It adds a nice layer to the plot of Mukkabaaz, a film that scores very high on politics, but one that can barely contain the incredible performance of its lead actor, Vineet Kumar Singh.

Not that punch-lines, strong opinions or style was ever unenjoyable in Kashyap films, it’s just that here they are conspicuous by their absence – in a good way. It is nice to see a departure from the usual, even if it doesn’t completely work.

Kashyap’s trademark caustic humour and tendency to upturn expectations serve him well in many moments. There are scenes in Mukkabaaz that will not find place in a regular film, including Bhagwan’s humiliation of Shravan and the tense conversation between Sanjay and Bhagwan.

Anurag Kashyap fans may be a bit disappointed here. The filmmaker who doesn’t hold his blows, seems constricted in telling this story. Not that there aren’t enough bloody noses and hammered eyes, but the overall treatment seems to be tweaked for universal appeal. There are scenes which scream Kashyap, but it’s a ‘milds’ version of the filmmaker.

Kashyap uses sport (even romance) as fine entry point to speak truth to power, along with the phoniness of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’, where we apparently love our country but hate our countrymen. ‘Bahut hua sammaan’ as a hook is to Mukkabaaz what ‘Kehke loonga’ was to Gangs Of Wasseypur. And, really, kehke li hai, completely.

…I know I’ll hear of Vineet Kumar Singh in the future. More power to the underdog, you won’t go down – not today.

Kashyap is still one of Hindi cinema’s better storytellers. His films definitely shake you from your reverie. So for those who don’t wish to just sleepwalk through life, this Kashyap kand is a must.

Sports in India is much more than just the game and Kashyap tries to throw the spotlight on that, but he tries to land too many punches, and in doing so, misses the mark.

The realistic finale which is more about off-bout negotiations than a knock-out punch end Mukkabaaz in a low key manner. But “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” (with a big dose of sarcasm) instead of “The End” plate, after the disclaimer in the finale, is where Kashyap knocks it out of the park. Just as he does in naming his chief villain — a Brahmin, mind you — Bhagwan. Chuckle along and ponder some.

The 156-minute Mukkabaaz is the best film in last one year or so, and this year couldn’t start on a better note. Let’s cherish Vineet Singh and his thickheaded brawler with open heart.

At 2 hours and 35 minutes, Mukkabaaz overstays its welcome by at least 20 minutes, its narrative stretched by way too many background songs, and an inevitable sense of repetition and wallowing in the protagonist’s misery. Yet it might be Kashyap’s most accessible film since Gangs of Wasseypur, and his only crime here may be one of overreaching.

Vineet’s compelling performance makes him a character to root for, and even if we are shown the odds too many times, his triumphs feel earned, they feel good

Based on a true story of a hotheaded pugilist who wants to prove he is better than everyone else in the ring, Mukkabaaz puts its fist in many pies: boxing, romance, caste wars, defiance and revenge. Anurag Kashyap brings alive small town Uttar Pradesh brilliantly. But the fist through so many pies laced with too many songs becomes a feast too difficult to digest.

This is the Director’s most sensitive film to date. It hits a hard punch. And not just in the boxing ring.

Mukkabaaz is a bracing start to the movie year—overstuffed, enjoyable and urgent. It doesn’t have big stars, but feels like a commercial movie in a way that Bombay Velvet didn’t.

My worry is that many who are not fond of Kashyap’s usual complex sensibility would like this latest move: They’ll applaud the fact that he’s going for the tear glands with brass knuckles on.

The tragedy of Mukkabaaz is not that it aims low; the tragedy is that it aims low and hits.

While the film’s mammoth run time (2 hours, 25 minutes!) can exhaust you a bit, Mukkabaaz is a total knockout. The not-just-a-boxing film must not be missed as it puts forth a message that’s most relevant in today’s world

The performances of the main and the supporting cast bring out each of the distinct characters they play. The film takes its time to tell its story (the runtime of the film’s festival version is almost two-and-a-half hours). But then it takes time for love and fairness to fight their battles and stand up to the consuming hatred and vengeance of people with power.

Mukkabaaz is a film whose lack of ostensible polish works to enhance its rough-and-tumble flavor: Anurag Kashyap and the film are at its most sure-footed when they are calling out discrimination, across the board.

…sadly, Mukkabaaz fails to pack a punch even if we look at it merely from the perspective of entertainment. Yes, the style is very much there but even that looks rather stale. But, the worst part is that just like in Raman Raghav 2.0, Anurag Kashyap seems to lack the clarity as to what it is that he is trying to tell us through his movie. The end result is a film that feels like a sermon lacking purpose and conviction.

The vision of Kashyap as a filmmaker is embracing and deserves an ovation for highlighting such a sensitive subject. The movie brilliantly showcases how in 21st century also India is stuck with caste discrimination, corruption and the unfavourable environment for the emerging Sportsmen. Give it a definite watch for our Desi Rocky Balbao Vineet.       

As  the narrative progresses  it acquires  the  personality of  a tightly-wound entity coiling and recoiling  into shapes of tenderness and  venom.Mukkabaaz is a different  more balanced and  less unsettled beast than any  film Kashyap has made.  While all his recent films portrayed the dark ugly sinister  underbelly  of mofussil  existence this time , just this  once, the director has allowed  himself to explore the  tricky relationship between love and violence with gentle care. This is  the director’s  most sensitive  film to date. It hits a hard punch. And not just in the  boxing ring.

If you like realistic cinema with some fine writing and kickass performances, Mukkabaaz will not disappoint you a bit. The biggest takeaway is that it is a courageous film that does not shy away from calling a spade a spade. Anurag Kashyap holds together the elements with finesse appealing to all cinema lovers.

Don’t expect a Rocky or Gangs Of Wasseypur, because this is not. Growing comfortably in its own little space, Mukkabaaz fits perfectly to the genre of Anurag Kashyap films but this time it’s comparatively less dark & more entertaining. Don’t think, go watch!

It’s a delightful ringside view of athletes trying to make it in sports that are considered insignificant in India. Plus, how many times can you boast of watching a Hindi film that has flawed, but ferocious leads?

Though Mukkabaaz is not as dark as his genre, the overall treatment is edgy and thrilling alongside the universal appeal. The film is definitely a milder version of the director, but there is not a dull moment in the movie either. Book you tickets now!