Salman SOARS In This Engaging Film!

Rating: 7/10 (6 July 2016)

After much hype & buzz, 'Sultan' has finally arrived. And oh boy, what a winner this is! This Ali Abbas Zafar flick is an engaging & entertaining film, that's as much a love-story as its a sports drama. And its a pleasure Watching India's Numero Uno Star SOAR!
'Sultan' Synopsis: Sultan Ali Khan (Salman) rises from being a nobody to becoming the world champion in the world of Wrestling. But everything comes at a price....
'Sultan' has a familiar narrative, its the much-known story of the underdog. But, 'Sultan' doesn't settle within the rags to riches story, despite clichÃ©s. 'Sultan' is about a man, who rises form nowhere, becomes a hysteria, and then falls apart again, only to eventually triumph. What I particularly enjoyed here, was the engaging nature of its narrative, it may not be flawless, but its definitely arresting.
While the first-hour takes us to our hero's past, where the romance cutely blossoms with the hero & the heroine (Anushka Sharma), its the second-hour when the film comes to its truest. You watch the hero beat down & come up right from the pit. 'Sultan' is film about wrestling, but not only the one done in the ring, but also about the one we fight in our lives. Its about the fight beyond the ropes & rounds.
Ali Abbas Zafar's Screenplay & Direction, are very good. 'Sultan' finds Ali at his best & his unmemorable previous works, are now forgiven. His Writing follows a familiar narrative, but it doesn't fail to entertain or engage. And that's exactly why 'Sultan' works. Ali's Direction, on the other-hand, is well-done, as he has handled the film well. Artur Zurawski's Cinematography is fantastic. The lens-man has captured all the emotions, with beauty. Editing is good, but could've been sharper. The only glitch in 'Sultan' is its running-time (169-minutes). Some trimming was needed.
Vishal-Shekhar's Score is superb. Each & Every Track is in complete sync with the film & yet its melodious. Costume & Art Design are perfect. The Fight-Sequences (MMA) are competently choreographed & executed. Background Score merits a special mention.
Performance-Wise: Salman SOARS as Sultan. The Superstar delivers one of his finest performances to date, offering a portrayal worth applauding. His performance is arresting & his physical transformation (from fat to fit), is indeed inspiring. 'Sultan' salutes Salman's charisma & he more than lives up-to the mark. Offering Salman wonderful support is Anushka Sharma, who's genuinely affecting as his long-suffering wife. Watch her breakdown in the pre-interval scene & that says it all. Even the Haryanvi Accent is perfectly done by both the leading performers. Amit Sadh sinks his teeth into the part & performs excellently. Randeep Hooda is ever-terrific. He ignites the screen with his portrayal as Salman's bad-ass coach. Anant Sharma is first-rate. Kumud Mishra is good. Abhishek Duhan leaves a mark in a brief role. Others lend support.
On the whole, 'Sultan' is a winner! It may not offer a lot of novelty, but its undeniably entertaining. Go, Watch It!