‘Panga’ is a movie, based a life story of a national level Kabaddi player of India. It is a very progressive and touching sports drama that leaves a lasting impact in the mind of audiences, thanks to its excellent storyline and an equally fine execution of some very sensitive moments.

The film has some very superlative performances not only from its lead stars Kangana Ranaut and Neena Gupta, playing her mother but also from lesser known entities such as Jessie Gill playing her husband and Yagya Bhasin playing Kangana’s son. The story is about a mother who is happily married with a loving husband and a dotting young son. These two men in the family are the reason behind the ex-captain of India’s Kabaddi team’s dream of making a comeback. How difficult and complicated this idea can be, in a typical conservative middle-class Indian family, has been captured very beautifully. Kangana has done total justice in expressing the dilemma of a mother who is unsure in choosing between fulfilling her long-cherished dream and taking care of her family. The films also depict the changing face and mind-set of middle-class Indian families where the husband and son not only support but also encourage the lady of the house to not to give up and to pursue her long-cherished dream. In the movie, the son because of whom the mother gives up her career becomes the reason of her comeback, years after marriage and motherhood.

The other major character Richa Chadha, playing Kangana’s friend and her ex-Kabaddi teammate, who is still playing and coaching, has also delivered a power packed performance. The whole struggle in making the comeback, the physical limitations and the bid to catch up with the lost time looks so real. Even after doing all the hard work and sacrifices when a mother finally succeeds in making the come back to the national team, she still has to fight with favouritism and nepotism for a rightful place in the team.

There are many films made in the past on a mother making a comeback in sports, but this is first film tackling the issue as a main plot. There are no stereotypes and the screen play does justice by retaining the simplicity and relatability. Ashwiny Iyer’s direction is commendable and few sequences are very deftly handled. The finale sequence is too good, and the beauty is that while the audience knows what’s is going to happen and yet, they still can’t help but feel exhilarated when it unfolds. This is a movie you can watch together with a family of three generations without any discomfort of unsavoury and vulgar scenes or unpalatable item numbers. I would give 4.5 star to this movie out of 5. A must watch.

– Yugal Parashar