kushal_basu

Varun Grover's directorial venture, 'All India Rank,' stands as a refreshing departure from the conventional narratives surrounding the pursuit of academic success, as depicted in TVF's 'Kota Factory.' While both explore the pressures of competitive examinations, 'All India Rank' takes a distinct approach by shifting the camera's focus beyond the aspirant, delving into the intricate dynamics of familial relationships.

Unlike the idealized portrayal of the IIT dream often depicted in mainstream media, Grover's film humanizes it by presenting an IITian as a flawed individual, devoid of the typical hero-villain binary. Each character in 'All India Rank' is imbued with depth, their arcs unfolding organically without the need for contrived comparisons.

Grover's maturity as a storyteller is evident in his measured approach, eschewing flashy gimmicks in favor of a composed and calculated narrative. The film neither glorifies nor vilifies the IIT dream, striking a delicate balance that resonates with the middle-class insecurities harbored by many aspirants.

One of the film's strengths lies in its ability to captivate without overwhelming the audience. Instead of bombarding viewers with triumphant narratives, 'All India Rank' gently embraces the vulnerabilities and disappointments inherent in the pursuit of success.

In contrast to its counterparts, such as '12th Fail,' Grover's film refrains from fetishizing the IIT dream, opting for a more nuanced and sensible portrayal. This approach, coupled with the film's warmth and depth, elevates it beyond a mere exploration of academic ambition.

For those seeking a cinematic experience that transcends the clichés of the genre, 'All India Rank' offers a compelling narrative that leaves a lasting impression. Whether you're familiar with similar subject matter or not, a trip to the theater to witness Grover's directorial debut is well worth the investment.

On a serious note, it was such a let down. I guess if they just played the trailer for 3 hours straight, it would have been a way better film than whatever the heck this is.

The story moves fast from one event to another in a matter of 3 hours and 10 minutes, focuses mainly on the (anti) hero but fails terribly to build the context of the outrage or the toxicity that RK's character surrounds itself with.

Rest of the actors doesn't even get the chance to be an one dimensional character, rather their arcs fizzle out in the juggernaut of Vanga's OCD on male bravado.

The screenplay is so weak in some places that the maker blasts every scene with overwhelmingly loud background score. But it fails to rescue the film from it's fate. The camera work only seems redeemable in this 3.5 hour long train wreck of a film.

This cinematic masterpiece is a great testament of Vanga's drooling hard on after watching men ripping each other open for vengeance and claiming self righteousness at the same time. Vanga tries to evoke the nostalgia of boyhood, by his memoir of abusive school teachers, negligent parents, generational familial dysfunctions and hormone driven misfortunes but just ends up creating a 3 hour long cringe fest of a "Alpha"-man trying very hard to prove a point that is just not worth proving at the first place lol.

Hey -- are you looking forward to watching this film and you don't resonate with the right leaning ruling class of india right now and you guess this movie might validate your liberal political beliefs ?

Well bad news for you that this is not the right film for you as even if it was made as a propaganda film, at least the maker should have made it interesting.

Firstly the film starts with some promises but gets distracted with every subplot presented in the story line. After watching it with a lot of patience, I couldn't understand which character story arc it is aiming to complete in it's 2 hr long screen time.

The movie is extremely preachy at moments and doesn't present anything that is stimulating enough to gain interest of the viewer at any given point in the movie. Overall it looks like a juvenile attempt to showcase some important events engulfing the country but fails to create any impact.