Veteran actor Anupam Kher has left no stone unturned to set the goals right to win a triathlon at the age of 69. In his latest sports flick, Vijay 69, Kher plays Vijay Mattew, a retired Swimming Champion. Produced by Yashraj Films in collaboration with Netflix, Akshay Roy's inspiring sports drama captures the essence of the saying 'Age is just a number' and narrates the tale of determination and hard work to make the impossible possible. The film deals with the subject of existential crisis with sparkling comedy and playfulness, keeping its message intact!

The film begins with the 69-year-old Vijay, who is seen taking a pose to dive into the deep blue seas, by his caretaker Mrs Bakshi (Guddi Maruti). The next morning the family finds him missing and speculates about his death and there begins his funeral ceremony which is nothing less than a comedy show.

Fali Bathena (Chunky Pandey) his childhood friend reads his last memories of his deceased friend Vijay and says, "He was a good rummy player and a champion garba dancer, while in the next breath, he tries to get serious and says, 'Vijay mara nahi, Vijay marte nahi karte'. At the same time, two kids are wondering, if Vijay may appear as a ghost as his body was not found. But, to everyone's surprise, the door opens and the dead man arrives to witness his funeral, who had drunk-slept at his friend's hospital yard.

The film delves deep into Vijay's identity crisis as he starts self-analysis of his dreams, achievements and promises he made to his dead wife Anna Mathew ( Ekavali Khanna),while he lies down in his coffin visualising his real death. This drives him nervous and restless evoking in him a sense to prove his point and do something for which people remember him after his death. He starts to research to find people who have achieved something remarkable at an old age. He eventually comes across the Triathlon (With includes three rounds starting from Swimming, Cycling and Running) last done by a 67-year-old, thus deciding to create a record to compete at the age of 69.

 The film is indeed a triathlon of emotions, self-discovery and friendships for Vijay as he also befriends his ark rival who’s the youngest competitor (Mihir Ahuja) at the age of 18. While the story unfolds, the film brings to you a glimpse of the age-old friendships as Vijay shares a very special bond between Fali (Pandey) and Mrs Bakshi (Guddi Maruti).

Despite its eccentricity and quirky humour, the film reflects a very deep meaning towards giving respect and a purpose to live life to the full to our elders, who have sacrificed their lives and dreams for the sake of their children. Anupam Kher delivers a compelling performance as Vijay who faces a lot of hardships in pursuing his dream to compete the Triathlon. The film takes you through his journey of emotions while he faces a tough time convincing the selectors, clearing medical examinations and fighting jealousies of old buddies, dealing with parental expectations and unspoken regrets, and ultimately carving his way to the top. The film also gives a good take on the role of social media which can both make and break someone’s image and needs to be used diligently.

Overall, a complete entertainer with value. Vijay 69 film is a tale of determination, courage and fulfilling one's dreams irrespective of age. A must-watch family film especially with your parents and elders of the family with their children and grand-children. Do watch this spectacular sports saga on Netflix!

Critic's Rating: ****