Creating a movie on snooker in India is a bold move. Then to cast a 15-year-old as the lead is almost insane. Toolsidas Junior, on the other hand, does both and comes out uninjured. The movie was first noted for being Rajiv Kapoor’s first cinematic appearance in over 30 years. Then, with his tragic death, it took on further emotional resonance as his last performance. But even without this backdrop, Toolsidas strikes a chord. It’s a well-made, clean picture that combines the excitement of sports with the sensitivity of human feelings. Toolsidas Junior is the tale of a teen (Varun Buddhadev) who saw his father’s Toolsidas (Rajiv Kapoor) attempts and failures and the hardship he did to win the Calcutta Club Snooker Tournament. His adversary is Jimmy Tandon, the unstoppable champion of champions (Dalip Tahil). Finally, he decided to take the matters into his own hands, including the cue stick, and sets out to win the championship for his father. Mohammed Salaam, former national champion, assisted him in this endeavour (Sanjay Dutt).
Any decent sports film should avoid being overly focused on sports. Even if you don’t follow the sport, you should be able to embrace it (see, for example, Lagaan, Queen’s Gambit, Chak De India, or Dangal). And it is here that Toolsidas Junior shines. Even if you have no idea what billiards and snooker are, you will be capable of following along and enjoy the movie, because, in the end, the story has nothing to do with sports.It’s about a father’s relationship with his son, a committed young man attempting to please his father
The film’s strength is its delicacy. The bad person does not engage in any dramatisation. There is drama, but it is subdued and acceptable. Toolsidas Junior even manages to convey some valuable lessons through sports without having to rely on a character to offer a lengthy monologue. The film even manages to avoid preaching about a delicate topic like alcoholism. The most important lesson it teaches is that life isn’t always about winning or losing, but rather about enjoying the game. A powerful message for our current era.Rajiv Kapoor makes a strong reappearance, and it’s hard to believe we won’t see him again. In some ways, it’s also the perfect swan song. When Shammi Kapoor and Rishi Kapoor switched to character roles, the actor reminds you of them. He may lack the acting prowess and star power of his more famous relatives, but he makes up for it by giving a realistic presence that never goes overboard. He exposes Toolsidas’ weaknesses while being charming. Sanjay Dutt is also fantastic in his supporting role. However, the film’s success ultimately lies on the shoulders of Varun Buddhadev, who portrays the title role. The film is effortlessly carried by the adolescent.