Clap - An underdog sports drama about a fallen athlete and his eventual redemption. If you are used to sports films then you will definitely know what to expect. The film gives you exactly that. Nothing more and nothing less. This actually works to the film's advantage because it allows you to be ready for the highs and lows of the film. The victories do make you feel good.
Aadhi Pinisetty gives his heart and soul as the fallen athlete. He brings out the pain and self-doubts of a differently abled person quite beautifully. He makes you empathize with his plight even when he is stubborn and makes it easier to root for him.
Aakanksha Singh is terrific in her space. Her silence adds a lot more depth to the conflict between the two leads. Making her a vital part of the all-important finale was a nice touch.
Munishkanth also rises above the sports cliche to give us a memorable performance. It's a lot more subdued compared to his other roles. Mime Gopi too does what is required without much of a fuss. The same goes for the experienced Prakash Raj as well with his natural acting.
Nassar plays the typical cinema villain. But what Nassar does within the limited scope is extraordinary. He adds his own nuances to make us go wow. Krisha Kurup plays the all-important role of a promising young athlete. Her vulnerability shines through and she's very believable as the girl from the village.
Ilaiyaraaja elevates the film and its winning moments with his rousing background score. Debutant director Prithivi Adithya makes a very promising debut in terms of casting and the way he has extracted performances from the artists. All of them do the best they can. Addressing the caste problems in sports was also neatly done without being too preachy.
The main problem is the fact that everything is at the surface level, safe and convenient. Though the cliches work like a charm, there was ample scope for newer sequences and fresher conflicts. But Prithivi chooses to play safe till the end. This had the potential to be one good sports film but settles in the safe zone. The other technical aspects of the film do not align with the director's vision which is a bit of a downer.
The film also reminds you of Sivakarthikeyan's Ethir Neechal in a good way. If that film worked for you, this would work too. It is a fine weekend watch on the OTT platform. If you are a fan of the sports genre this film is for you.