All said and done, despite remarkable performances by everyone Soorma is a disappointment as a movie. The story of Sandeep Singh needed a detailed narration which gets narrowed down to a paper-thin plot in Soorma. Watch it just for Diljit Dosanjh, Taapsee Pannu & Vijay Raaz.

The flaws notwithstanding, I would recommend ‘Soorma’. This is an inspiring story that needed to be told and needs to be watched. The movie may lack the sheen of some recent biopics, but I’d still say you go and watch it. Indian hockey, which probably deserves much more, deserves nothing less.

Soorma applauds a deserving figure who has received national honours but sadly, hasn’t been celebrated with the same fervour. A worthy hat-tip!

Soorma is more drag than flick, a hockey film sans genuine impetus. It is nowhere near the league of Chak De India despite telling a story that is no less intense than a wrongly victimized coach’s struggle for redemption. Come to think of it, the Shimit Amin film was made over a decade ago. Why hasn’t the Mumbai movie industry delivered another sports drama quite that good? The reason is obvious: Bollywood just doesn’t do sports well. Its rules militate against the genre. Soorma, a wasted opportunity, demonstrates why and how.

Diljit Dosanjh is lovable in a biopic that’s not as inspiring as the true story it draws on…

With Soorma, Shaad Ali confidently gets to the centre, keeps his impulses under check, and plays it totally narrow, and fully straight. And, yes, he hits home, alright. This is possibly his best work yet

Soorma is more a drag than a flick. It is a shame because this was Bollywood’s chance to regale the audience with an inspiring story of a sportsman, whose return to hockey after a life-threatening incident was nothing less than miraculous. The film falls supremely short of harnessing dramatic potential and is just another hackneyed run-of-the-mill biopic. A champion is turned into a colourless Bollywood hero.

The actor is the mainstay of an understated rather than rousing sports film…

Diljit Dosanjh’s striking self-possession, like the champion he’s portraying, doesn’t let it come in the way of a performance that screams g-o-a-l.

If you are looking for an unusual story of an unsung hero, go and watch Soorma. Promise, it’s not a glorification of an Indian sportsman on silver screen.

iljit Dosanjh as Sandeep Singh is spot on. And that is the film’s biggest triumph. Whenever Dosanjh is on screen, we are with him.

Soorma doesn’t attempt to probe beyond the obvious, even if you don’t know the real story. With 131-minute duration, Soorma presents Sandeep as the ultimate boy scout. A tinge of reality wouldn’t have hurt.

Soorma doesn’t rouse as much as it should. It doesn’t stop to feel its own heart beat. It tick-marks all the boxes and explores none. The goalposts are broadened – it drags home the same age-old clichés, and flicks our sensibilities by the wayside.

Considering the fact that Singh – an Arjuna awardee – created a world record for the drag flick, led the Indian national hockey team, and have 2012 Summer Olympics to his credit, the hockey matches shot for Soorma lack the power of international games. Since most of the viewers have watched Chak De! India and are aware of its impact, you are bound to miss the frenzy.

Soorma has good intentions but not sufficient emotional heft.

Soorma is an entertaining film but one that’s far from satisfying. The single best thing about Soorma is Angad Bedi. He delivers an earnest performance that may prove to be a career defining one as well just like Udta Punjab had proven for Dosanjh. Another performance to watch out for comes from Vijay Raaz who plays Indian Hockey Team’s Bihari coach. His one-liners are so brilliant that one just can’t help but applaud his delivery and timing. Then of course there is the legendary Kulbhushan Kharbanda who is always a treat to watch. Soorma proves to be a decent watch but it could easily have been much much better.

Diljit Dosanjh’s Soorma has it’s moments and the actor-singer puts in an earnest performance. You will fall in love with his extremely supportive uncle and parents. However, given the fact that Sandeep is not as widely known as some other Indian sportsmen (read cricketers), a more fleshed out story would have been far more engrossing.

Soorma just makes you happy for the unsung heroes whom cinema has the power and reach to put on a pedestal.

Soorma isn’t without flaws. It gets manipulative in places. The happy banter before the gunshot scene is written to establish Sandeep as a happy-go-lucky character and ooze out more sympathy for him. The song montages against a gruelling training session is also not too original. Hindi films will have to come up with better narratives to depict grit and determination in our sports heroes!
Shad Ali finally redeems himself after the disastrous Kill (Me Gently) Dill by bringing Sandeep Singh on celluloid and sharing his inspiring story. Watch it over the weekend.

…if you want to know when, why, how and what happened to Sandeep Singh, Soorma is the name of the game. It is a story told with its heart in the right place, and on that count it scores. Only that, it shows you the reality, minus the melodrama.