Sultan

Sultan, a 2016 Bollywood film, is a powerful blend of drama, action, and romance. Directed by Ali Abbas Zafar and produced by Aditya Chopra, the film stars Salman Khan, Anushka Sharma, and Randeep Hooda, along with an impressive supporting cast.

The titular character, Sultan Ali Khan, played by Salman Khan, draws audiences in with an intriguing mix of rural simplicity and complex emotional depth. Sultan is a middle-aged ex-wrestling champion, residing in the small town of Rewari, Haryana. He is known as a heartbroken man with a soul trapped in the past. Sultan is a man of few words but he commands respect not only for his wrestling prowess but also for his wisdom, humility, and undying spirit.

The film begins with the introduction of Aakash Oberoi, played by Amit Sadh, a young entrepreneur struggling to put his wrestling league back on the map. Desperate for a miracle, Aakash encounters Sultan, the former wrestling phenomenon who'd disappeared from the limelight years ago. Aakash approaches Sultan, hoping that the past hero's return to the ring might restore the league's prestige.

The leading lady, Anushka Sharma, delivers an impressive performance as Aarfa, a feisty young woman with dreams of wrestling glory. Aarfa is independent, sharp, and ambitious. She's an accomplished wrestler, resolute in her desire to bring honour and prestige to her village through her sport. She crosses paths with Sultan and what ensues forms the crux of the movie’s romantic storyline.

The film is not merely about wrestling; it delicately explores rich human sentiments, sprinkling the plot with romance, loss, and redemption. The fascinating narrative of Sultan and Aarfa’s journey takes viewers on a cinematic ride across the diverse landscapes of reality and emotion.

Ali Abbas Zafar captivates audiences with the realistic depiction of native Indian wrestling, known as "Pehlwani", and the rigorous training routines involved in preparing for it. The hard work and zealous spirit of the wrestlers are portrayed through testosterone-charged fight sequences and draining workouts. Based on the traditional sport of wrestling, the story also subtly weaves in commentary about gender stereotypes and society’s perception of success and failure.

The film successfully captures the rural essence of Haryana, enriching the authenticity of the script. The detailing of the sets, the use of local dialect, and an insightful portrayal of Haryana’s sport and rural life set the perfect backdrop for this compelling story.

The performances by all actors in Sultan are noteworthy. Salman Khan impresses with his charm and intense emotional depth, quite seamlessly adapting himself into the character of Sultan. He handles the physicality of the role with relative ease, putting his well-known action-hero persona to good use. Anushka Sharma, too, matches Salman Khan step for step and delivers a dynamic performance while Randeep Hooda, albeit in a supporting role, leaves quite an impact. The supporting casts further ground the film with their fantastic performances, making it a stellar ensemble act.

Sultan’s music, composed by Vishal-Shekhar, is laudable, capturing the ethos of the film throughout. From foot-tapping numbers that capture the spirit of wrestling to soulful renditions of love and loss, the music is engaging and emotionally resonant. The stirring background music by Julius Packiam adds to the intense wrestling scenes and dramatic moments of the film.

Sultan is a gripping saga driven by the themes of love, loss, resilience, redemption, and the overpowering human spirit to overcome life’s blows. It’s a movie that not only celebrates the sport of wrestling but also the trials and tribulations that an individual goes through in the pursuit of glory. In all its grandeur and perfectly embedded emotions, Sultan hits the heart hard, making the audience reflect, feel and cheer for the protagonist’s journey towards self-discovery. It is, at its heart, an authentic, muscular, and emotional spectacle that entertains and enlightens, demonstrating the power of determination and the human spirit.