Plot
In 2011, in Perambalur, a young cricketer named Anbu was denied to join the "Jolly Friends" team due to caste-based discrimination. Undeterred, Karuppaiya, the team's captain, intervened and allowed Anbu to play against the rival team, "Sachin Boys," led by their star batsman, Poomalai, aka Gethu, an avid fan of Vijayakanth and a skilled painter, had previously worked in Dubai. Despite being included in the team and being a talented bowler Anbu was not given a chance to play, prompting him to leave the ground in frustration, accompanied by his friend Kathadi. Following the first innings, Gethu's wife, Yasodhai, arrived at the cricket ground, enraged, and ploughed the pitch with her tractor to deter villagers from inviting her husband to play cricket again.
10 years later, in Cuddalore, Anbu is an ardent Chennai Super Kings and Vijay fan, owns a sportswear shop in Tittakudi. Though he is a well-talented all-rounder, Anbu's desire to join the "Jolly Friends" team is consistently being thwarted by Venkatesh, Karuppaiya's brother. So Anbu plays as a guest player for multiple teams in and helps win the games. He falls in love with Durga, a trainee nurse, after meeting her at a marriage function, unbeknownst to Anbu, Durga is Gethu's daughter.
Anbu witnesses the 40-year-old Gethu smashing the bowlers and criticizes Gethu's outdated cricket techniques to his friend Kathadi, which is overheard by Gethu's cousin Kozhandai and eventually conveys it to Gethu. Gethu belittles Anbu as a young amateur thereby hurting Anbu's ego. Weeks later, enroute to meet Durga's family, Anbu is caught midway by another team to play against Gethu's team, while his family goes to meet Durga. As Anbu faces off against Gethu in the match he is mocked by Kuzhandai and gang repeatedly. But Anbu bowls him out in his first over and silences the crowd. This hurts Gethu's untouched ego and he immediately leaves the field. Later, Anbu learns that Durga is Gethu's daughter during a visit to their home and attempts to make amends, but his efforts turn unsuccessful.
Again they cross paths in the final match hosted by Gethu's team. Anbu's team bats first and scores well. As Gethu's team chases it, everyone except Gethu loses their wickets easily to Anbu. Gethu scores against Anbu, but in the last over Anbu gets a chance to mankad Gethu and win the match. As Gethu realizes, Anbu's ego comes into play and he refuses to mankad Gethu, giving him a warning through the umpire. Gethu's pride is shattered and he walks away from the field, giving the win to Anbu's team. Post the match Kozhandhai's taunts about Anbu's exclusion from "Jolly Friends" sparks a fierce retaliation from Anbu. Gethu, already seething, engages Anbu in a dirty brawl. Durga intervenes, slapping Anbu and ending their relationship while Yasodhai, fed up with Gethu storms off and moves to her mother's place.
Kathadi informs Karuppaiya about Anbu's humiliation, and so Karuppaiya decides to include Anbu in the 20th-anniversary celebrations match, despite his team members' objections. But Venkatesh's refusal forces Anbu to form a new team, "Adengappa 11 Per," and vows to triumph over "Jolly Friends." Karuppaiya, his daughter Akila, and Gethu swayed by Anbu's clever ego-stroking make him join the match. In their debut match, Anbu's brief stint at the crease ends in dismissal, and a struggling Gethu loses his wicket though his determination was evident. Karuppaiya and Akila's stellar partnership helps secure a thrilling victory. Gethu's mother consoles Yasodhai, and so she reunites with Gethu. However, Yasodhai confronts Anbu's mother, criticizing Anbu's focus on cricket as a waste of time, similar to her husband. Anbu confronts Durga, but she replies that her father's acceptance is important while also rebuking her family for arranging marriages and vows to wait until her parents accept Anbu. She further confronts her father accusing him of letting his ego hinder his acceptance of Anbu.
In the semifinal match, Gethu struggles, but Anbu's crucial assistance secures victory, advancing them to the finals. Anbu apologizes to Gethu for past mistakes. Meanwhile, Yasodhai plans Durga's engagement, prompting Anbu to request Venkatesh to reschedule the match, but Venkatesh demands a public apology, putting Anbu in a dilemma. Torn between stopping the engagement and playing the final match, Anbu attends the engagement. Venkatesh, fearing the backlash from a possible loss recruits a strong batsman Prasanth who is also from the same caste as Anbu, which angers two of his teammates. In the finals, "Adengappa 11 Per" starts without Anbu, bats first, and loses 5 wickets for 30 runs. To salvage the team, Gethu enters without any protective gear, taunts the opposition, and single-handedly scores 94 to put a massive total in the first innings. Durga trusts that Anbu will arrive. He arrives for engagement. Durga sends him back to join the match for the second innings. Though he bowled well, they narrowly lose while Anbu and Gethu reconcile.
Weeks later Karuppaiya and the rest of "Adengappa 11 Per" reach another tournament to witness a new "Jolly Friends" team which now has players including Prasanth and others regardless of caste or religion. It is revealed that Anbu intentionally lost in the last ball, prioritizing the inclusive spirit of "Jolly Friends" cricket team, and such a change is the actual victory than any other match victory. Anbu and Durga get married, and Yasodhai asks both Anbu and Gethu to promise that they will refrain from cricket, to which they make a false promise.
Reception
The film received widespread acclaim from critics and audience.
M. Suganth of The Times of India rated the film four out of five stars, praised the writing, cinematography, and performances of the lead cast, and called the film "The year's most wholesome entertainer". [18] Anusha Sundar of OTTplay gave it four out of five stars and opined that "Lubber Pandhu is a superbly crafted sports drama that cleverly entwines family drama to sportsmanship." [19]
Avinash Ramachandran of Indian Express wrote that "Efficient writing and convincing performances makes Lubber Pandhu a truly terrific issue-based film that ensures bitter pills are swallowed, but not before a dollop of honey is given on the side". [20] Gopinath Rajendran of The Hindu wrote, "Lubber Pandhu is a breath of fresh air and a refreshing addition to the ever-growing list of films on cricket; so much so that we can call it a whole new ballgame." [21]
Kirubhakar Purushothaman of News18 rated the film four out of five stars and opined that "Lubber Pandhu leaves you with a fulfilled heart and a well-fed mind that comes after watching a brilliant cricket match, where both teams gave it their all. It is hard to define sportsmanship in absolute terms, but seeing Lubber Pandhu one can get it." [22] Sudhir Srinivasan of The New Indian Express wrote that "It has the soul of a sports film and the mind of a well-crafted drama. It approaches these cricket portions like it were a romance." [23]
Sruthi Ganapathy Raman of The News Minute wrote that "Lubber Pandhu is a film where gully cricket commentary fills the ears, men use the paint on their house to depict team loyalty, and for a change, the bride’s parents assert dominance over the groom’s. It is also a film where cricket isn’t just cricket, but an analogy for something much bigger." [24] Nakkheeran critic stated that "Moreover, this film 'Rubber Bandhu' has been a pleasant surprise success for the viewers as it gives us a feeling similar to what we felt while watching the movie Chennai 28 and the extent to which it gave us an impact." [25] karthi Kg of Puthiya Thalaimurai rated four out of five star and wrote that "This rubber ball is a good sports movie to watch with family." [26]
