Madhavan shines, but the boxing drama rarely steps outside its corner.
Verdict tier Mixed, lukewarm or divided, on a scale of Unfavorable, Mixed, Recommended, Exceptional.
Not streaming in India
Critic consensus
Critical reception for Saala Khadoos was mixed-to-average, with most reviewers acknowledging the film's sincere intentions while finding it hampered by familiarity. The performances of R. Madhavan and debut actress Ritika Singh were the most consistent point of praise across reviews, with several critics singling out Madhavan's work as among the best of his career. The most common criticism was the film's heavy predictability and adherence to sports-drama formula, with multiple reviewers noting that the story offered little to distinguish it from prior entries in the genre, particularly Mary Kom. A secondary concern raised by some critics was the underdeveloped and at times problematic romantic subplot between the young boxer and her significantly older coach.
7 not-rated reviews aren't plotted
Positive = 6.5/10 and up · negative = below 5/10
AI-generated summary of 32 critic reviews · may contain errors
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Top critics first, then by score · not-rated last · updated
Top critic
Film review ·
Saala Khadoos sticks to familiar ground as far as a sports film goes, although the climatic bout is genuinely thrilling. Amidst all the faux sentimentality, we still get a protagonist that we can't help rooting for. That is the film's real success.
Top critic
Film review ·
Saala Khadoos, for all the storm that it seeks to whip up in the ring and outside it, does not string together enough points to be declared an outright winner. It has enough heart. It's the heat that is missing.
Top critic
Film review ·
The fact that it is about women in a sporting arena– heck, that is a sports film– should be a thing to celebrate, and you can see that effort has gone into creating authenticity while training-and-fighting-in-the-ring, but 'Salaa Khadoos' is far too literally realized to be a really strong film. Unlike Madhi's hero Mohammad Ali, it neither floats nor stings. It drones.
Film review ·
...is an euphoric and electrifying film with amazing performances from the lead cast. It is definitely engaging, and inspiring. It truly deserves an ovation and is worth your time and money. SAALA KHADOOS delivers a solid punch. Winner!
Film review ·
"Saala Khadoos" has all the 'givens' in a sports film—it has the usual story of the triumph of the underdog thanks to an impassioned coach, spotlights sports politics, defeat, humiliation, demoralization and finally the triumph of not only merit over politics, but also the protagonist and the teacher.
Film review ·
...a well made sports drama with exceptional performances especially from the lead starcast, a good and gripping storyline and also good music.
Film review ·
The story arc is very dull and in parts, meaningless, despite borrowing parts from many sports and boxing films we have seen.
Film review ·
Saala Khadoos is emotionally gripping tale with heart and a punch.
Film review ·
The nail-biting fight sequences will keep you on the edge of your seat. The series of events unfold in such a way that it will keep you hooked. Saala Khadoos also throws light on the age-old issues of bribery, sexism and corruption prevailing in our society which have been one of the top-debated topics in Bollywood.
Film review ·
Saala Khadoos works because of the performances by its cast. Maybe the scene would have been a bit different had Omung Kumar's Mary Kom not been released just a year-and-a-half ago. Watch Saala Khadoos for its lead actors.
Film review ·
Madhavan is excellent as a disgruntled failure and he displays raw passion when grunting and swearing from the ringside. But, unfortunately, much of it doesn't seem to work as the film, scene after scene, falls into a predictable rut and a ho-hum climax doesn't salvage the matter either. You walk out of the film feeling tad disheartened instead of that triumphant feeling that you expect from a movie belonging to this genre.
Film review ·
Saala Khadoos' flaws overpower its genuineness. We wouldn't go as far as to call it a shallow film, but there is a serious lack of heart that cannot be compensated for.
Film review ·
The film does have its share of endearing moments. One of them is a poster saying 'Harty Welcome' when Adi arrives in Chennai. One wishes the film had other such insights that made it different from the rest. Sadly, the film chooses to walk the predictable path, instead of carving its own.
Film review ·
The film had great potential but it plays safe by taking the familiar route of the underdog becoming the champion. You know from the time when Adi picks up a wild child off the street and she over dramatically resists, that he will pursue her to follow his dream. Director Sudha Kongara also deftly weaves in an attraction between the amateur boxer and her khadoos coach, a man almost double her age.
Film review ·
Saala Khadoos could have been a decent sports drama, if it had the touch of a master storyteller like Shimit Amin. Sadly, it turns out to be neither as memorable as Chak De India, nor as inspiring as Priyanka Chopra's Mary Kom. At best, Saala Khadoos is a strictly average affair! Watch it only for the performances of the lead actors!
Film review ·
The film may lack a little emotion but it can surely be watched for the sport genre and Madhavan's knockout performance and on any given day, this film is 100 times better than Mastizaade which even Sunny Leone could not save.
Film review ·
Saala Khadoos is extremely formulaic and that's where it falls flat. Strong performances do not save this predictable film.
Film review ·
The drama though limited, is very typical to that of any film which wants a grand finale. This unfortunately, makes the film even more predictable than it already is.
