Noted filmmaker Hansal Mehta has heaped praise on Mari Selvaraj's Bison, headlined by Dhruv Vikram. Calling it an "absolute banger", he said that it was "a masterly portrait of grit and determination against all odds." The Scam 1992 director penned a lengthy note on his X handle appreciating Mar Selvaraj for his filmmaking, Dhruv Vikram for his dedicated performance, music and the movie's cinematography.
"Using the framework of a sports biopic to explore deep-rooted conflicts of caste and identity, violence and retribution, hatred and prejudice, bondage and freedom Selvaraj constructs a masterly portrait of grit and determination against all odds. Brilliantly crafted with cinematography that never draws attention to itself, Bison delivers outstanding action and expertly choreographed kabaddi sequences. It juxtaposes symbolism, melodrama and artistic flair with immense honesty and angst," he wrote, underlining that the violence in Bison is "graphic but never gratuitous."
Applauding Dhruv Vikram and describing the actor as a "tour de force", Hansal Mehta noted that his "performance transcends physical transformation". "The body language, the rage, the hurt and the vulnerability are woven together with a maturity far beyond his years. The ensemble cast, many of whom I’m unfamiliar with, is absolutely terrific. Great casting and consistently strong performances throughout," he said.
Produced by Pa Ranjith and Aditi Anand under Neelam Studios in association with Applause Entertainment, Bison also features Anupama Parameshwaran, Lal, Ameer, Pasupathi, and Rajisha Vijayan.
However, the director had "only one grouse" to address with Mari Selvaraj. He said he was disappointed with the Hindi characters and their language in the film, and offered to help him with the same next time.
"Bison is a film made for the big screen - a spectacle that encapsulates a people, a time and a socio-economic reality without ever feeling effortful or preachy. Bison is a winner. Go watch it," he shared, concluding his note.
A sports drama, the film is inspired from the life and struggles of Arjuna award-winning Kabaddi player Manathi Ganesan. The film was also recently released in Telugu.
The technical crew of the film includes Ezhil Arasu K as the cinematographer, Sakthi Thiru as the editor, Kumar Gangappan as the art director, and Dhilip Subbarayan as the action choreographer.
