Review: Bison - Honest Though Prolonged

 

Movie: Bison
Rating: 3.25/5

Cast: Dhruv Vikram, Padupathy, Anupama Parameswaran, Rajisha Vijayan, Ameer, Lal, Aruvi Madhan, and others

Director: Mari Sepvaraj

Produced By: Applause Entertainment, Neelam Studios

Release Date: 24-10-2025

Story:

Set in the 1990s, Bison tells the story of Kittayya (Dhruv Vikram), a student with dreams of excelling in kabaddi. His father, Velusamy (Pasupathy), disapproves of his passion, worrying about his son's future. Their village is deeply divided by caste, and Kittayya’s family belongs to a marginalized community that has suffered oppression for generations. Despite facing many challenges, Kittayya continues to chase his dream of becoming a kabaddi player. The film focuses on whether he can overcome these struggles and achieve his goal.

Performances:

Dhruv Vikram delivers a powerful and convincing performance as Kittayya, especially in the emotional scenes. Pasupathy is excellent as the caring yet conflicted father. Anupama Parameswaran performs well, though her screen time is limited. Rajisha Vijayan, Ameer, Lal, Aruvi Madhan, and others do justice to their roles and enhance the film.

What Works:

Inspired by the life of Arjuna Award–winning kabaddi player Manathi Ganesan, Bison balances realism with emotion. Director Mari Selvaraj once again explores themes of social inequality, caste discrimination, and rural politics, using the sport of kabaddi as the backdrop.

The film begins strongly, using flashbacks to tell Kittayya’s story. Several moments in the first half leave a lasting impact, especially the bus sequence and its aftermath, which heighten the emotional drama.

The climax scenes are well-executed and moving, while the music and visuals beautifully support the storytelling.

What doesn't work:

However, the second half feels a bit lengthy, with a few repetitive and predictable moments common to sports dramas. These slightly weaken the flow in the middle portions, but the film overall remains powerful and emotionally resonant.


Bison Review and Verdict:

Mari Selvaraj’s Bison presents a classic underdog sports story, strengthened by honest storytelling, strong drama, and music and visuals that perfectly suit the film’s tone. Though some parts feel predictable and a bit lengthy, the movie ends on a satisfying note. Dhruv Vikram delivers an excellent performance, while Pasupathy and the rest of the cast also do a great job.