Mahesh Bhatt on the raw language of realism in 'Love All'

A still from the film

Mahesh Bhatt remembers a distributor telling him about Love All first, noting that it was the kind of cinema he would align with. From there, things quickly fell in place - the filmmaker was so moved by the Kay Kay Menon-starrer that he came on board as a presenter. The sports drama, which marks Menon's return to the big screen after five years, tells the heartbreaking story of a former badminton player who tries to dissuade his son from taking up the sport, fearing that his dreams too will be shattered. "Set against the backdrop of a middle-class home in Bhopal, Love All revolves around a sports-loving child and a father, played remarkably by Kay Kay, who carries a brooding, silent rage. I hold great respect for an actor who resists the urge to outshine his peers. Kay Kay's portrayal of an ex-badminton player, who is denied recognition, is outstanding," begins Bhatt.

The filmmaker says the movie, also starring Swastika Mukherjee and badminton player Ark Jain as Menon's son, resonated with him for its realism. "My films have consistently raised questions about the human experience. Love All lacks artificial glamour. It offers a genuine portrayal of an inner world, reminiscent of Saaransh [1984]. This kind of cinema gradually diminished as the belief took hold that realism had lost its audience."

Mahesh Bhatt

Former badminton player Pullela Gopichand is also one of the presenters of Sudhanshu Sharma's directorial offering. While Gopichand believes Love All will raise awareness around badminton, Bhatt says there's a deeper reason why he backed it. "Pullela resonated with the film's core message - that sports transcend the pursuit of gold medals and fame; it embodies human values."

The August 25 release will lock horns with Ayushmann Khurrana's Dream Girl 2. However, presenter Anand Pandit is unfazed about the clash. He says, "Both films belong to different genres. We need as many good films as possible to bring the audience back to theatres."