Paan Singh Tomar joins the army in 1950 and seeing his appetite for food and aptitude for running, he is given a chance to compete in running competitions like the 5000m and 3000m steeple chase. He wins many laurels at national and international level as well. He feels frustrated at not being allowed to fight for the nation in the 1965 war. He has a loving wife and children back in his village in MP.
Back home there are a lot of problems related to land within his family and cousins. Paan looks to settle the dispute legally and without taking to arms. But, he is forced to take up arms to save himself and his family. He quits the army and gives up running too. Frustrated at the system in his village, he becomes a rebel (dacoit as the government likes to call them)
He starts his own gang and what starts off as a means to taking revenge against his cousin soon gives him notoriety. All the applause that eluded him when he was an acclaimed runner for the nation, comes to him in the form of being a wanted criminal now.
Irrfan Khan carries the movie on his shoulders. He looks lean and mean, fits the bill perfectly. The scenes documenting his running pursuits are very engaging and entertaining. Tremendous versatility in emotions in a single movie. When he taunts his innocent, naive wife played by Mahie Gill and when he plays around with the interviewer, he is at his witty best.
The rugged locales are a visual treat. The director Tigmanshu Dhulia is becoming an expert at such rustic movies set in the heartland of the country. The rebel part has been overdone a bit. Too many gunshots. The movie is a bit slow and doesn't move much in the 2nd half but, it has its heart in the right place.
VERDICT: A movie made for a nice cause and executed in a more than decent manner. Worth a watch
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