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What you need to know about Toolsidas Junior, the surprise Best Hindi Feature winner at National Film Awards

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Shaurya Thapa
Shaurya ThapaJul 22, 2022 | 18:47

What you need to know about Toolsidas Junior, the surprise Best Hindi Feature winner at National Film Awards

A still from Toolsidas Junior (National Film Award winner for Best Hindi Feature) (credits: Netflix India)

The sports drama film Toolsidas Junior bagged two awards at today’s National Film Awards results announcement: Best Hindi Feature Film and a Special Jury mention for the film’s young lead, Varun Buddhadev. Now streaming on Netflix, the 2020 film is inspired from writer-director Mridul Mahendra Toolsidas’ personal life. 

An under-the-radar film focusing on the game of snooker, Toolsidas Junior makes for a heartwarming watch. As a snooker player loses out on a major tournament, he turns into a heavy drinker. Much to the dismay of his son, the kid aspires to train under another snooker ace to fulfill his father’s dreams. While the film has its fair share of melodrama, Mridul Mahendra Toolsidas claims that this is his real story.

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Growing up in Kolkata, he too bonded with his single father over snooker and even played in local tournaments on his behalf. While debutant Varun Buddhadev played the titular protagonist, the late Rajiv Kapoor played his old man, while Sanjay Dutt appeared as the snooker coach. 

Given the personal connection with the story, Toolsidas himself penned the screenplay with some assistance from veteran director Ashutish Gowariker. The Lagaan director, along with his wife Sunita Gowariker, also serves as a producer on the venture. "Every junior must have a mentor," reads an Instagram post by Toolsidas thanking Gowariker for being his creative partner.

Toolsidas dedicated the film to his father who unfortunately passed away in 2020, the same year as Rajiv Kapoor’s demise. The latter actor hadn’t enjoyed as much success as his brothers Rishi and Randhir Kapoor, but he drew some critical acclaim for what would go on to be his final film.

As for child actor Varun Buddhadev, he is having a good run since Toolsidas Junior. Seen as young Alluri Sitaram Raju (Ram Charan’s character) in the pan-Indian hit RRR, the actor’s recent Special Jury felicitation at the ceremony might just boost his future career. 

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Last updated: July 22, 2022 | 18:48
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