I watched Vijay 69 and saw Chunky Panday doing random scenes—Is YRF Just Playing Around?! Check out our review!
Cast: Anupam Kher, Chunky Panday, Mihir Ahuja and others
Director: Akshaya Roy
Streaming On: Netflix
Language: Hindi
Runtime: 1 hour 52 minutes
Vijay 69 Movie Review: A Missed Opportunity with an Unconvincing Script
What’s Vijay 69 About?
In the world of cinema, one of the biggest challenges faced by aging actors is finding age-appropriate roles. While seasoned stars like Hema Malini, Jaya Bachchan, Dharmendra, and Govinda have often been in the search for meaningful roles that reflect their current life stage, it’s not always easy to find scripts that do justice to their experience and legacy. When the rare opportunity arises for an actor to step into an age-specific role, it’s often compromised by poor writing.
Anupam Kher is one of the few actors who has managed to nail roles that explore the aging process, from his memorable performance in Saaransh to more recent roles. In Vijay 69, Kher takes on a character that is supposed to resonate with the elderly population—yet, despite his usual brilliance, he struggles to make the role truly impactful. And no, this isn’t a reflection of Kher’s talent, but rather a failure of the script and direction that fails to do justice to his abilities.
Yash Raj Films (YRF), known for its iconic movies, ventured into exploring the theme of aging with Vijay 69, following in the footsteps of films like Sooraj Barjatya’s Uunchai. While Uunchai had its flaws, it was far more successful in delivering its message than Vijay 69. Unfortunately, despite Anupam Kher’s best efforts, the film feels more like an unconvincing melodrama rather than a moving portrayal of aging.
Vijay 69 Review: The Script
The premise of Vijay 69 centers on a 69-year-old man named Vijay (played by Anupam Kher). The story kicks off with a rather intriguing scene where Vijay mistakenly thinks he’s died, only to find out that his friend has delivered a final tribute to him prematurely. Appalled by the shallow nature of the speech, Vijay decides to embark on a mission: to make his life worthy of recognition before he dies. His sole goal for the remainder of his life is to die famous.
This motivation—Vijay’s desire to leave behind a legacy—is the driving force of the plot, but it quickly becomes clear that this idea is underdeveloped and unconvincing. The film attempts to show Vijay’s quest to achieve something extraordinary in his later years, but the path he takes is unengaging and lacks emotional depth. At one point, Vijay decides to complete a triathlon at 69 years old, positioning himself as the world’s oldest person to accomplish the feat. While the idea might seem inspiring at first, it quickly feels like a forced narrative that doesn’t align with the reality of the character.
As one character points out to Vijay, “You’re 30 years too late!” This remark perfectly encapsulates the film’s overall sentiment: the story, while ambitious, lacks any real substance or logic. The notion of a 69-year-old man taking on a triathlon seems absurd, particularly when the film fails to build a solid foundation to support such an extreme goal. It’s a nice idea in theory, but the execution is lacking.
Vijay 69 Review: Star Performances
When Vijay 69 was first announced, there was a great deal of confusion surrounding the title, with many thinking it was connected to the Tamil superstar Vijay’s Thalapathy 69. However, the film is entirely unrelated, and Anupam Kher’s character, Vijay, takes the spotlight instead. Kher’s portrayal of an aging man struggling with the meaning of his life should have been a powerful narrative, but it never fully resonates. While Kher gives a sincere performance, his character lacks depth, and he is unable to shine as brightly as he has in his previous roles.
The film tries to position Vijay as a “Thalapathy”—a leader or commander in the truest sense—but without a mission, army, or purpose, it’s hard to see him as such. Kher’s struggle to embody this role is evident, but the absence of a solid storyline or emotional arc means his performance feels hollow. He gives it his all, but it’s hard to root for a character whose motivations are unclear and whose journey lacks clarity.
