Budhia Singh: Born to Run (2016) Reviews

• We should support this movie otherwise we would also be accused of opposing this God gifted talented Budhiya Singh

  dineshprakash2016-08-05

  I rarely request to watch any movie but this time I beg you to watch it. Perhaps success of this movie will create enough stir to let this sun shine on time. Director and writer Mr. Soumendra Padhi work is very good. Without taking anyone side he has tried his best to be in truth side which is proved by showing very positive character ,Biranchi Das, crossing limit to make his point listen. Movie will provoke you to do something for world's youngest marathon runner Budhiya Singh. Director has enhances every scene with his vision and shot taking. The way he has captured Budhiya's collapsing scene by making screen dark and hazy is very good but it should have been less in duration. Environment created of Budhiya's childhood residing area is very real, like kids smoking half puffed Beedi thrown by elders. This movie is a tight slap on system and hard pat on our self that how could we ignore such things happening in our country. As a writer, director work is just OK till first half. It is slow and gives feel of docu-drama but after interval it makes you captive, you can feel the anger, anguish and frustration as if you are just witnessing all that happening in front of you. In first half when Biranchi Das first notices Budhiya's talent is a bit unreal as he was shown running since morning till late evening, which is indigestible a bit. Dialogues are perfect. There should have been some gradual establishment of his talent. Climax is shot in very intelligent way. It leaves the desire impact without showing violence. Background score and mixing are very good. Need to be especially mentioned. Credit goes to sound designer Subhash Sahu. Performance wise the kid Mayur Mahendra Patole as Budhiya Singh is fantabulous. He gives goose bump just by look in his eye. Manoj Bajpayi as Biranchi Das is pitch perfect as usual. Shuruti Marathe as his wife is very good. Tilotama Shome as Budhiya's mother is impressive. Gajraj Rao as minister's secretary and Gopal Singh as local leader are too good. Hats off to Viacom 18 and independent producers Gajraj Rao, Subrat Ray and Shubhamitra Sen for supporting such type of project.

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• Budhiya – Born to win is a must watch

  binducherungath2016-08-06

  Budhiya- Born to Run, another masterpiece sports biopic on the wonder boy marathon runner, is a film by Soumendra Padhi. This film was earlier titled as Duronto, and it has already won National Award of Best Children's Film. Budhiya, a child prodigy, who indeed was born to run, created a world record, by running 48 marathons in a year's time, when he was just 5 years old. It included his running 65 Kms in 7 hours 2 minutes from Puri to Bhubaneswar in 50 degree temperature in 2006. This milestone earned him Limca Book of Records. The film focuses on this wonder boy, the Youngest Marathon runner, his wonderful relationship with Coach Biranchi Das, shallowness of our system, politics, power play, hypocrisy of the officials etc. Biranchi Das (played by exceptionally great actor Manoj Bajpai), who runs a Judo Training School for orphan children and forbidden / poor children at his home. He is also shown to be inclined towards social reforms. His source of income is shown from a restaurant and a salon. His wife Gita (Shruti Marathe) is his great support system in his endeavours. Budhia, the titular character played by Mayur Patole, was born in a slum in a very poor family, extremely impoverished upbringing. His mother Sukanti (Tilotama Shome) sells him to a vendor for Rs. 800. Biranchi Das spots Budhiya and brings him home, rather buys him back. Budhiya starts staying along with 22 other children at Biranchi's place. Biranchi was astonished to explore that this 5 year Budhiya had the potential to run non-stop. Biranchi decides to coach Budhiya for marathons. It is interesting to see the bond between Biranchi and Budhiya. Biranchi and Geeta adopt Budhiya. It is incredible to see Budhiya breaking all the barriers of being a child and running marathons like an expert at such a tender age, where he does not even know to tie his shoe lace. Biranchi and Budhiya were all over the headlines in Print and Electronic Media which covered Budhiya's marathon running spree. But these accolades and the limelight later on created hurdles for Budhiya. Child Welfare Department intervened to question such a small child's capacity to run such marathons. Budhiya was not given permission to run Delhi based Marathon at the last moment. Biranchi, a non-conformist in his own manner, was not ready to pay heed, and took head-on challenge with the Child Welfare Department. He further trains Budhiya to run one of the record-making marathon, i.e. a distance of 65 Kms from Puri to Bhubaneswar. He covers the distance in 7 hours 2 minutes. The film does convey Biranchi's methods of strict training for Budhiya, it also shows the other side to it by displaying footage of leading sports / technology personalities voicing their concern over such strenuous training and runs for Budhiya. Many questions were raised by the system. But Biranchi had answers to all of them quoting the example of golfer Tiger Woods and footballer Carlos Chera. Obviously Biranchi could not fight the power play. Ultimately Budhiya was banned from running till he is 18 (now he is 14 years old) and he is in a Kalinga Sports Academy in Odisha. What all events transpired which led to Budhiya's ban? Though this coach-coachee's relationship and fate is known by the world, let me not reveal, what happens to Biranchi? How did the authorities succeed in taking Budhiya away from Biranchi and put him in hostel ? It forces one to ponder, if a child can be allowed to play different sports viz. cricket, badminton, football etc, do swimming and compete in these areas as well, why can't a child like Budhiya, whose potential lie in marathon running, be allowed to run? Why this bias towards Budhiya? Biranchi dreamt of making Budhiya participate in 2016 Olympics (Rio), which coincidently started today a day after this film's release. If Budhiya was not banned, India could have had an Olympic medal surely to its credit. The film showcases the shallowness of the existing system and also the power tussle. An athlete usually faces hurdles and challenges during a race, but the hurdles before Budhiya was like putting an end to a brilliant runner's innings. What to talk about the performances! It is amazing to see Manoj Bajpayee effortlessly slip into every character which he plays on screen. He brings various facets of his character Biranchi live on screen: the enthusiasm of Biranchi on exploring Budhiya, his passion to take care of orphan kids treating them as his own, his drive in running Judo Training School, his frustrations / fighting with the system, his daring attitude to take head-on with the authorities / politicians. Mayur as Budhiya is awesome. He brings so much credibility to the character. He is a natural performer. Rest of the kids at Biranchi's place are also such wonderful natural performers, bring so much freshness with their simplicity. Tilotama Shome as Sukanti – Budhiya's mother and Shruti Marathe as Gita – Biranchi's wife are also very good. Gajraj Rao is also very nice. Rest of the characters are also good. Born to run anthem is very motivating and inspiring. It will give you goosebumbps for sure. It is sad to understand that Budhiya still does not have the right to run. He says that he still can run, it is just that he needs a coach like Biranchi. Budhiya – Born to win is a must watch film. Although, this story was supposed to be told earlier, the sincerity with which this film is made, probably may inspire the system to lift the ban on this wonder boy Budhiya, bring him back to tracks, facilitate him to fulfill the dreams of his selfless coach Biranchi Das and also to make a mark for India at Global level.

