Speed Track, the much delayed Dileep-starrer, gives us the competition, games, sports, rivalry and romance associated with a sports college. Debutant writer-director Jayasurya weaves a cohesive story involving all the elements around sports, resulting in a somewhat exciting and enjoyable experience.

The tale of this campus begins with the establishment of prime players -- teachers, students (freshers and seniors) and other sundry characters that are found on campus. The focus then shifts to protagonist Arjun (Dileep), a dedicated and focussed athlete who has just joined the college with a mission that interestingly is revealed only half way through the film.

Meanwhile, other aspects of the story unfold: humour (thanks to Salim Kumar and Jagathy Sreekumar), rivalry courtesy Riyaz Khan, and company and romance with the help of Gazala.

There is a freshness in approach here. The director doesn't talk of the hero's penury from the beginning and doesn't use it to overtly tilt sympathy in his favour; the hero's fiscal state is merely incidental, and helps make the climax more intense.

The departments in which the film falters are humour and villainy. Jagathy Sreekumar is pleasant as a trainer in the beginning, but the script does not give him much scope. He is reduced to being an object of ridicule in the latter half, when he is continuously attacked by missiles in the form of javelin, discus, hammer etc. Yes, it receives claps and whistles, but it is forced humor at best, and not really in keeping with the rest of the film.

Salim Kumar as the canteen owner does a good job in a small role, and becomes the catalyst for a major conflict in the film, that gives a thrust to the story.

Talking about villainy; Riyaz Khan does a version of Shakespeare's Iago here by creating misunderstandings among the lead players, but it does not come across as convincing. How His character could have done with a firmer base to stand on; in the event, his intensity appears forced, even childish.

One of the strong points of this film is Dileep's performance. He is what holds the film together. The major chunk of credit for this must go to the director, because he never tries to impose forced or slapstick humour on the character (for most of the movie, he is intense and brooding), as is commonly done in other Dileep films. Care has also been taken about character's physicality. Gazala does her best in an underwritten role.

In the final analysis, Speed Track is a decent film, which could have done better with more assured treatment.

Rediff Rating: