Chak De India

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(After putting in this post, I realized that I was a little (too) late in publishing this but since I felt strongly and so good about this movie, I wanted to share it with movie enthusiasts like you, esp the links to the real life drama that inspired this movie at the end of this post)

A lot of political jingoism and patriotism marked this 15th August week, more so because it was our 60th anniversary of independence. Everyone and their daddy came out with some stuff which could be used to loosen the common man's pockets by pulling on his patriotic strings. I, for one, don't mind parting with a few green bills but at least give me some bang for my buck. My search for the bang took me to Chak De India last Friday which released in that happening week.



Now what can one expect from a movie which stars Shah Rukh Khan as the coach of the Indian Hockey team full of never-seen-before girls, and even has him rapping away in one of the songs. SRK being the coach, would call the shots obviously and lead the team single-handedly to victory because of his hard-hitting mmeh mmmeh dialogues of course. The girls would just happen to be there under the shadow of the mighty SRK. It would be SRK all the way leading the country of a billion people to their 60th year of mindless celebrations over an extremely important event in the history of India which is probably more fondly remembered by the common man as the day we got the freedom to urinate on the walls of any government building without being reprimanded by the British.

But boy, was I glad that I was wrong (about the movie, that is!)! This movie was not anything I mentioned above and turned out to be pretty much the bang I was looking for!

For starters, it's probably the first sports movie about India that takes up real issues and attempts to capture the struggle of sportsmen (actually sports-women) in a team sport. Jo Jeeta Wahi Sikander was another exciting movie of this genre that I can recall but even that was about cycling, an individual sport, and individual excellence is not really something to write about in this country with probably the largest number of individual superstars.

Chak de India strives to showcase the struggle of a man from the point he was disgraced by the people of his country to his well deserved moment of joy and pride when he helps bring the Women's World Cup home. And it's the journey between these two points in his life that is more exciting than the final result that makes the movie such a treat to watch. While the fact that a movie from the Yash Chopra bandwagon looked at real problems in hockey hit me as a pleasant surprise, what made the deal a whole lot sweeter was the little nuances that the film brings out about the typical Indian mindset not just towards the game but also towards each other and ofcourse towards public figures who are made demi-gods in moments, crushed to the ground equally sooner and then returned back to their seats among the stars of the celebrity sky with as much as just one flash of brilliance.

The plot is loosely based on the life of Mir Ranjan Negi, the Indian goalkeeper in the 1982 Asiad Games Final where India lost to arch rival Pakistan by a whopping 7-1. Negi was made the scapegoat for that defeat and the humiliation made him vanish from the hockey scene for years only to return as the coach of the Indian Women's Hockey team and lead them to victory in the Commonwealth games in 2002.

The movie does add some twists of its own for adding drama. Negi becomes Kabir Khan so that there can be that extra sting in the humiliation. 20 years is reduced to 7 so that Shah Rukh does not have to get the "Anupam Kher hair style" to match the real coach! But it is the girls that represent the teething issues facing Indian Hockey today and in doing that, carry the movie not only on their athletic shoulders but their hockey sticks, whims and fancies, bitching and most of all their enthsiasm for the sport. Representing different states and teams, the girls intuitively refuse to break away from their regional identities, causing rival groups to be formed - an issue that has always haunted the Indian teams. They have always been accused of not playing as a team. The film portrays the differences with a generous sprinkle of humour. The coach is aware of all that and works on the team building aspect. The girls learn the importance of team work painfully. But as they learn the all important art of team building, they also learn about their own weaknesses and strengths. It is the beauty of the girls' journey from them being the best player in their states to them being the best players for the Indian team. The other ills plaguing all sports in this country viz. politics in associations, sports bodies being lead by people with no interest in the betterment of facilities and the charm of the foreign trip is also subtly shown.

While sports movies are the best teachers for lessons in life, they don't help much if the sports is not good enough. Chak de India has elegantly and realistically portrayed hockey matches and players.



But the most surprising part of the movie was that SRK serves as the lowest common denominator and, for a change, doesn't mind lying low when the scene demands so. His greatest contribution to the movie has been his restraint in his acting which makes him affable yet again to a fan-following he lost somewhere in his quest to become bigger than Big B. Also, to be fair to Shah Rukh and his dream of doing something for the sport he wanted to play at the highest level, his presence itself means a lot in terms of the widespread media attention that the movie is getting. It would be difficult to get the audience to the theatres without the attraction of SRK!

If I see something missing from this movie, it would surely be the fact that it misses out on a major reason for the poor showing of the Indian Hockey team in tournaments around the globe - the Astro Turf. Players in India have always played on grass and most do so till they reach the national level. It is only beyond this phase that the players get to play on the surface which players around the world take all their life to get used to but the Indian players probably get only a fraction of that time to get their act together. Indian hockey was world champion in the days of yore because they played on the same surface all through but Astro Turf takes the game to a totally different level in terms of the stamina of players and the pace of the game.

