catching him steal lunch carriages due to hunger. 

His father (Pasupathy) doesn't want him to be a part of Kabaddi team and tries to save his son from the world's harsh realities. PT Sir convinces him and even Kittaiah's elder sister (Rajisha Vijayan) encourages him to pursue his dreams. On the other hand, we see Pandiaraj (Ameer) and Kandasamy (Lal), the bigwigs of two villages and leaders of communities, making their war more brutal. How much did Kittaiah had to endure to reach International level and what did he do in Asian Games for India aginst Pakistan? Watch the movie to know more. 

Analysis :

Mari Selvaraj is able to write and bring those stories to screen that present the situation of several communities that have been marginalised. But this aspect of his filmmaking has been limiting his reach at times when the push for bigger markets has been huge. Still, as a filmmaker, he is strong in his execution and has a great eye to present situations, technically well. 

In Bison, he wanted to bring out authenticity that he aced in Vaazha and he succeeded in most parts. But the dialogues written for coach of India, in few important scenes to major characters seem to be written with an idea to just bring out his world view rather than convincingly putting it out. There are many instances where we do read about favouritism leading to undermining the talent but a coach does see a player during practice. At such places, lines needed to be more convincing and to the point where arguments might look unconvincing, yet, showcasing their lack of depth. 

Mari Selvaraj in trying to bring the story from a point of view where oppression is not just about one community over other, it is about people in power and privilege trying to put forth their choices, misses the connectivity with leading man. It is the story of Bison, he might be one among many but he achieved so much as he gone through every obstacle with motivation to fight and good people's motivation to help him. 

So, the story needed to emotionally invest audiences to feel that this person needs such help like in Iqbal. Where the success of the protagonist feels like personal triumph despite of communal or political differences. The movie looses on giving it such an universal touch and even music falls short in giving a more lasting impactful score like Chak De India. 

While Sarpattai Parambarai is able to generate more impact with the story-telling that brings in different tracks, Mari Selvaraj needed to concentrate more on such crux. The director wanted it to be a dialogue between fear, power, humanity and violence that attracts and kills talent, he looses his main voice in trying to give more importance to every aspect. Still, Bison is a watchable film with moments that shine as technically movie is superlative. 

TeluguOne Perspective :

The movie has a strong emotional core but feels too slow and looses impact.