Film review ·
The direction could be easily blamed for generating repetitiveness, but I beg to differ. I wouldn't call this bad direction, but just a different treatment. The only issue I had with the film is the insistent soundtracks – although at times it only propels the narration, there are those moments when the bombardment of music breaks your focus on the script. Tame down the abrasive narration a bit too, may be?
Film review ·
Blame it on the other glorious attempts at sports films that have spoiled us or a lack of soul in this one, there are too many déjà vu moments in the film. It explains itself when in the end, the screen reads, 'This film is inspired by many true stories'. That's what we thought.
Film review ·
...is nowhere in the league of a good sports film, but considering the release it is lined up against this week, it is definitely worth a watch.
Film review ·
The beauty of Saala Khadoos is that it's building to a finale that you can see from light years: a grand international match with a badass Russian boxer who, we all know, will be biting the dust by the end of it. You see, the writers have done such a fine job that it doesn't shock the viewers at all.
Film review ·
The movie deserves praise for sticking to the sports underdog-movie formula and offering us a decent watch. Madhavan as always is delicious on the screen, despite being given the instructions that he has to be Khadoos (crotchety) all the time. Once you get used to the even louder student (marvelously played by newcomer Ritika Singh), the film sort of grows on you. But the predictability of the story makes its 109 minutes feel like three hours.
Film review ·
Between its many, many confused, underdeveloped, raucous ideas, hides the film Saala Khadoos set out to be. Too bad it never made it to the screen.
Film review ·
You feel sorry for the guys punching above their weight here. I'm not sure if Mary Kom (2014) is the reason this wholly humourless film simultaneously moves in so many directions. The core inspiration is obvious. The story does lead up to the world boxing championship.
Film review ·
The film is crisp, and does not stray away from its USP at any point – its emotional connection with us, the audience. The story is clichéd, honestly, and doesn't give us something hatke. However, the story of grit and dedication tasting success is always a very romantic one, and therefore, the film is right in the feels. The execution is quite simple and hence, super.
Film review ·
Despite the flaws, it's the performances that redeem the movie. R Madhavan's imposing as the bulky coach, who, despite his eccentricities and downfalls, never lets his passion die. He's matched brilliantly by Ritika Singh, who captures Madhi's fractured world with striking strokes. However, Adi and Madhi never emerge heroes, and that's a failing on the writing. While 'Saala Khadoos' has some powerful moments, it's not a knockout!
Film review ·
It has the right balance of humour, drama and insight. It sheds light on the many fallacies of sports in India but it never gets preachy or boring. It always stays relevant and most importantly it engages you and entertains. This is Bollywood's happier answer to Million Dollar Baby. And to employ the old Mohammad Ali adage, this one floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee.
Film review ·
Alas, the film itself doesn't match up to the glory of its stunning visual velocity or its leading man's towering performance. This is Madhavan's Raging Bull. By far his career's finest performance. The film could have been better, though. Much better.
Film review ·
Madhavan is brilliant as the coach who may have missed the bus but now wants to live his dream through his protégé. Ritika delivers in her debut as the expressive Madhi. The fact that she is trained in MMA comes across in the fight scenes. However, the film's weak script and treatment lets them down. There are no nail-biting scenes and the drama inside the ring is also lacking. The film may be on boxing but it lacks the punches.
Film review ·
Saala Khadoos packs in many issues that affect female Indian athletes – poor sporting infrastructure, indifferent and corrupt government officials, and sexual harassment by coaches, selectors and administrators. The movie seeks to warn young women of the perils that could befall them if they lay themselves bare for the glory of the game and the nation. It doesn't exactly seem to be the appropriate place to suggest that it is perfectly alright for a young boxer to fall in love with a coach who is twice her age, but Saala Khadoos goes right ahead and does just that.
Film review ·
Saala Khadoos is unable to rise above the predictability and time worn clichés of an average sports movies. One hopes the Tamil version would have come together better.
