Sumo Didi Review: ★★★½☆ (3.5/5)
Sumo Didi is a warm, grounded biopic led by a strong performance from Shriyam Bhagnani. It avoids big villains and cheap drama, though its simple storytelling may feel a little plain to some viewers.
Rating: ★★★½☆ (3.5/5)
Platform: ZEE5
Genre: Sports Biopic
Director: Jayant Rohatgi
Cast: Shriyam Bhagnani, Anubha Fatehpuria, Nitesh Pandey, Raghav Dheer, Chaitanya Sharma
Runtime: 118 minutes
Sumo is not a sport most Indians take seriously. In Japan, it is a national treasure, and wrestlers are deeply respected. Back home, though, it has mostly been a punchline in films. Sumo Didi tries to change that. It tells the story of Hetal Dave, described as India’s first woman sumo wrestler, and it treats both her and the sport with respect.
The film opens with Hetal, played by Shriyam Bhagnani, winning her first-ever sumo match in Taiwan in a very unexpected way. Then it jumps back nine months. At home, her mother is pushing her to lose weight so she can get married. She forces bitter gourd juice and yoga on her and even suggests surgery. A relative adds to the pain by making Hetal feel bad about how she looks.
Through flashbacks, we see that Hetal has faced teasing about her weight since school. After one incident where she hit a neighbour who insulted her, her father sent her to judo classes to channel that anger. She turns out to be good at it, even though her weight doesn’t change.
Then a sumo grandmaster visits India, and Hetal becomes hooked. From there, the film follows her chase to turn that spark into a real career.
What makes Sumo Didi stand out is how simple and honest it stays. Many sports biopics build a cruel rival or a huge obstacle to make the hero’s win feel bigger. This film doesn’t. The problems Hetal faces feel believable, and she handles them in a grounded way.
The first half could have easily turned into a sob story, but it avoids that. Instead, it focuses on why Hetal wants this and how she copes with constant body shaming. The result is a film that feels sincere, and the climax lands well because it has been earned, not forced.
Along the way, the film also helps viewers understand the sport itself, which is a nice bonus. The music is decent and works best near the end, and the editing and camera work are both neat.
Shriyam Bhagnani is the heart of the film. In her first film, she captures Hetal’s frustration and her softer side very well, and you want her to win from the start. It is a confident debut.
Anubha Fatehpuria and Nitesh Pandey play Hetal’s parents with contrasting energy. Her father supports her big dreams, while her mother worries about what society will think if she stays unmarried. Chaitanya Sharma has a nice arc as the friend who backs Hetal’s goals, and Raghav Dheer gets a few good moments as her brother.
The film also tells the story of Shobha Aunty, a woman looked down upon after an accident changes her face. After her husband leaves her, she rebuilds her life, becomes financially independent, and chooses not to take him back. Her story sits well beside Hetal’s and strengthens the film’s message that women should not give up on their dreams out of fear of what others think.
The film’s biggest weakness is also its strength. It is a little too simple. Some viewers may want more drama or a sharper edge, especially in the middle. But for most, the honest tone will be a fair trade.
Sumo Didi is a heartfelt, inspiring biopic that proves a sports film doesn’t need a villain to work. It is easy to watch, easy to root for, and worth your time.
If you want more to watch this week, our Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar review covers a young cast and lovely music in a messy rom-com. For something funnier, our Udta Teer review looks at Ayushmann Khurrana’s spy comedy, and our Tu Hai Meri Kiran review covers a fresh idea the script can’t handle.