The supporting cast, including Guddi Maruti, Chunky Panday, and Sulagna Panigrahi, add little to the narrative. Their roles feel irrelevant, and they fail to contribute to Vijay’s personal journey. Chunky Panday, in particular, feels like a misplaced character whose presence only adds to the film’s confusion. His random scenes seem disconnected from the plot, making you wonder if he was cast just for the sake of having a familiar face. The lack of chemistry between the characters also undermines any emotional connection the audience might have had.
Vijay 69 Review: Direction
Directed by Akshay Roy, who is also credited for Meri Pyari Bindu, Vijay 69 suffers from an incoherent narrative and a lack of direction. The film has a few potentially magical moments, but these are drowned out by poorly executed scenes. A key scene in which Vijay writes down his “achievements” on a blank piece of paper—only to be presented with the title “Bronze Medalist in National Swimming Championship”—is emblematic of the film’s tone. It’s meant to be a poignant moment, but instead, it comes across as trivial and underwhelming.
Roy’s direction never really gets off the ground, and the film never establishes what it wants to be. Is it a heartfelt exploration of aging? A quirky comedy about late-life transformations? Or a serious drama about the desire for recognition? The film attempts to juggle all these genres, but in doing so, it loses its focus.
One of the film’s major flaws is its failure to clarify the financial and social status of Vijay. For much of the film, it’s unclear whether he’s wealthy or struggling. It’s only later in the story that we discover he was once a swimming coach—yet even this revelation feels underwhelming. The character’s transformation into a triathlon athlete is meant to be inspirational, but it’s difficult to take it seriously when Kher’s appearance doesn’t reflect the physicality of an athlete, let alone someone attempting a triathlon. This disconnect between the script and Kher’s portrayal makes the entire storyline feel implausible.
Vijay 69 Review: What Doesn’t Work
Where Vijay 69 truly falters is in its messaging. The film presents an elderly man—someone who has lived a full life, raised a family, and persevered through hardship—questioning the worth of his own existence. While the desire for recognition is understandable, the film frames this as a central crisis, implying that a life without fame or a grand legacy is meaningless. This creates a troubling narrative, especially for older viewers, as it might instill feelings of inadequacy or insecurity about their own life achievements.
Vijay, despite having a loving family, a successful career as a coach, and a network of friends, feels as though his life lacks value simply because he isn’t “remembered” in a grand way. The film undermines the richness of a life lived for others, presenting the idea that only fame and recognition can validate one’s existence. This is a narrow and, frankly, damaging perspective.
The film also presents Vijay seeking inspiration from his deceased wife, which could have been a touching moment if it wasn’t so poorly executed. The way this plot point is incorporated feels forced, as if the film needs to create an emotional anchor but doesn’t know how to do so organically.
Additionally, the bond between Vijay and an 18-year-old rival from the triathlon—who could have been an interesting character—is left largely unexplored. The lack of development here is a missed opportunity, as it could have provided a meaningful dynamic that would add depth to the story. Instead, it feels like an afterthought.
Chunky Panday’s role is another odd choice. His character seems entirely out of place, popping in and out of scenes without contributing much to the plot. The odd costume choices for the characters, especially Kher’s bizarre sportswear, only add to the film’s confusion. It’s hard to determine whether the film is meant to be taken seriously or if it’s unintentionally comedic.
Final Thoughts: A Missed Opportunity
Vijay 69 had the potential to be a heartwarming story about aging, legacy, and the value of a life well-lived. Films like Piku and 102 Not Out have successfully explored similar themes, offering a more nuanced take on growing older with grace and dignity. Unfortunately, Vijay 69 fails to deliver on this promise. The script is weak, the direction uninspired, and the messaging problematic. What could have been a touching exploration of the human condition ends up being a confusing and frustrating experience.
In the end, one has to ask: why did we need this film in the first place? It’s a tale that never quite finds its footing, and despite Kher’s commendable efforts, it leaves little lasting impact.
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