Bison review: A sports drama that misses its own momentum
Review by Kausalya Rachavelpula
Bison aims to be an inspiring sports drama entangled with the realities of caste discrimination, but it struggles to maintain the energy and tension that the genre demands. Featuring Pasupathy and Dhruv Vikram, the film also brings an interesting real-life connection: Dhruv shares the screen with his father, Vikram, reminiscent of their earlier collaboration in the massy comedy Majaa. Here, however, the tone is serious, and the stakes are higher, focusing on ambition, perseverance, and social barriers.
The story is best appreciated from the perspective of Kittayya in Telugu (or Kittan Veluswamy in Tamil). He is a young athlete from a marginalized background who dreams of excelling in sports. What drives the narrative is how people around him, friends, mentors, rivals, and even opponents help him navigate the hurdles that obstruct his path. These characters, intentionally or not, clear the roadblocks created by caste-based discrimination, making Kittayya’s eventual success possible.
The film uses an interesting metaphor: if reservation were a human being, it would look like this. The narrative highlights how systemic support can help someone from a discriminated community achieve professional and personal goals. Yet, while the premise is strong, the execution is surface-level. Caste discrimination is touched upon but never explored in depth. Important moments that could have examined societal bias are fleeting, leaving the story feeling both earnest and incomplete.
As a sports drama, the film falters further. The training montages, matches, and climactic competitions lack the thrill and adrenaline that elevate similar films. Directors like Vetrimaaran or Pa. Ranjith could have pushed these sequences with intensity and curiosity, keeping audiences on the edge of their seats, but in Bison, the scenes drift by, dull and underwhelming. The tension is low, and the energy never peaks, which diminishes the excitement of Kittayya’s journey.
A major narrative misstep is the film’s predictable ending. The story reveals early on that Kittayya eventually reaches the international level. By disclosing this outcome upfront, the film removes suspense and emotional investment. What could have been a gripping rise-to-glory story becomes a smooth, predictable journey. The audience is left watching the story unfold without the “seat-of-your-pants” tension that sports dramas rely on.
Performances are one of the film’s saving graces. Pasupathy delivers a grounded, mature portrayal that anchors the story, while Dhruv Vikram conveys the protagonist’s inner conflicts with sincerity. Cinematography captures rural and institutional spaces authentically, and the score complements the tone, though neither fully compensates for the narrative’s lack of momentum.
Bison review: Bison is a well-intentioned film with an important social backdrop and an inspiring story at its core. However, its lack of adrenaline, predictable structure, and superficial treatment of caste discrimination prevent it from fully engaging the audience. As a sports drama, it could have been far more gripping; as a social commentary, it could have been far deeper. Despite its heart, the film ultimately runs on goodwill rather than cinematic excitement.
Fridaywall Rating: 2/5
