Kho Kho review: An empowering sports drama let down by ordinary writing

3/5

While Kerala is a State that has produced some of the country’s greatest sporting talents including Anju Bobby George, PT Usha and IM Vijayan, Malayalam sports films have been few and far between. That’s why director Rahul Riji Nair’s Kho Kho, which dropped on Amazon Prime Video on June 3, has been a much-awaited release on OTT platforms.

What’s it about?

Forced by her family’s financial difficulties, former athlete Maria Francis (Rajisha Vijayan) joins a girls’ high school as a physical education teacher. The students and the staff in the remote island are content with their indolent lives and the best thing about the girls’ day at school is a game of kho kho. Maria uses this spark to channel their energy – and her earlier aspirations – to form a team to compete in state-level competitions.

Interspersed with the journey of the team, is Maria’s past as an athlete, a daughter and a wife – all of which add dimensions in her growth as a coach and teacher. While the Rahul Riji Nair directorial is mostly told from Maria’s perspective, how her past, present and future connect with the life of Anju (Mamitha Baiju), who plays the captain of the team, is equally vital to the team’s journey.

What’s hot?

Rajisha once again proves that she can shoulder a film on her own as she plays the different versions of Maria effectively. This time she is also ably supported by the young Mamitha, who plays the irrepressible and quick-tempered Anju. Their interactions are a delight, with both of them bringing their A-game for the sports drama. The most moving scene of the film belongs to the duo when Maria, in a way, passes the torch to the younger student. Mamitha, who was last seen in Operation Java, is a talent to look out for and is an absolute natural in her scenes, in a way that you would be reminded of how Rajisha herself pulled off her award-winning role in her debut film, Anuraga Karikkin Vellam.

The supporting cast too does a great job with Rejith Sekhar Nair, who plays the peon and team manager, being the most notable presence. The film’s director and scriptwriter Rahul too is a hoot in his limited role as is the actor who played Anju’s father. However, the rest of the kho kho team in the film could have been used better.

Rahul deserves due credit for the casting of the film, which apart from Rajisha, predominantly relies on relative newcomers. He succeeds in breaking down kho kho to the viewers, most of whom could be unaware of the traditional outdoor sport and also showing that it’s a game that requires both physical and mental agility. Despite the film toggling between Maria’s past and present, Christy Sebastian’s editing makes the progression seamless.

What’s not?

Rahul’s writing, though, plays a spoilsport with it moving at an unhurried pace and predictable plot twists. Some of Maria’s dialogues that she uses to motivate the team doesn’t pack as much punch. Maria’s character too is uneven; her goal was to represent the national team but she gives all that up to settle for a married life. When fate gives her a second chance, she rises to the occasion but when her past catches up with her, she once again takes the familiar route – the very same thing she asks the girls not to do.

The music of the movie too is a mixed bag. Some of the songs and background score work well with the story but the English rap tracks somehow feel out of place, with the visuals of the team’s training and games seemingly lacking in energy. However, cinematographer Tobin Thomas does succeed in capturing the beauty of the island village where the story evolves.

Verdict

Rajisha and Mamitha’s moving performances make this empowering sports-drama watchable. The movie, however, could have been a winner if the writing was better.