Imli
Director: Swatantra (Savi) Goel
Writer: Swatantra (Savi) Goel
Cast : Prasanna Bisht, Vikram Kochhar, Harshad Shinde, Maan Singh Meena, Ratan Lal, Jyoti, Pragya Mishra
Cinematography: Raaja Phadtare
Music Director: Dushyant Dubey
Genre: Sports Drama / Inspirational
Release Date: 17 October 2025
Language: Hindi
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐½ (3.5/5)
There’s something refreshing about India Pride Imli – The Archer, it does not beg to be heard, rather it has a beautiful story and lets the emotions do the talking. Savi Goel wrote and directed this sports drama, which distinguishes itself with its candor and heart. It’s not just about a trophy or victory; it’s about the human spirit, your place in this world, believing in yourself and overcoming those invisible walls of barriers.
Storyline
The plot focuses on the journey of Imli, a tribal girl who’s exceptional sharpshooting skills take her from anonymity to national fame. After a government official sees her gift, she’s taken under the wing of Coach Iyer (Vikram Kochhar). The result is a powerful story of discovery, identity and the courage to believe in your dreams.
Performances
As Imli, Prasanna Bisht provides that grade of depth to her character. She is poised between vulnerability and strength (a mixture that renders her reading deeply moving). There’s a raw, unfiltered honesty in her depiction; moments of silence and soft smiles often speak volumes about what she is thinking.
Vikram Kochhar as Coach Iyer is properly attuned to her energy. He isn’t doing that stiff master impression; he’s a figure of faith – the wise man who instructs, reprimands and encourages without stealing focus. The resulting emotional connection between the two is subtly rendered, but strong enough to tether the film.
Strong supporting performances from Harshad Shinde, Maan Singh Meena, Ratan Lal and Pragya Mishra make it easier to fill in the social and emotional worlds outside of Imli herself. But each adds to the nuance of the story’s portrayal of rural India, where opportunity is scarce but dreams are boundless.
Direction, Writing & Message
India Pride Imli – The Archer stands testament to Savi Goel’s direction. There are no extreme emotional highs or cinematic frills. He believes in the audience feeling rather than being told how to feel. A banker-turned-filmmaker, Goel’s transition from the vastly distinct professions is reflected in the labour and layers that his cinema has. There is some indication that his life, travel and the observation he made of societies was also reflected in his work. The screenplay is simple but there’s a powerful undercurrent here, that ever child should be given the right to dream, no matter what their background.
Its message is simple, but it plays in a deep, interpretively resonant way. In a subtle way it advances the message inclusion, opportunity and gender equality. Goel doesn’t preach it as a social lecture, but as a universal sentiment, represented through the traumas of Imli, her parents’ skepticism and the occasional insensitivity of the system.
Cinematography and Sound Design
When it comes to visuals, India Pride Imli – The Archer is a stunning treat. The contrasting worlds the bucolic, natural peace of rural India and the ordered modernity of sports academies, are strikingly shot by Raaja Phadtare. His lens tinges simplicity with poetry; even its quietude has visual rhythm.
The natural lighting, the earthy colors, the stillness of the shots all work to ground the film in realism. There’s a visual tenderness, too in the shots of Imli practicing alone, her bow lifted against the setting sun. The latter two keep you up thinking about them after the credits have rolled.
The music by Dushyant Dubey gels well with the narrative. His score is unobtrusive in the film; it buoyantly carries it. It’s delicate folk influenced melodies and arrangements easily blend with the modern, reflecting Imli’s own transition from forest to urban jungle. The background music amplifies emotion instead of dictating it, something all too rare in today’s movies.
Verdict
India Pride Imli – The Archer is a heartfelt, visually rich, and emotionally satisfying story about hope and perseverance. It’s a film that doesn’t rely on spectacle but on soul and in doing so, it earns every bit of its emotional payoff.
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