‘Liger’ movie review: This Puri Jagannadh film starring Vijay Deverakonda is a mess

Within the opening minutes of Liger, a voiceover describes the title character as a slumdog from the streets of Mumbai who’s aiming to win on a world podium. Although overused, this underdog template can nonetheless make the minimize if a writer-director has a narrative that stays true to its milieu and engages the viewers. Liger, helmed by Puri Jagannadh and headlined by Vijay Deverakonda, nevertheless, comes throughout as a lazily written movie that strikes from one music/stunt sequence to a different.

Liger (Vijay Deverakonda), whom his mom Balamani (Ramya Krishnan) describes as a crossbreed between a lion and tiger, is sweet at combined martial arts (MMA). Hailing from Karimnagar and elevating him on her personal, she has moved to Mumbai to see him as an MMA nationwide champion; the mom and son make ends meet by managing a tea stall. They search the assistance of a coach (Ronit Roy), although they can’t afford the price. Balamani is a feisty character who doesn’t bow down; she reveals an emotional story that cuts the ice with the coach. 

Puri provides Liger a handicap — a stutter. He can land a number of punches within the time he strings collectively a sentence. Predictable scenes comply with wherein Liger is ridiculed by the scholars of MMA and he has to combat to earn their respect. 

As soon as Liger’s potential in MMA is established, the story introduces the main woman who’s characterised as a dimwit who’s each deliberately and unintentionally hilarious, and annoying. Tanya (Ananya Panday) is portrayed as a rich brat who desperately seeks social media consideration. One in every of her mates suggests posting ‘sizzling’ movies to draw consideration; however a couple of scenes later we see her lip-sync M S Subbulakshmi’s rendition of Suprabatham. She is sport for something that may get her traction. All the scene wherein Liger’s mom describes the form of woman whom he shouldn’t fall for and he or she reflecting all these traits is among the many cringe-inducing scenes which can be handed off as humour.

In one other scene, Balamani loudly vents on the cellphone and asks Tanya to go away her son alone and never mislead him, asserting that she needs to see him as a champion. Tanya’s rapid response after the cellphone name is to ask, “The place is my vodka?” And it cuts to the foot tapping ‘Akdi pakdi’ dance quantity. Quickly after, she is woken up by mates who inform her that her Instagram put up has turn out to be a rage and followers have gathered downstairs. She goes to the balcony and waves to the group in a way just like SRK from Mannat. So was that music a dream, did it actually occur and have been these movies posted and went viral? The transition within the narrative is so random. Some type of a reveal about Tanya’s true response to the mom’s angst comes a lot later however by then, nothing issues because the movie goes on a downward spiral.

The one who tries to carry the shaky narrative collectively is Vijay Deverakonda. His bodily transformation makes him come throughout as agile and match sufficient to drag off the stunt sequences. A pre-climax combat sequence involving ladies educated in Krav Maga stands proud like a sore thumb. Was that Puri’s means of displaying the facility of girls after a string of glam doll characterisations of the main ladies in his previous couple of movies? Who is aware of!

The much-hyped fight between Liger and Mike Tyson has its moments, however coming on the fag finish of a shoddily-written story, it’s too little and too late. Forged in a fictional character, Tyson is proven as Liger’s idol however the climax reveal of the opposite aspect of the champion is a mockery.

An enormous letdown, aside from the story and screenplay, is the language of Liger. Understandably, a number of the characters are women and men of Telugu origin who reside in Mumbai. A straightforward mixture of Telugu and Hindi would have been apt. As a substitute, we get the sensation of watching {a partially} dubbed movie wherein the Mumbai-bred characters are mouthing Hindi dialogues however we hear them in Telugu. A cursory clarification of the usage of language would have made it much less awkward.

Indian cinema has had significantly better sports activities motion dramas. Right here the characterisations and storytelling are so banal that it’s powerful to root for the underdog story. Overlook the bodily transformation and the motion episodes, we’ve got seen higher performances from Vijay Deverakonda in Telugu cinema. The stutter additionally seems compelled in some scenes. Ramya can pack a punch as a brave mom however she is generally made to scream and shout. Chunky Pandey seems in a short character that begins as glitzy and fizzles out. 

This big-ticket movie that aimed for pan-India consideration ended up as a humiliation. In the beginning of the movie, the protagonist says that he’s not good at narrating a narrative, however he’ll attempt. Maybe that was a warning concerning the movie. Fortunately, Liger doesn’t finish on a notice that enables room for a sequel.

Liger is presently working in theatres