Vijay 69 Review: An encouraging tale to remind everyone that it’s never too late to chase your dream
Vijay 69 Movie Rating: 3 Stars
Watched Vijay 69 movie on Netflix. Let’s focus on the complete details, story, positive/negatives and at last my personal view on this movie.
Cast: Anupam Kher, Chunky Panday, Mihir Ahuja, Guddi Maruti, Vrajesh Hirjee, Kunal Vijaykar, Sulagna Panigrahi, Ravish Desai, Dharmendra Gohil, Ketika Sharma, Pawan Chopra and Adrija Sinha
Director: Akshay Roy
Release Date: 8th November 2024 on Netflix
Story: Movie revolves around 69-year-old man Vijay Mathew (Anupam Kher) live alone in Mumbai. He was once a swimming coach and lost his wife Anna (Ekavali) 15 years ago due to cancer. Swimming has been his passion and so he has only trained people to swim in the local club.
When his loved ones mistakenly believe he has passed away, his best friend Fali (Chunky Pandey) remembers him only as a garba king and rummy champion. This prompts Vijay to reflect on his life and realize that he hardly has any achievements to his credit which could be remembered after he is dead and gone.
Then he decides to do something remarkable by participating in a triathlon and thereby becoming the oldest man to complete it. The triathlon involves swimming 1.5 kilometers, cycling 40 kilometers, and running 10 kilometers is not a small task for anyone, let alone someone nearing 70. His motivation goes beyond personal achievement. Vijay’s quest is also driven by a desire to prove his worth to his family and peers as well as to support a nursing home run by his friend Fali which has fallen into financial ruin.
Kumar (Vrajesh Hirje) coaches him till be gets embroiled in a controversy which prompts the sponsor as well as the coach to leave him. But 18-year-old Aditya (Mihir Ahuja) who is the youngest participant, takes it upon himself to now coach Vijay. With his girlfriend Malti (Ketika Sharma) doing her bit to propagate good things about him. But he is disqualified at the last moment. What happens thereafter? Is Vijay able to participate and complete the triathlon?
Positives
1. Performances
2. Stroy
3. Direction
4. Dialogues
Negatives
1. Length
2. Climax
3. Music
4. Screenplay in 2nd half
Durgesh Tiwary’s View: When I watched the trailer of this film planned to watch on in free time as liked the concept of the film. Tired of being an underachiever, a 69-year-old retired swimming coach and former champ decides to participate in a triathlon and set a record.
Vijay 69 has a simple yet heartfelt story about the resilience of the human spirit, about pushing the boundaries of possibility even when society, family, and even one’s own body seem to say no. It’s a reminder that it’s never too late to chase one’s dreams, no matter how improbable they may seem. The film starts off strong, with a blend of comedy and drama, especially in the witty interactions between Vijay, Fali, their friends, and his quirky coach. These moments and the one-liners keep the viewer engaged. The film suggests that true success lies not in how the world sees us, but in how we view our own potential especially when age, illness, and the weight of time seem to suggest otherwise. While the first half moves relatively smoothly, the pacing falters in the second half and plot points feel far-fetched. That said, the triathlon scenes, when they do arrive, are effective in providing a sense of excitement, even if they rely on familiar sports movie tropes. The finale, however, is stretched a bit too thin and overdramatic. Anupam Kher and Chunky Pandey’s on-screen camaraderie is delightful, with quirky banter and colorful language. His ability to bring humor and raw emotion to the role makes Vijay’s journey both entertaining and inspiring. The supporting cast does a stellar job of bringing depth to the narrative.
On the flipside, the post-interval portion appears convenient and, therefore, loses impact to an extent. The drama also gets repetitive in the second half. Sometimes, it appears as if Roy did not want to leave any opportunity to appeal to the senses and, therefore, included every trick in the bag. The scene where Vijay jumps into the swimming pool while fighting with a parent and when he’s asked to go for a medical test fails to evoke laughs. The entire Vijay vs Aditya clash is an interesting idea on paper but looks quite childish on screen. Moreover, there are too many abuses in the dialogues. The core aspect of Vijay training takes a backseat as the plot meanders into areas that feel forced or unconvincing, such as the society politics, competition with an 18-year-old rival Aditya and excessive media sensationalism.
Overall movie is a light-hearted inspirational tale. Its more than just a story about a triathlon; it’s about the strength of human spirit, the beauty of unexpected friendships, and the courage to defy expectations at any age. It is a family-friendly entertainer that is worth watching once especially if you’re in the mood for a light and feel-good story with a touch of comedy. My view on this movie Time Pass.
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