Toofaan Story :-
Aziz Ali, also known as Ajju Bhai, is a local enforcer in the Dongri district of Mumbai. Despite his tough exterior, Ali finds himself drawn to the sport of boxing and seeks training from Nana Prabhu. Amid his training, he unexpectedly falls for Prabhu’s daughter, Ananya, a dedicated doctor. Choosing love over his boxing aspirations, Ali abandons the sport after marrying her.
Movie Ratings
| Release Date | 16 July 2021 |
| Language | Hindi |
| Genre | Action, Drama, Sport |
| Duration | 2h 43min |
| Cast | Farhan Akhtar, Paresh Rawal, Mrunal Thakur, Hussain Dalal, Supriya Pathak, Mohan Agashe as Bala Kaka |
| Director | Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra |
| Writer | ‘Vijay Maurya(Dialogues) |
| Cinematography | Jay Oza |
| Music | Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy, Dub Sharma, Samuel-Akanksha, Daniel Lozinski |
| Producer | Ritesh Sidhwani, Farhan Akhtar, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra |
| Production | ROMP Pictures, Excel Entertainment |
| Certificate | 13+ |
Years later, spurred by his wife’s encouragement, Ali resolves to reignite his passion for boxing. As he trains for a national championship, he confronts numerous challenges and hurdles along the way, testing his determination and resolve.
In the neighborhood, a compassionate Parsi gym owner introduces Aziz to the legendary Muhammad Ali’s videos, emphasizing the distinction between boxing and street thuggery. Recognizing Aziz’s potential and the need for expert training, the gym owner recommends him to the highly respected boxing coach, Nana Prabhu. Despite initial skepticism due to Aziz’s background, Prabhu, a seasoned veteran from Dadar, agrees to mentor him, even bestowing upon him the title “Toofaan” (unstoppable storm). However, their seemingly perfect coach-protege relationship takes a sour turn when personal issues arise.
“Toofaan” attempts to explore multiple themes such as forbidden love, casual bigotry, communal harmony, the journey of becoming a boxer, and the redemption of a fallen athlete. However, the narrative feels like a blend of familiar storylines from films like “Ghulam,” “Sultan,” and “Mukkabaaz.” Despite the reunion of director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra with his team from “Bhaag Milkha Bhaag,” including Farhan Akhtar and Shankar Ehsaan-Loy, the film falls short of expectations, presenting a simplistic storyline with occasional impactful moments.
Ananya believes in the power of choice, highlighting the challenge of breaking free from one’s societal constraints. However, the film’s focus shifts from Aziz’s personal journey and boxing skills to conventional themes such as interfaith romance, societal scrutiny, parental disapproval, and boxing highlights.
The film’s strongest segments revolve around its realistic setting, the dynamic between coach and protege, and the confrontation of communal issues. However, these scenes are often cut short, and emotions are restrained to maintain the pacing of the story. While the film hints at exploring themes like religious tolerance and prejudice, it only scratches the surface.
Farhan Akhtar delivers a commendable performance, immersing himself into the character of Aziz despite initial reservations about his urban persona. Paresh Rawal shines in his role as Nana Prabhu, portraying the complexities of a misunderstood coach with finesse. Mrunal Thakur delivers her role with sincerity, while supporting actors like Dr. Mohan Agashe add depth to the narrative.
Overall, “Toofaan” may not live up to the hype of a cinematic cyclone, but it offers moments of intensity and impact.
