A few months ago, it was announced that Farhan Akhtar Film Toofaan will see a direct-to-digital premiere. The film was to arrive on Amazon Prime Video in May 2021. Amid the second wave of coronavirus, the makers decided to postpone the release. Now, it seems like they have decided on a new date for the release.
FARHAN AKHTAR AS SPORTS STAR
Farhan Akhtar has done his part as a director, actor, producer, and filmmaker, in addition to being a director. Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013), directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, gave him a boost as a performer. Milkha Singh’s biopic has achieved more than Rs. 100 crores at the film office.
As a result, there was a lot of positivity when Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and Farhan Akhtar returned for Toofaan. Farhan was merely an actor in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, but for Toofaan, he decided to team up with his partner Ritesh Sidhwani as a co-producer.
FARHAN AKHTAR ‘S MOVIE TOOFAN DELAYED FOR COVID-19
The sports film was set to premiere on Amazon Prime Video on May 21. However, in the first week of May, Farhan Akhtar said that the film had been delayed due to the horrific second wave of Covid-19, which was causing massive death in the country. Then, on June 16, Toofaan’s release date was disclosed: July 16th. Surprisingly, the picture has only 18 days till it debuts on Amazon, and no marketing tool has been seen that so far.
Toofaan is an upcoming Indian Hindi-language sports drama film directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and starring Farhan Akhtar as a national-level boxer. Mrunal Thakur and Paresh Rawal in supporting roles. Filming commenced in Dongri on 26 August 2019 Film Toofan was completed in March 2020.
“We can understand it’s a digital film,” a trade expert explains. Even so, three weeks of promotion is great for such a film. As a result, it’s confusing why Toofaan’s promotions have yet to start. Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani’s Excel Entertainment premiered Hello Charlie on Amazon Prime Video on April 9 of this year. Its trailer was confirmed 19 days prior to its internet release, and the trailer was unveiled 18 days earlier.
Farhan Akhtar’s Toofan Realising date July 16
“The real reason Toofaan was moved forward was that Amazon wanted to renegotiate the financials with producers Farhan Akhtar, Ritesh Sidhwani, and Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra,” a source says. As a result, the decision to release on July 16 was formed.”
“It’s possible that because the deal was reached for a lower price, they don’t want to go all out with the promotions,” the person continues. Or perhaps the producers and Amazon are fully aware in the product’s ability to speak on its own. We’ll find out on July 16 when we see the film.”
However, an industry insider denies this claim, asking, “Didn’t Sherni’s trailer come out 16 days before her Amazon Prime premiere?” In addition, Toofaan’s teaser has been released. As a result, the viewer is already aware of the plot.
I am sure that Toofaan’s trailer will be released before the weekend, and that the time period will be sufficient to generate awareness and exposure for the picture. After the hit movie Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, viewers will be anxious to see what Farhan Akhtar and Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra have to give this time.”
Farhan Akhtar’s Toofan co-stars
Mrunal Thakur, Paresh Rawal, Supriya Pathak Kapur, Hussain Dalal, Mohan Agashe, and Darshan Kumaar feature with Farhan Akhtar in Toofaan.
BHAAG MILKHA BHAAG, a collaboration between actor Farhan Akhtar and director-producer Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, was released in 2013. Milkha Singh’s sports biopic received stellar reviews and grossed more than Rs. 100 crore at the film office. After an eight-year break, the two have reunited for another sports film, TOOFAAN.
Farhan, along with his partner Ritesh Sidhwani, has also stepped in as a producer this time. So, did TOOFAAN succeed in becoming as engaging as their previous film? Or does it let you down? Let’s have a look.
Story At Glance Upcoming Film Toofan
TOOFAAN follows the transformation of a street brawler into a world-class boxer. Jafar Bhai raised Aziz Ali aka Ajju (Farhan Akhtar) as an orphan (Vijay Raaz). Aziz now lives in Dongri, Mumbai, with his friend Munna (Hussain Dalal) and does all of Jafar bhai’s dirty work. Aziz is hurt while beating a restaurant owner (Imran Rashid) over a disagreement with Jafar Bhai. He seeks treatment at a charitable hospital, but after learning that he is a goon, the doctor, Ananya Prabhu (Mrunal Thakur), refuses him.
Ananya sees Aziz buying gifts for children in an orphanage a few days later. This impresses her that he is, at heart, a wonderful person. Aziz goes to a gym in his neighborhood that is managed by a man named Merchant one day (Deven Khote).
Merchant instructs young boxers on his premises. When Aziz sees it, he gets into a fight with a player who is practicing there, Parvez (Arhan Chowdary). Instead of fighting back, Parvez welcomes him and praises his power. Aziz is taken aback and recognizes that boxing can help him grow as a person. He begins his training. However, he continues to work for Jafar Bhai. Ananya sees Aziz violently eject someone from his shop one day.
She scolds him and tells him that he should focus entirely on boxing. Aziz acknowledges that she is correct. When Merchant realizes Aziz’s potential, he refers him to Nana Prabhu (Paresh Rawal), Mumbai’s greatest boxing teacher. Nana persuades Aziz to engage in combat with his student. When Aziz is defeated, he asks Nana to help him train. Nana, on the other hand, first refuses to owe to Aziz’s Migrant family.
In the meantime, Aziz returns to the hospital for treatment of the injury he got during the match. He tells Ananya that he met Nana sir, unaware that she is Nana’s daughter, at this point. Nana immediately agrees to coach him and develop him into a top boxer. Aziz is also chosen for the state championship when he defeats Dharmesh Patil, a seasoned player (Darshan Kumaar). This is also the start of Aziz’s relationship with Ananya.
Aziz is having a drink with Nana after his victory when he announces that he is in a relationship with Ananya and wants to marry her. Nana’s daughter was completely unknown to Aziz. Nana slaps Aziz and accuses him of misleading his daughter in a moment of passion. Nana then compels Ananya to break up with Aziz, claiming that he is fighting a “Love Jihad.” The rest of the movie is based on what happens next.
The directing of Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra is excellent. After two forgettable films in the form of MIRZYA (2016) and MERE PYARE PRIME MINISTER (2019), the director is back on track. He does a fantastic job with a cliched and dull story. The sights of sports and training are fascinating. It’s also commendable that in the midst of the second half when Aziz makes a comeback after a pause, another round of training track is infused.
These scenes, too, are well-shot and don’t appear to be repetitive. TOOFAAN, on the other hand, features various subplots and raises some important societal themes. On the other hand, the film’s second half is a bit of a letdown. The tragedy arrives suddenly, making it difficult for some viewers to process. The film is excessively long at 161 minutes, and it could have been cut down. Finally, given that it is directed by the same person who directed BHAAG MILKHA BHAAG and stars the same actor, one may expect a lot from this film. TOOFAAN is no match for their previous film in this sense.
TOOFAAN, as a whole, features strong performances as well as some heartfelt and emotional moments. However, the film’s long runtime, poor soundtrack, clichéd premise, and predictable narrative significantly reduce its impact.