Sarpatta Parambarai promises too much in the first half just to become a BIG BORE in the second half. The same old story survives by New regional conflicts.
Pa. Ranjith’s filmography doesn’t offer anything extraordinary so expecting a sort of watchable flick from him shall be considered fine. However, Sarpatta suddenly started looking something better and overwhelming after the trailer so obviously, people began to expect more from the same director who hasn’t delivered a quality product yet. The movie does not surpass that unauthorized hype created by the trailer, but like I said, that typical Ranjith film, it fulfills that.
You know, every sports drama has four stages- First Struggle and Training, Second Success, Third Downfall, and fourth is Comeback. Sarpatta Parambarai uses the same formula in the same old manners with additional regional conflicts of honor and politics.
Sarpatta Parambarai Plot
Set during the 1980s, the film revolves around a clash between two clans namely Idiyappa Parambarai and Sarpatta Parambarai in North Chennai, which also showcases the boxing culture in the locality and also the politics being involved in it. There is nothing in the film which you haven’t seen before in any classic or good sports drama.
Although the film actually looks sensational in the first half with terrific storytelling, it lacks the same impact in the second half. There is literally nothing in the story in the second half that can keep you hooked or interested except the boxing match scenes and that too comes with the same old cliches. Remember Bollywood Movie ‘Apne’ (2007)? Just exclude family drama from it and you are almost here.
What works for the film?
The film is entirely carried by Arya but every actor in the film has given an equally great performance. It is just a matter of screen space. Arya might be the frontier but Dushara Vijayan, Pasupathy, Kalaiyarasan, Santhosh Prathap, Anupama Kumar, and Sanchana Natarajan are no less in their particular spaces. The music is highly engaging and tappy for the situations and thankfully none of them adds anything to the predictable boredom. And lyrics should be given equal credit for that.
What doesn’t work for the film?
Sarpatta Parambarai has one or two unexpected turnarounds in the midway but that just goes without solid follow-up. Ranjith could have had it trimmed, actually, that’s one of the biggest reasons why the film fails to sustain in the second half. Almost three hours for the same old cliches, fair? Certainly not. 20 minutes were easily removable.
Even a few boxing sequences are shot childishly or better say are edited in such manners. It’s 2021, not 1991 to make such noticeable blunders, especially when the main context is boxing on which film depends.
Sarpatta Parambarai Review: Last words and rating
Overall, Sarpatta Parambarai is surely watchable for good performances and the cliched story of an underdog blended with regional conflicts but just don’t expect anything outstanding.
RATING – 6/10
Sarpatta Parambarai has skipped the theatrical release and opted for a direct digital release. It is officially streaming on Amazon Prime Video. On the day of its digital premiere, piracy websites leaked it for free download.