Stream It Or Skip It: ‘Toofaan’ on Amazon Prime, an Indian Boxing Drama That Might Remind You of ‘Rocky’

Toofaan, which translates to “storm,” is a highly anticipated boxing film coming to Amazon Prime after multiple delays to its theatrical release due to COVID-19. The almost 3-hour sports drama reunites actor Farhan Akhtar and director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra after the success of Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. Does Toofan capture the same magic?

TOOFAAN: STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?

The Gist: Local gangster Aziz Ali (Farhan Akhtar) isn’t one to back down from a fight, even though they repeatedly require medical attention. After one fight that requires stitches, he lands in the hands of Dr. Ananya Prabhu (Mrunal Thakur), with whom he is immediately smitten and eventually woos. His streetside squabbles are noticed and he begins training with renowned boxing coach Nana Prabhu (Paresh Rawal); unbeknownst to him, he is Ananya’s father. Nana immediately dislikes Aziz due to his Muslim faith and becomes irate when he finds out about their relationship, driving a wedge between the family and ending his coaching with Aziz. Desperate to make a life for himself and Ananya, Aziz makes a decision that alters his career forever. Years later, he must decide whether he wants to pick up his boxing gloves again and compete for the National Title, or let the past remain in the past.

What Will It Remind You Of?: It’s impossible not to compare a boxer’s rags to riches storyline to the Rocky franchise, but Toofaan injects an Indian twist with a Hindu/Muslim feud.

Performance Worth Watching: While all eyes are on Farhan Akhtar, Mrunal Thakur’s bubbly but firm portrayal of his love interest Ananya is inviting and warm in all the right places.

Memorable Dialogue: “Will you be the Aziz Ali hiding from the world? Or will you be the Storm that’ll rise again?” This refrain from Ali’s wife keeps him motivated over and over, and is a good reminder that we all have multiple gears—we just have to remember what we’re capable of.

Sex and Skin: Aside from some kissing, there’s nothing very suggestive onscreen.

Our Take: Toofaan is a familiar sports drama: a man from the wrong side of the tracks takes up a sport that changes him irrevocably and puts him on the straight and narrow. A tough coaching dynamic and a love story round out the film. But as much as the beats of Toofaan seem cliche, the film succeeds in making them feel lived in and authentic. Even the pieces that seem like they may be exaggerated, like the extreme anti-Muslim stance that Aziz’s coach takes and doesn’t let go of until it’s too late, reflect an Indian society that is just that staunch in its religious views.

It’s clear that Toofaan is expertly crafted, and the boxing drama will have you on the edge of your seat. Each fight is carefully choreographed, and includes the classic slow-mo shots of someone getting their face whacked with blood flying in every direction. When compared to a rags to riches story like Rocky, however, Toofaan spends much less time on Aziz’s “rags” part of life, and with that omitted, I think there’s an element of table-setting missing. The first act moves too quickly in introducing us to the central duo of Aziz and Ananya, establishing their initial butting of heads, and then jumping into their relationship. The pacing feels jarring, like if you blink, you might miss the part where they fall in love.

That said, Akhtar and Thakur have enough chemistry with each other to make that just a minor flaw instead of a large concern. Toofaan’s ultimate message is about the power of love, and once the movie is firmly in relationship territory, it’s fun to fall in love alongside them–even as the audience knows that something tragic is looming ahead for them. Thakur in particular is magnetic, her no-nonsense but still carefree portrayal of Ananya makes it that much harder to deal with the events of the second half (no spoilers!).

Because it’s a Bollywood movie, you can also count on a few song-and-dance numbers along the way, and Toofaan’s soundtrack is filled with many really numbers. The standout track for me was “Star Hai Tu,” which is filmed beautifully on a street that’s filled to the brim with background actors. With the colorful costumes, fun choreography, and upbeat, catchy beat, it’s hard to keep yourself from dancing in your seat.

My biggest complaint is the runtime, which is just 19 minutes shy of three hours. While there is a lot of ground to cover, the film could’ve been a bit tighter.

Our Call: STREAM IT. Even though I warned you that it’s longer than it needs to be, it’s worth the stream.

Radhika Menon (@menonrad) is a TV-obsessed writer based in New York City. Her work has appeared on Paste Magazine, Teen Vogue, and Brown Girl Magazine. At any given moment, she can ruminate at length over Friday Night Lights, the University of Michigan, and the perfect slice of pizza. You may call her Rad.

Watch Toofaan on Amazon Prime Video