‘Vijay 69’ Movie Review: Anupam Kher’s Predictable ‘Motivational’ Sports Drama Is Diluted by Forced Humour and Farcical Situations (LatestLY Exclusive)

Vijay 69 Movie Review: Anupam Kher takes the lead role in Vijay 69, directed by Akshay Roy (Meri Pyaari Bindu). The film centres on a near-septuagenarian who sets out to achieve a goal that neither his family nor friends—nor the rest of the world—believe he can accomplish. While the premise is heartwarming and Kher delivers a commendable performance, bolstered by a couple of touching emotional beats, the predictable storyline is let down by lacklustre toilet humour and farcical supporting characters and scenarios. Anupam Kher Dedicates His Film ‘Vijay 69’ to His Inspiring Mother Dulari, Says ‘She Is a Symbol of Courage for Me’.

Vijay Mathew (Anupam Kher), aged 69, is a widower who lost his wife to cancer a few years ago. His daughter, Deeksha (Shalini Panigrahi), lives separately with her husband and child but constantly worries about him. Vijay, a former professional swimmer, now spends most of his time with his friends, often exchanging playful insults, particularly with his best friend, a Parsi doctor named Fali (Chunky Pandey).

Watch the Trailer of 'Vijay 69':

Vijay begins to re-evaluate his life after being in the presence of a coffin mistakenly brought for him (more on this later). Realising that he has done little for himself, Vijay decides to take part in a triathlon. This decision is met with concern and amusement from his daughter and friends and opposition from others driven by jealousy and spite. Nevertheless, Vijay pushes forward, despite his health challenges threatening to derail his efforts.

Vijay 69 boasts a likeable premise, albeit one saddled with predictability. You know exactly where Vijay's journey will lead, and that’s precisely where it goes. While predictability isn't inherently bad in films like this—you root for a protagonist like Vijay to achieve his goal—the path he takes is where the film falters before reaching its expected conclusion.

The movie is marred by absurd, contrived dramatic and comedic moments, as well as intentionally annoying characters that weaken the overall impact. Vijay 69 opens with such a scene, where Vijay's friends and family assume he has drowned after jumping into the sea, and, despite not recovering a body, proceed with funeral arrangements. As the saying goes, with friends like these, who needs enemies?

This is where Vijay 69 stumbles: the feel-good essence of the film is diluted by caricatured, preposterous scenes that make it difficult to take the drama seriously. When the triathlon committee attempts to reject Vijay from participating, their reason is legitimate - Vijay's fitness is insufficient. However, they are portrayed as so immediately dislikeable that it feels forced, simply to sway audience sympathy to the hero’s side.

Vijay’s bond with young competitor Aditya (Mihir Ahuja from The Archies) is genuinely endearing and gives the film some heart. However, the rivalry with Aditya's father is grating in an unpleasant way. As a fan of karmic retribution, I was disappointed that the abusive father received no consequences for his emotional and physical mistreatment of his son. ‘Vijay 69’: Anupam Kher Calls His Role a Testament to Passion and Perseverance.

The film’s satirical commentary on the media’s obsession with TRPs feels more prudish than humorous, raising questions about why news channels would pursue a low-profile triathlon in a cricket-worshipping country like ours. If the supporting characters had been given more depth rather than being exaggerated, Vijay 69 might have held the audience’s interest beyond its predictable plot. Even the inclusion of the classic song "Aage Bhi Jaane Na Tu" to inject emotion into the climax felt more like damage control than an organic choice (also perhaps an ode to the late Yash Chopra since it belonged to one of his classics, Waqt).

In terms of performances, Anupam Kher infuses Vijay with a mix of eccentricity and empathy. However, considering (I assume) the film is intended for family viewing, it’s puzzling why his character uses so many expletives. Chunky Pandey’s portrayal comes across as artificial with an overdone Parsi mannerism. It was refreshing to see Guddi Maruti return to the screen; her character plays a pivotal role in a key moment. Mihir Ahuja is likeable and brings warmth to his role. But come on, is the Gen Z so wildly ignorant that they do not know who Mogambo is? Am I like Vijay, now an ancient uncle, for knowing him? One point off, Vijay 69, for making me feel old!

'Vijay 69' Movie Review - Final Thoughts

Vijay 69 strives to be an uplifting tale of resilience and late-life reinvention, anchored by Anupam Kher’s capable performance. Yet, it falls short due to uneven storytelling, exaggerated characters, and misplaced humour that dilute its emotional impact. For those willing to overlook these flaws, Vijay 69 still offers a decent watch with a message about defying age and embracing life, even if it doesn't quite cross the finish line triumphantly. Vijay 69 is streaming on Netflix.

(The opinions expressed in the above article are of the author and do not reflect the stand or position of LatestLY.)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 08, 2024 01:30 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).