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Review: Gymkhana - An Amalgamation of Comedy and Boxing.

 Review: Gymkhana - An Amalgamation of Comedy and Boxing.

In a never-ending global emission of sports-comedy films, Gymkhana tries to balance both the worlds: the haute couture boxing spirit and top-of-the-line cavalcade fun-fare. Promising young director Rajat Mehra directs the film, with Aryan Kapoor in a very unexpected yet funny role alongside the ever-humorous Neha Sharma. The film is an odd combination of punches and punch lines, thus leaving the audience amused, inspired, and often perplexed.

A Fusion of Genres


Amalgamating comedy and boxing is no child's play. To be part of such a genre is usually something that would tilt more towards one genre form, but Gymkhana dares to install both genres equally. Ravi (Aryan Kapoor) is the underdog boxer who dreams big, but possesses a rather funny personality. Joining an old, almost-abandoned boxing gym called "Gymkhana", he is guided by a failed comedian-turned-coach played by Neha Sharma for training.


The plot then opens up through a series of funny incidents and reaches its culmination in a training montage imbued with emotional turbulence. It is the leap between these situations-really hilarious to the more serious boxing scenes that the film hopes to be different anyway. It is laudable but not without caveats.

Performance and Direction

The audience will know that Aryan Kapoor has amazing comic timing. Primarily known for his serious roles, this is where he shows he knows how to bring charm and humor to Ravi. He has made his character fun and very endearing as a clumsy-yet-competent boxer struggler. Neha Sharma, in contrast, steals the thunder on the other end with her Meera coach persona-she's almost like something out of a whodunit fiction. And she is effortless in her comic delivery, while motivational scenes sound just right in terms of emotional tone.


His direction, therefore, leaves a lot in terms of promise: Understand well the emotional depth associated with boxing and the might that humor has, but does falter at times in ensuring a consistent tone. Some scenes land from comedy to drama a little suddenly, leaving a bit of dissonance in the narrative.


Strengths of the Film

Gymkhana has its music as one of its biggest assets. The background score which accompanies the boxing matches builds genuine tension and excitement. Quirky musical theme, very much supportive of the comedic scenes, adds fun but never overpowers it.


The immediate camera work, especially during training montages and boxing matches, deserves appreciation. The action sequences are well-choreographed and sound similarly believable, if not seen with one of those effin' exaggerations which most sports dramas possess. The boxing scenes feel raw and grounded, contributing to the film's authenticity.


Comedy That Works...Most of the Time


Humor is really mostly based on situational-comedy in Gymkhana, with sweet and clever one-liners and visual gags. Such scenes also exist that spark of laughter with the most funny of all-the one involving Ravi's meddlesome nature with other gym buddies. Some do fall flat, however; especially in the second half, as the tone turned serious.


Yet it mostly works due to the easy chemistry created between the lead actors. That smoothness in comedy comes a lot from their spark when they've acted together. Some of the best moments in this movie arise from their interactions. 


Boxing with Heart


Most of all, Gymkhana brings the human angle into the picture, especially since it is not only a case of fighting for fame: rather, Ravi fights to prove something to himself and his sanity and family. Themes of self-worth, redemption, and perseverance are touched upon quite lightly but obviously in this otherwise light-hearted film. 


The gym itself acts almost as a character-all run down, forgotten, but filled with memories and stories. The journey of revival of Gymkhana parallel tracks the journey of self-growth for Ravi. 


Where the Film Falls Short

Gymkhana manages to have its highs and lows. The screenplay could have been a bit tighter. The pacing seems very uneven, and that, particularly in the middle portion where, suddenly enough, the narrative seems to be straighter than it really is. Emotional moments strike home but, at times, appear to have been rushed and underdeveloped in presentation. 


While the ending takes a pretty cool twist, it's just a bit predictable. It's entirely by the numbers, which only detracts from the impact of the climax. 


Final Verdict

Gymkhana is far from being a perfect movie, but it strives to be quite entertaining and inspiring. Its bold attempt to fuse comedy with boxing gives it a position of distinctiveness within the already overcrowded sports drama genre. There are several instances where storytelling stumbles, but strong performances with heartfelt moments keep it engaging.

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