All India Rank Movie Review!

All India Rank Movie Review:

Rating: 3/5

Director: Varun Grover

Cast: Bodhisattva Sharma, Samta Sudiksha, Shashi Bhushan, Geeta Agrawal, Sheeba Chaddha, Neeraj, Ayush Pandey, Saadat Khan

Runtime: 1 hour 41 mins

Storyline:

All India Rank revolves around the coming-of-age journey of IIT aspirant Vivek (Bodhisattva Sharma). Hailing from a middle-class family who has pinned all their hopes on his young shoulders, a disinterested Vivek is struggling hard to keep his eyes on the prize.

Sheebha Chaddha plays the quirky coaching school head, teaching the ‘cream of the crop’. Back at home, Vivek’s father (Shashi Bhushan) is fuming under financial stress and humiliation at work. He believes the family’s pride hinges entirely upon Vivek clearing the IIT entrance exam.

On the other hand, Vivek’s anxious mother (Geeta Agrawal) has to deal with a perverted, miscreant student whose repeated aggravations start to take a toll on her health.

Watch All India Rank to see Vivek explore campus life, friendship, and young love while trying to keep from crumbling under the pressure of the competition!

All India Rank Movie Review:

All India Rank evokes nostalgia for the simpler times – the 90s. Though brimming with genuine performances, comedian Varun Grover’s directorial debut ends up being rather tedious. 

Since this film follows in the aftermath of the highly successful 12th Fail, certain parallels will inevitably be drawn. But while 12th Fail worked because of its touching drama, the emotion in All India Rank rings hollow despite having some charming, wholesome, relatable moments.

The film suffers from a very languid pace…. there is no tension or grip in the narrative. It does start off on a solid, humorous note, which starts to dissipate rapidly. While it’s not a bad film per se, it’s a done-to-death topic and there’s nothing fresh that All India Rank has to say about the matter. Though it ticks off all the requisite elements of a coming-of-age film, it ends up feeling rather monotonous. 

It has a relatively short run time, which is why one would be blindsided by the abrupt, unsatisfactory ending that follows this slow-burn affair.

That being said, there are no complaints on the acting front. The cast is young and fresh-faced and gives sincere performances. The family dynamic is pretty wholesome and down-to-earth. The film’s relatable, understated humour will elicit a few genuine chuckles.

Bodhisattva Sharma hits the right note as the painfully awkward yet earnest teen protagonist who is still finding his way. His camaraderie with the gang in the coaching centre is refreshing. Samta Sudiksha is endearing indeed and her budding romance with Bodhisattva is adorable. 

Sheebha Chaddha has an arresting screen presence and an intriguing intro scene but ends up being underutilised. On the other hand, Shashi Bhushan and Geeta Agarwal give grounded, masterful performances – convincingly portraying the frustration, vulnerability and resilience of middle-class parents.

Hit Or Miss:

This one seems more like an OTT watch. But you can catch the flick in the theatres if you’re in a nostalgic mood. It arrives in cinemas on 23rd February 2024.

(Also Read: 5 Bollywood Movies RELEASING In February 2024; See LIST)