Most sports dramas are mood-lifters, taking you through moments of bliss and setbacks that are part of every athlete's life. 'Cup- Love All Play' directed by newcomer Sanju V Samuel is the latest addition to the genre, giving us a glimpse into the world of badminton, a less-explored sport in Malayalam cinema.
Mathew Thomas, with his usual mix of innocence and earnestness, is the protagonist in the film and plays Kannan aka Nithin Babu, an aspiring badminton player who seeks admission to the St James Higher Secondary School known for its focus on sports. His biggest support is Anna (Riya Shibu), a fellow student who is also passionate about the game.
'Cup- Love All Play' takes off quite uneventfully. The setbacks he faces as he tries to achieve his dreams form the crux of the movie. Kannan's boisterous boy gang is the type you have been seeing off late in films, almost a replica to Mathew's friendships in previous films like 'Thannimathan Dinangal' and even 'Jo and Jo'. However, the dialogues and screenplay written by Denson Durom, Akhilesh Latha Raja and Sanju pick up towards the interval and the film ends with an impressive second half. In fact, most of the drama lies in the latter part of the film, and makes up for the slow first half.
Unlike films like Rajeesha Vijayan-starrer 'Kho Kho', which focuses mostly on the sport, 'Cup- Love All Play' gives you the American flick 'Seventeen Again' vibe, with romance taking equal limelight along with the game. The filmmaker sticks only to the basics of the game, probably because he wants to appeal to a larger audience.
Mathew as Kannan is as impressive as he was in his initial films, once again proving why he is every bit the star he is. His screen presence and ability to balance various emotions make him a pure delight to watch in the movie.
Karthik Vishnu, who plays Kannan's friend nicknamed Thooval is initially portrayed as the stereotypical 'chunk' (buddy), who is often relegated to being a loser in such dramas. However, the writers redeem the character and give him good space in the narrative. Unlike in his recent films, Basil pulls off a serious character in 'Cup- Love All Play', which is genuinely refreshing to watch. He plays Thooval's brother Raneesh who is a source of strength to those around him. Riya Shibu who plays Anna makes her debut in the movie and plays her character with conviction. Guru Somasundaram who has been struggling to find a good character for quite a while, gets to play Kannan's father in 'Cup- Love All Play'. He manages to steal some of the moments in the movie with his charm. It sure is good to see Namitha Pramod back in action, this time playing a national-level badminton champion-turned coach in the movie. The songs by Sachin Raj and Aswin Vijayan complement the film, though the love tracks get tiresome at certain points. Overall, the film is an interesting mix of action and drama that serves its purpose well.