From our readers
10 ratings · user score 6.9
Really tis movie awesome and the actors actress and artists are siitable their role . I really thanks to director and madhavan
Other than lots of shouting, this film is basically a collective remake of all the rundown sports dramas that have released in Bollywood in recent years.<br /> Adi (Madhavan) is a reckless boxing coach who has an ugly track record of his personal boxing career, which has rendered him tasteless in his sport's fraternity. So, when he bumps into a petite fisher-woman named Madhi (Singh) who also happens to be a better, streetwise boxer than her elder sister Lux who is a professional boxer, Adi quickly sees the world in her and starts training her for the World Championship. After a series of ON-OFF story manoeuvrings through plain bureaucracy, poverty, jealousy, hotheadedness, and sheer madness, Madhi dots the i's and crosses the t's, puts on her gloves, and shoes what she's really worth, as a normal human can so obviously predict.<br /> The biggest problem with the film is that the story is so predictable the trailer is enough to understand the plot. A poor girl - coach with a bad history - training - drama - politics - training - streak of romance - inspirational theme song - inspirational montage - success - is what all sports drama intrinsically talk about. And Saala Khadoos is no different.<br /> Talking about performances, Madhavan wins the shouting competition, while Miss Singh comes in second. He gives a good performance, though, unlike the newcomer. Hussain is fine, too. Overall, the cast do a good job as they have been directed well. So the whole blame is on the lousy script which is too commonplace to fall in that "based on true stories" realm.<br /> BOTTOM LINE: Saala Khadoos is a stale boxing drama that has been made rather lazily maybe because halfway through even the makers realized that what they were making is below average. Better than Mastizaade, though.<br /> GRADE: D-<br /> Can be watched with a typical Indian family? YES
Saala Khadoos, a film by Sudha Kongara, explores the Mentor-Mentee relationship and the background chosen to share the story is that of boxing. This film releases simultaneously in Hindi and Tamil (Irudhi Suttru). It is inspired from many true events existing in the field of sports in our country. Sudha is good at her craft, she infuses realism into the film. The film projects the irregularities happening in the sports council, selecting sports personnel for various competitions on the basis of whims and fancies of influential selectors, selectors' asking for favours from the female sports personnel etc. One thing which I felt was the characters could have been explored much more deeply. In Mary Kom, the background was same i.e. boxing, where the characters and their relationships, be it Mary Kom's relationship with her mentor, or husband or father all was explored deeply. In Chak De, coach Kabir Khan's relationships with his coachee were projected beautifully. Another film Bhag Milkha Bhag had lot of depth. Be it Mary Kom, Chak De or Bhag Milkha Bhag, tragedy and triumphs did spark an emotional deluge which was missing in Saala Khadoos (except the last scene and a few other scenes). In spite of this, the film has its own moments. The film begins with a scene in the boxing ring and Adi Tomar (R Madhavan) is being pushed out of the stadium. And then the story moves to the flash back – prior to nine months time frame. Adi is shown as an eccentric, arrogant and aggressive boxing coach. He does not shy away from admitting that his wife eloped with a boxer and so he also sleeps with other women. But as far as his profession as boxing is concerned, he is highly ethical and talented and coaches his students very efficiently. His conflict with Dev Khatri (Zakir Hussain) is very much evident, who was at one point of time Adi's coach. The animosity between the two is because, Dev spiked Adi's gloves during a very important match, which costed Adi his boxing career. Later on, when he became the coach of women boxers, his conflicts went on with Dev who had become the main selector. Dev is so shrewd that he doesn't even mind framing Adi in false sexual harassment cases. Adi is no way shown to be just tolerating all injustice towards him. Ultimately he is transferred to Chennai. Adi is shown to be sarcastic, grumpy, irritated when he gets to see the group of female boxers of Chennai. He had already done his research on the boxers and their background. That is where, Madhi (Ritika Singh) enters into the scene along with her sister Laxmi aka Lax (Mumtaz Sorcar). Laxmi is to fight in that local boxing match. In spite of Laxmi fighting well, when the judges declared her opponent as winner, Madhi could not tolerate and she picks up verbal spat as well as physical fight with the judges. Adi, who was unable to see the passion and fire in rest of the boxers, could see lot of fire in Madhi. That is how Adi decides to be a mentor to Madhi. Madhi is also a very eccentric and outspoken girl, belongs to a poor family, lives in the slums of Chennai and sells fishes to earn living for family. Her sister Laxmi aspires to join the Police department in sports quota and that is her inspiration to be a boxer. It was not easy for Adi to convince Madhi to take training for boxing, rather he had to pay Rs. 500/ per day to Madhi for training her. There the journey of a mentor-mentee begins, rather an unconventional combination, both being aggressive. There are lot of clashes between the two. Although the story is predictable, it is interesting to see how the events unfold. How did the relationship between Adi and Madhi shape up? Does the conviction of Adi about Madhi prove right ? How does Laxmi respond to the fact that her sister Madhi is a much better boxer than her? Does Dev sit back idle even after transferring Adi to Chennai or he starts another game? What efforts Dev take to malign the attempt of Adi to train Madhi to be a great boxer ? What happens in the end? Does the love of sport dominate at the end? Madhavan has definitely portrayed Adi very well. Media reports say that he took special training for this film and also lost / gained weight for his role's sake. He is able to break his chocolate, well- mannered gentleman image, since in this film, he is actually khadoos. His appearance completely justifies his character. Ritika as Madhi has also given a great performance. She is a professional kick boxer and also a mixed martial artist. She demonstrated the combination of sports personnel and an artist. Zakir Hussain as Dev Khatri is indeed good. Nassar as always has slipped into his character of Pandian, junior coach, effortlessly. Mumtaz Sorcar, though has a smaller role, has done well. Rest of the cast has also given good performances. Saala Khadoos reiterates a strong message, which is to keep politics away from the sports field. It is also an unconventional take on mentor-mentee relationship. The last scene is indeed a knockout scene.
in tamil flim this is the my atract flim ilike this flim.,madhavan acting is exclt& also heroien..
This is best movie I have seen...!!! Madhavan acting was very good n all the actress done there role very well
Credits
Hindi films like Saala Khadoos
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