Toofaan, directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra has conquered storms of its own. It was set to release in cinemas in 2020 but it got postponed due to the outbreak of coronavirus.
The makers decided to release the movie on Amazon Prime Video on May 21, but they once again pushed the release date further keeping the severity of the coronavirus crisis in mind.
After months of waiting the trailer has released, marking Akhtar and Mehra’s second collaboration since Bhaag Milkha Bhaag in 2013. Sharing a few words on this, the filmmaker says:
“After working with Farhan in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, I was certain he would be the perfect protagonist for Toofaan. The best thing about him is that he does not act the part, but lives it completely.
The film is a story that will motivate and inspire all of us to get out of comfort zones and fight towards achieving our dreams.”
Farhan also underwent rigorous training for the role. He shares: “Toofaan is a true labour of love. No matter how physically strong one is, stepping into the shoes of a boxer is a whole new ball game.
It took 8 to 9 months of rigorous training for me to get into the skin character and it made me realise how physically, mentally and emotionally demanding the sport actually is.
I am thoroughly excited to see all our hard work on the screen and I am glad we are going to be able to take the movie to audiences across 240 countries and territories with Amazon Prime Video.”
Under forced circumstances, Aziz Ali (Farhan) an orphan boy born from the streets of Dongri, grows up to be a local goon.
His life changes when he meets a bright and compassionate young woman named Ananya (Mrunal Thakur) who guides him to take the right path.
With the love and guidance, as well as the support of his coach Nana Prabhu (Paresh Rawal), he finds his calling in sports and takes up the journey into becoming a world-class Boxer.
As Aziz basks in success, though, he is outed as a traitor to the sport and banned for 5 years. Now, he returns to the ring, this time to fight for redemption.
This is an inspiring story. Even the poor and marginalised, beaten by life circumstances, can become the heroes of the nation by giving up the other part of life and adopting the right path.
Toofaan is set in Bombay. The city of Bombay is like the third character of the film. Bombay is Megapolis and one of the greater cities in India.
It is a truly cosmopolitan city and a melting pot for various cultures and religions. Mumbai runs on the spirit of Mumbaikars.
This “spirit” is indeed Mumbai’s proudest possession which we also see in our film through our characters.
The trailer, which is gripping and expressive, immediately reminds one of previous hits like Rocky, Mukkabaaz and Sultan.
But the beauty of Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s work as a filmmaker has always revolved around the themes of revolution and passion… Be it Rang De Basanti or Mirzya.
These two aspects seem to be very much at the forefront of Toofaan – going by trailer at least. After helming a movie like Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, there is an onus on creating another underdog story.
What also worked with the 2013 biopic is the dual storytelling and if there is a filmmaker in Hindi cinema who has mastered this craft, then it is Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra. If one observes closely, pretty much all of his movies follow this narrative style.
As for the representation of boxing – well, it has been covered numerous times in cinema. So it all depends on how compelling this uplifting story of redemption appears on the screen.
Watch Toofaan trailer here:
