The broad arc of Biker follows a familiar sports template. But the difference lies in packaging. The father and son dynamics with different ideologies gives a fresh layer. Sharwanand delivers a performance high on physicality as well emotional depth. Dr Rajeskhar lends gravitas as a father operating more like a coach. He gets a nice arc from the mid second half and the climactic moment with him hugging Sharwanand is sure to move the viewers. Malavika Nair too has a prominent role not reduced to just a cheerleader
Starcast: Sharwanand, Dr Rajeshekar, Malavika Nair, Atul Kulkarni, Bramhaji and others
Genre: Sports drama
Director and writer: Abhilash Reddy Kankara
Additional writers: Sharvan Madala and MVS Bhardwaj
Cinematography: J Yuvraj
Music: Ghibran Vaibodha
Producers: V Vamsi Krishna Reddy and Pramod Uppalapati
Production house: UV Creations
Running time: 2 hours and 42 minutes
Sports films in general come with certain ticked boxes whatever the language. The protagonist would be a champion player quitting midway for different reasons. After a significant gap he or she rises back eventually regains glory with a dramatic finale. Abhilash Reddy Kankara’s Biker belongs to the same terrain. However, the setting of motor cross gives a different dimension. There is enough adrenaline rush in the way these portions have been filmed but more on that later. The brief story of Biker follows Sharwanand’s Vikas Narayan quitting the racetrack leading to an estranged relationship with coach/father Sunil Narayan (Rajeshekar). The storyline alternates between the past and present concluding with Vikas regaining his past glory. Malavika Nair is Ananya Vikas’s love interest in the past and in the present wife cum mother. She had taken a promise from Vikas on how he would never resume racing. But Vikas’s decision of comeback leads to a strain in their marriage.
For a movie like Biker the technical department is of utmost importance, thankfully the movie delivers right from the choreography, background score and the overall presentation. There is a lived-in atmosphere to these parts. A special mention must be of a pre interval and the final blocks. Both these sequences have the right thrills. For example, there is a scene where Vikas Narayan’s prominent opponent catches fire, but he still drives on. Vikas Narayan saves his life by pushing the bike into water. Vika’s bike on the other hand isn’t functioning properly either due to a malfunction still he finishes third. In the climax Vikas falls hard due to a deliberate collision. For a while it appears that everything is over, but Vikas gets back on his feet racing like a fierce beast out there to prove a point.
Biker also scores on the emotional front. As already mentioned Rajasekar’s character comes across as more of a tough coach than a father. There is a sequence of Sharwanand and the uncle played by Bramhaji going to a movie theatre. However, it turns out to be short lived as Rajeshekar makes an entry. He scolds Sharwanand’s Vikas saying these pleasures are not for him. At one-point Malavika Nair talks on how Sunil Narayan views his son as a champion than an offspring. For two thirds of the movie this feels right having said that different layers of Sunil Narayan are gradually revealed.
A special mention must be made of the scenes involving child actor Shourya and Rajeshekar. The grandson has zero inhibitions talking to his grandfather without fear. The scenes between the two show a different side of Sunil. They end up watching a movie together as well. The eventual change in how Sunil looks at relationships has been both well written and enacted. After the final race we see Rajeshekar’s Sunil letting his guard down and hugging his son with great affection. Rajeshekar absolutely owns this part delivering his best act in recent times. The movie also pays homage to Rajeskhar’s angry cop roles through a dialogue by Sharwanand.
Mention must also be made of Malavika Nair. Her character comes with dual shades. In one timeline she is seen as a supportive girlfriend, but all this changes due to an unplanned pregnancy. Tulasi plays the mother of Malavika, thankfully there is no overt melodrama with Tulasi getting hysterical. The character treats it in a matter-of-fact way. Coming back to the past Ananya gives birth to a baby boy who turns out all right after an initial scare. Ananya wants Vikas to give up racing as she cannot handle the anxiety.
The scene is both solidly written and enacted. When Vikas decides to make a reentry, the marriage undergoes tension. Ananya is visibly upset and as viewers you can understand her point of view. Eventually Ananya gets over her anxiousness with the help of Sunil Narayan. There is a poignant conversation where Sunil takes about Vikas needing her and his changing viewpoint on relationships not being a hurdle for success. Malavika does a very fine job in portraying Ananya’s quiet strength.
However, the major ace of Biker is Sharwanand who gives it his all both physically and emotionally. The actor especially shines in the scenes of vulnerability dealing with inner demons. The fighting spirit of a former champion overcoming different hurdles has been excellently portrayed by the actor. Clearly 2026 has turned out to be a solid year first Nari Nari Naduma Murari and now this.
A major problem with Biker are the predictable tropes particularly in the scenes featuring Atul Kulkarni. He plays a typical corporate bigwig. There is nothing wrong with Atul’s performance per say he plays the part with panache, but the scenes needed much better writing. Even the side characters accompanying Atul Kulkarni come across as caricatures. A song and dance featuring Sharwanand and Malavika also appears out of sync coming across as a speed breaker.
Final word: Biker is worth watching for fans of sport movies especially for those into racing. The visuals alone are worth the price.
