The problem with “Cup” lies in its ambition to tackle multiple themes simultaneously, but in the end, it fails to excel in any of them.
Sports dramas have seldom made a significant impact in Malayalam cinema, with only a few notable exceptions like “Sudani from Nigeria” (2018), “1983” (2014), and “Godha” (2017). Unfortunately, debut director Sanju V Samuel’s “Cup” adds to the long list of uninspired and formulaic films in this genre. With the tagline “Love all play,” this badminton-themed movie starts abruptly, lacking any proper introduction, and features a voiceover from Mathew Thomas, who plays Nidhin Baby, also known as Kannan.
As a high school student from a middle-class family in the village of Vellathooval, Kannan shares his aspiration to win the Idukki District Badminton Championship in front of an enthusiastic crowd. This line essentially summarizes the film’s entire storyline.
Set around 2020, the film seems to have been filmed four or five years ago, as both Mathew and Anikha Surendran appear noticeably younger than they do now. Even if it had been released on time, it would still feel outdated due to its predictable structure, failing to avoid clichés and lacking any creativity in its writing or presentation. Kannan’s family includes his father Babu (Guru Somasundaram), mother Rosly (Thusara Pillai), and older sister Geethu (Mrinalini Susan George).
We also meet Kannan’s crush, Anna (Riya Shibu), who comes from a seemingly affluent family and is also talented in badminton. The main flaw of “Cup” is its ambition to cover too many themes at once, ultimately falling short in all areas. The various unnecessary subplots add little to the story, recycling well-worn tropes without introducing anything fresh.
The high school romance between Mathew and Anna in the first act draws parallels to “Premam” (2015), and interestingly, “Cup” is presented by Alphonse Puthren. We also meet the typical sidekick, Bineesh, affectionately known as Thooval (Karthik Vishnu), whose main role seems to be the target of jokes until a predictable subplot leads to his personal growth. This subplot involves his older brother Raneesh (Basil Joseph), who balances several jobs to support their family as the primary provider.
Additionally, there’s a reference to Mohanlal’s “Balettan” (2003) with the song ‘Innale Ente Nenjile’ playing in the background, but with a twist: the children show little empathy for their father, who has opted to start a new family. Unfortunately, none of these side stories add any real depth to Kannan’s main goal of winning the championship he has always dreamed of.
To make matters worse, the film features a song at every typical narrative cue, almost like a formulaic element. Once the story introduces the character who stands in Kannan’s way, the film descends into a series of predictable plot devices, one after another.
In one scene towards the end of the film, the renowned badminton player Sandhya (Namitha Pramod) takes a moment to reflect before addressing her eager students, who are curious about how she managed to recover in a match she thought she would lose. She simply states, “Badminton is also a tactical game.” That’s it? The buildup only makes the obvious feel even more ridiculous, as this is something any beginner would likely already understand.
The film is packed with such unintentionally humorous lines, leading to a conclusion that feels emotionally flat. Even the performances of Mathew and Guru fall short in rescuing this dull mix of sports drama, high school romance, and family issues.
Film: Cup
Director: Sanju V Samuel
Cast: Mathew Thomas, Basil Joseph, Riya Shibu, Guru Somasundaram, Namitha Pramod, Karthik Vishnu, Anikha Surendran
Rating: 1.5/5
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