Aug 14, 2007 01:12 PM
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(Updated Aug 14, 2007 03:53 PM)
The last time I felt something like this was after watching ‘Rang De Basanti’….
I had grabbed the tickets for Saturday night show…..somehow the songs of the movie had motivated me to watch it and I am glad that I have watched it and that too jaldi….
As far as story of the movie is concerned (I think everyone knows it by know but still I’ll summaries). This is the story of Kabir Khan (played by SRK) who was the captain of Indian hockey team. His team looses the final against Pakistan and he is held responsible for the same. Disgraced and termed as gaddar, he leaves his home and goes into hiding. He resurfaces 7 years later to claim the position of the Coach of Indian Women’s Hockey Team.
Since no body is interested in looking out for coach for a team which has no chances he is appointed for the post. What starts from here is his struggle to bring together a bunch of hockey players who are as different as chalk & cheese. The biggest fight for him is not only training them but making them feel they are a team, to make them realize that now they are in Indian team & lastly to get the support of the team and to make them believe that they can WIN. Rest of the story is how he tackles all this and leads India to the world cup forms the crux of the rest of the story.
The main reason which makes the film work
Screenplay **the movie never looses its focus. It’s a sports film, hockey per se and it remains that only. In fact the 2nd half of the movie is pure unadulterated hockey.
Sharukh Khan **you hardly get to see SRK as he is. In this movie it is unadulterated SRK. He is sans his normal mannerisms. He is a delight to watch as a hard coach, the way he coaches his team is a delight to watch. I have never been a die hard SRK fan and have always liked him in movies and trust me is fantabulous out here. He brings out patriotism in us.
The Team- **the girls who comprise of the team are fresh and real. You can actually feel that these girls are sports women. The portrayal is very real.
The Hockey Matches **I have never been a Hockey fan but trust me they have been shot so well that they keep you on the edge. May be those who have been following the game will not agree with me. But people like me who know almost nothing about the game it is nerve cracking excitement.
Shimit Amin **the director has done a damn good job. He has not followed the cliché; the subject itself is as different as it can be. I can confidently say that in India we have never scene such a focused sports movie (Made in India). He has a grip on movie and that’s visible. Getting such a different performance from SRK itself is great.
Some worth Mentioning Moments & Characters of the movie
The Mc Donald’s scene **this one is my favourite and I can vouch that all & every female in the crowd would have loved the scene, my friend say that basically I am also a gundi that’s why I liked the scene so much but what the heck…. Ladies bashing guys……damn good…..I was sorry that I can not whistle nahin to…..
CastAll the players are novice but have acted well. Special mention should go for the actors who played, Preeti Sabarwal, Chautala (dynamites come in small packets), Balbir Kaur (she is simply smashing) & Bindia Naik. The scenes between Preeti and Chautala are very good. So are the scenes of Bindia (the senior most player and the most resistant one). (I came to know recently that few of the cast comprises of real players).
Anjjan Srivastava plays one of the selectors and he looks like a government servant to the core.
SHAHRUKH KHAN IN CAPTIAL LETTERS **he is out of the world in this movie…..his portrayal of a wronged man, a hard coach & a determined coach has no parallels. I would love to see him in many more movies doing such kind of roles only. He proves that he can act too when he wants.
* The Entire Second Half of the movie is gripping and trust me you wouldn’t want to leave the screen even for a second. The matches have been shot as professionally as the real matches.
Special mention **of the match between the women team & the men team should be made. That match too, is damn good.
* The feel & atmosphere of the movie Is very real, the dirty Dom, the dirty toilets et all.
Though **the ending is clichéd but not the whole movie.
* Special Mention to the background score and whatever few songs are there. They are inspiring & full of attitude.
Finally when I came out of the screen I carried following impressions from the movie….
^^ The movie talks about a very relevant issue ‘Women in Sports’. It tackles the feminist issue very maturely. It shows the reality of the position women (as far as sports is concerned)in India. But leaves you with a message “when we want we can do it, against all odds”.
^^ The movie also brings into the forefront the present plight of Hockey in India (Sport ground for Ramlila….). The bias towards Cricket is presented beautifully. The message for us is that it’s high time that either the National Game gets its due respect or change the national game instead of demeaning it.
^^ Its shows so very clearly that what part media plays in making or breaking a person. How one innocent action is presented wrongly and hype gets created and spoils the reputation of a sincere sportsman. And the same media takes him back when wins the trophy for us. Shouldn’t media apologize for its immature behavior?
^^ It brings out Patriotism in us and that too without being preachy. It’s just the team feeling which works.
The movie is a complete entertainer tackling serious issues like Media bashing, Regionalism, plight of hockey & Feminisms but there are ample doses of comedy too. The movie has an attitude……….
My verdict is 5 on 5.
Should you watch it??? HO……..(Those who have seen the movie will understand)….
