There hasn’t been a movie that has used Kangana Ranaut’s raw talent since Queen. Somehow we feel Kangana’s performances after Queen are just variations of her Queen character. She is not able to come out of the shadow of Rani and for some reason not able to justify the shades of other characters authentically.
Panga is a story of grit, determination and will power of a woman who after getting pregnant , like so many other women, is in a state of persistent guilt, unable to return back to their careers because of the guilt of having to leave their children and families to their own devices.
Women feel they are forever coming up short when it comes to doing enough, giving enough and being enough for your kids. Not to mention their boss, their partner, their aging parents and extended family, and yes, of course, their community. They feel answerable for every lack of resource that their families face, whether it is their job to provide the resource or not. However, our protagonist, Jaya has been the captain of the Indian Women’s Kabaddi team.
In her mid 30’s now, having left the sport after her son was born, she feels she may be able to make a comeback. The work that she requires to put in to make a comeback in a sport that requires coordination of her athletic skills and mental strength is immense if she has to play for India.
Jassie Gill, as her husband supports the character and the performance very well as does Richa Chadha as her supportive friend and Neena Gupta as her mother.
Overcoming ageist arguments, a young bunch of team mates to make her comeback much to the joy of her son and husband.
The movie could have been a tighter screenplay. Much attention to stoic scenes makes an audience lose interest between interesting bits. The director, Ashwani Iyer Tiwari is unable to create a narrative that has consistency.
On the whole, watchable. But not soulful.