Toolsidas Junior

Description (English)

Inspired by true events, writer-director Mridul’s ‘Toolsidas Junior’ is a simple yet heartwarming tale of a father-son bond and their collective life goals.

For the most part of this 132-minute film, Toulidas is fully immersed in Midi’s journey to become Jr.

Unlike other sports dramas, there are no pushy parents driving his dedication level; Rather, it is a young boy’s own wish to achieve what his father once wanted.

Set in Calcutta in 1994, Toulidas (Rajeev Kapoor) is an ace snooker player who proudly declares that he “plays only for his son”. In a tournament, he hopes to defeat five-time champion Jimmy Tandon (Dalip Tahil).

Toulidas assures his teenage son Midi that the trophy is coming home this time, but he loses the game. This leaves the two heartbroken and Midi embarks on a journey of mastering the sport herself to fulfill her father’s dream.

What’s next is that the goal is set, but the boy struggles to find a mentor. Also, he will not be able to practice in the same club as his father as ‘under-16′ is strictly prohibited. The young boy’s enthusiasm and dedication to the sport lead him to join the YMC Wellington club, where he meets former national champion Mohammed Salam (Sanjay Dutt).

Will Salaam, who entertains no one and is hard to break, become a ray of hope for MIDI?
Although the screenplay by Mridul and Ashutosh Gowariker (who also produced the film with T-Series) is devoid of commercial elements—action sequences, massive dialogue and upbeat numbers—it appears unnecessary as it tries to keep predictable sports drama.

Manages to keep you hooked even without them. The first half is quite fast-paced, as things move fast in Toulidas’ life, but the pace slows down after the interval. Arijit Singh’s song ‘Ud Chala Badal Naya’ is soothing and stays with you even after the film is over.

Right from the opening scene, the characters appear to be real people with easily recognizable qualities. The protagonist, Varun Buddhadev, dominates the film with his impressive performance as Midi. He gives an honest and endearing performance by fully evoking the many emotions that go through his character.

Sanjay Dutt has done a great job as the coach of MIDI. With punchlines like “Jiyali Ko Rajinikanth Ka Punch, Tota Ko Mithun Ka Disco King and Kaliya Ko Bachchan Sahab Ka Purna Miracle”, he gives a Bollywood spin to the trainer’s role.

Late Rajiv Kapoor’s last on-screen performance as Toulidas, an alcoholic but devoted father, is promising. Despite having limited screen time, he plays an important role in the plot. Chinmaya Chandranshu, as Midi’s older brother Goti, is annoyingly interesting. He introduces some leniency to the situation by performing childish acts such as tights-throwing (instead of coin-throwing) to choose between the two options.

Dalip Tahil maintains the same winning spirit throughout the film.
Owing to its honest performances and simple storyline, ‘Toulcidas Junior’ will undoubtedly win hearts and leave a smile on your face as you step out of the theatre.

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