Bison Movie Ranks #5 on Letterboxd’s Global Action Films List
Bison (Bison Kaalamaadan), directed by Mari Selvaraj and starring Dhruv Vikram, has achieved international acclaim by ranking #5 among the top-rated action/adventure films globally on Letterboxd’s 2025 Year in Review. The Tamil sports drama leads Indian cinema’s strong showing in the category, placing ahead of major blockbusters like F1 and Avatar: Fire and Ash.
Release and Box Office Performance
Bison premiered in theatres on October 17, 2025, during the Diwali festival season. The sports drama collected over ₹70 crore worldwide during its theatrical run, making it director Mari Selvaraj’s highest-grossing film to date.
Following its successful cinema release, the movie made its OTT debut on Netflix on November 21, 2025. The film is available in multiple languages, including Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam, expanding its reach across India.
Movie’s Letterboxd Rankings Show Indian Cinema’s Global Appeal
Bison secured the #5 position on Letterboxd’s top-rated action/adventure films of 2025, making it the highest-ranked Indian entry in the category. The platform’s global community of cinephiles logged over 23,000 ratings for the film, demonstrating its widespread appeal beyond regional audiences.
Indian cinema showed remarkable representation in the genre category, with Bison leading the charge. Malayalam film Lokah Chapter 1 secured #7, while Hindi film Dhurandhar took #8, placing three Indian films in the top 10 action/adventure list alongside international blockbusters.
The Tamil sports drama also appears at #41 on Letterboxd’s overall top 50 highest-rated films of 2025, further cementing its critical acclaim among global film enthusiasts.
The Cast
The movie stars Dhruv Vikram in the lead role as Kittan, a kabaddi player navigating caste prejudice and gang violence while pursuing his dreams. Vikram’s character is inspired by real-life kabaddi player Manathi Ganesan, bringing authenticity to the portrayal.
Supporting Cast:
• Pasupathy in a key role
• Rajisha Vijayan
• Lal
• Ameer
• Anupama Parameswaran
• Azhagam Perumal
Critics have particularly praised Dhruv Vikram’s restrained yet intense performance, noting his “coiled intensity” and highlighting one scene featuring what reviewers described as a “devastating smile.”
Storyline
The movie is set in 1990s rural Tamil Nadu’s Thoothukudi region, blending the raw physicality of kabaddi with the harsh realities of street survival. The narrative parallels kabaddi raids with the caste tensions and brutality that define the protagonist’s environment.
The film culminates with India’s Asian Games gold medal victory over Pakistan in kabaddi. However, Bison presents this achievement as a personal triumph rather than a nationalist celebration, staying true to director Mari Selvaraj’s empathetic political storytelling.
Critical Response
Bison has been praised by critics as Indian cinema’s most authentic kabaddi portrayal. The film features visceral sports sequences that capture the intensity and physicality of the traditional Indian sport, setting a new benchmark for sports dramas in the country.
Director Mari Selvaraj’s approach to combining sport with social commentary has earned widespread praise. Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap listed Bison among his favourite Indian films of 2025, specifically praising its writing, performances, and direction.
The international recognition on Letterboxd validates Bison’s appeal beyond Indian audiences, establishing it as a significant achievement in both Tamil cinema and global sports drama filmmaking.
With its Netflix availability in multiple languages, the film continues to find new audiences worldwide.
