But “Biso: Kaalamaadan”, directed by Mari Selvaraj, lets you know early that this is not that kind of film.
It opens with Dhruv Vikram’s Kittan, a national kabaddi player in Japan, sidelined on the bench, while the rest of his team faces Pakistan on the court.
Set in rural Tamil Nadu, the film dives deep into caste hierarchies and feuding village factions led by Pandiyaraja (Ameer) and Kandasamy (Lal). For Kittan, kabaddi is his passion, and a way out of that world.
Kittan grows up surrounded by violence and humiliation. His father Velusamy (Pasupathy), once a kabaddi enthusiast himself, discourages his son from pursuing the sport, knowing too well the dangers of standing out in a divided village.
The only person who sees Kittan’s potential is his coach, Kandippan, a genuinely endearing character who’s both passionate and unintentionally funny.
Kandippan’s repeated line, “Let him play. I even got beaten up for your son!” becomes one of the film’s most light-hearted moments.
Unlike the usual sports arc that follows the trials of an underdog training to victory, Kittan starts off already talented, perhaps too talented. But that’s the point.
Selvaraj shows that for someone from Kittan’s background, skill alone isn’t enough. The system is stacked against him at every turn.
The film brilliantly depicts how violence follows marginalised people even when they’re not looking for it. One heart-wrenching bus scene with Kittan’s family and their goat stays with you, showing how even ordinary moments can turn tragic.
And the sport isn’t just a backdrop to the social issues – it’s intertwined with them. The film also weaves in spiritual symbolism – Velusamy worships a bison as their deity, and Kittan himself is later referred to as a bison on the court.
Dhruv Vikram delivers a standout performance, shedding the shadow of his father, actor Vikram, to establish his own presence. He balances raw emotion with physical intensity, excelling both in kabaddi sequences and quieter moments of rage and helplessness.
The supporting cast adds depth to this layered story. Velusamy is both stern and helpless at times, his final breakdown before the police is heart-wrenching.
Rajisha Vijayan’s Raji, Kittan’s sister, is the emotional glue of the household, taking on a maternal role after their mother’s death.
Anupama Parameswaran’s Rani, Kittan’s love interest, may not be central to the plot, but their relationship, complicated by rivalry and age differences shows how no aspect of life escapes societal divides.
Meanwhile, Pandiyaraja and Kandasamy bring nuance to the village’s feuding factions. What begins as a typical good-versus-evil dynamic slowly reveals that neither side is entirely wrong or right. The real villain, as Selvaraj reminds us, is the oppressive system itself.
“Bison: Kaalamaadan” has its flaws as the pacing dips slightly toward the end, and the plot gets a tad predictable. However, keep in mind the film isn’t about suspense or last-minute twists. It’s about how Kittan breaks the barriers to become a kabaddi player.
The music by Nivas K Prasanna may not have the most memorable soundtrack, but the background score, mixing folk sound with heavy bass, elevates the drama and keeps the tension alive throughout the film.
A minor misstep, however, lies in casting. The contrast between the darker-skinned child actors and their lighter adult counterparts has raised questions about representation, a valid critique in a film that directly confronts caste and colourism.
Still, Selvaraj’s storytelling stands out. By switching between Kittan’s past and present, he keeps the story engaging and reminds us that even after making it to the national stage, Kittan’s fight isn’t over. In Japan, he’s still fighting just to get off the bench and step onto the court.
In the end, you’re on the edge of your seat wondering if Kittan will bring pride to his village. But “Bison: Kaalamaadan” isn’t just about victory, it’s about the grit to keep playing when everything else is against you.
‘Bison: Kaalamaadan’ is screening in cinemas nationwide.