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• This movie was entertaining with fast pace and effective storytelling

  ptsh-swain2016-08-07

  Storytelling-9/10 Screenplay-10/10 Based on true event-yes Over Dramatization-No Factual-yes Inspiring-Yes Social message-Yes Originality-9/10 Climax-Unpredictable even though its based on true story.I would recommend people from all society to watch this movie.After a long time Bollywood has come up with a movie which is not only based on true events but also factual without taking any sides.Kudos to the director and production house who have done a tremendous job of getting the right cast for the movie who looks all real for a time.Manoj bajpayee has done a tremendous job.The kid is superb in running shots.

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• Poignant and touching film

  indianature2017-03-22

  I was on a flight and had seen all the mainstream movies on offer when I chanced upon Budhia Singh : Born To Run. I vaguely remembered reading about this film when it was released but somehow never got around to seeing it. Now was the opportunity! What a film. I was entranced from beginning to end with the saga of wonder runner Budhia and his ill fated coach Biranchi Das . The unknown child actor Mayur Patole was exceptional as the super runner boy Budhia. Manoj Bajpai was superlative as Biranchi Das. Actually everyone essayed their role brilliantly. The sets were realistic, the editing tight and the plot held the interest throughout. How much of it was from the true saga and how much embellished I do not know. Suffice it to say that this is an exceptional film. The conflict remains of whether the child Budhia was pushed too hard for his age or not,or whether his talent was being given the push it deserved to make him a marathon champion. By all accounts, Budhia is not doing well in his SAI hostel. If you have missed this movie, do see it.

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• Amazing story telling... Budhia, forgotten runner; Biranchi, an unheard hero

  vks_vishwa2016-10-20

  Amazing story telling can be seen in the movie. Budhia, the long distance runner kid was a prodigy, but the kind of twists and turns that entails his life due to political pressures and interests is beautifully narrated by the movie. The movie constantly revolves around the relationship between the coach and the student; coach's undying spirit to make Budhia an Olympic runner; Budhia's spirit to run; the politics being played around Budhia's success story; the strange role of Budhia's mother. All in just one package, that too beautifully done. You just enjoy the journey. One can see the strong performances by each character. The best one is by the coach, Manoj Bajpayee, as usual. The kid has given the best he could. Coach's wife's role can also be seen as being played well by Gita. Overall a good acting, story and emotions.

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