Iqbaal and Lagaan were outstanding movies about sports too but this one is in a different league. This is a coming-of-age Bollywood movie which showcases recent history that most of us were not even aware of; and it does so in a pleasant yet realistic way coming as a breath of fresh air. The movie sure revived my interest in hockey. I am sure it would have done this for a lot of others as well.

Indian Hockey players of the past were so good that there is actually a skill named after them - the Indian Dribble. Let's hope this movie can inspire some young blood to bring some of that glory back to India.

Chak de India!
Here is the news item related to the actual Commonwealth Games that the Indian Hockey Women's team won under Mir Ranjan Negi. The actual win was a bit controversial. Read on!
India Deny England Gold

A few news articles highlighting the problems in the Indian Hockey camp:
1) Egos drag hockey team into sticky mess
2) Killer Instinct: Do we really lack it?
3) Dhanraj has attitude problem, says coach

Last, but not the least, the man himself, Mir Ranjan Negi
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070814/cth3.htm#2

Chak De India

Previous Reviews [1][2][3].

A marathi playing the role of a Chandigarh'ite, a Garhwali that of a Haryanvi, a Kerlaite that of a Bengali; isn't that the best example of National Integration? But even more, it is testimony to the script and direction of the movie - Chak De India!.

Chak De India, indeed excels in both the screenplay and direction. The story of Mir Ranjan Negi, rehashed as Kabir Khan's tale is inspiring - but the way each character in the movie is etched, is what makes it even more interesting. Whether it is the brash Komal Chautala (played by Chitrashi Rawat), the bright striker Preeti Sabarwal (Sagarika Ghatge) or the no-nonsense Nethra Reddy (Sandia Furtado) - each character is believable yet far from being stereotypical.

The story is based on the life of Mir Ranjan Negi - but the writer (Jaideep Sahni) has also successfully integrated issues like regionalism, groupism, and arrogance of seniors into it.

Shilpa Shukla gets full points for her portrayal of the arrogant senior Bindiya Naik. Similarly, the silent rivalry between bright players (Komal and Preeti) is well presented. I am sure each one of us have been through situations in school, college or workplace in which we have faced or witnessed all the above issues.

The screenplay should get 200/100 - for adding enough wit, humour into the seeming serious storyline. Komal Chautala's dialogues are outright witty, so are sequences illustrating the ignorance of Indians about each other's regions. Balbir Kaur is another funny character, and the sequence where the attendant asks Netra Reddy's about the difference between Tamil and Telugu is so typical of Delhi that one cannot but smile.

Coming to Shahrukh, Chak De once again proves that Shahrukh is a great actor - and it is more because of certain directors which he gets stereotyped. This is undoubtedly one of his best and most natural performances after Swades!!

Chak De India

Most reviewed: Read on for Afzal's view
Also reviewed earlier by : Rajat - http://moviereviewsanddiscussions.blogspot.com/2007/08/chak-de-india.html
and Virinder urf Fundamentor
http://moviereviewsanddiscussions.blogspot.com/2007/08/chak-dey-for-petes-sake-its-my-take.html




Rating : 7/10 (Must Watch Once)

Chak De India is a Bollywood film,directed by Shimit Amin starring Shahrukh Khan and Vidya Malvade in lead roles. The movie revolves around the story a ex Indian Hockey Captain who later coaches girl's Hockey team for World Championship.

BASED ON A TRUE STORY

Chak De India revolves around the story of a Hockey coach for a girl's team, Meer Ranjan Negi , a player, who was charged with match fixing allegation in 1982 when India lost to Pakistan in the Asian Games in Delhi. Negi, later went on to coach the Women’s Hockey team that made India proud at the Manchester Common Wealth Games in 2002 by winning the Gold.

Story: Kabir Khan(Shahrukh Khan) Captain of Indian Mens Hockey team misses the last minute Penalty stroke in the final of the World Cup to give Pakistan a win. The team loses the world cup and the blame goes on the captain i.e. Kabir Khan. As usual the Indian Media made him a Traitor from a national Hero with their assumptions. The public also went against him and now he needs to get his honor back and prove that he is not a traitor.

My Review:
For a change Sharukh movie was concentrated more on the theme than on him. After being isolated for 7 years 3 months and hmmmmm 14 days suddenly he comes back to try and get position of Coach of Indian Womens Hockey team which as per the association cannot beat even a school team from European Countries.
Now, several years later, he gets a chance for proving all those minority bashers wrong. His task is to coach the women's hockey team; his dream is to make it win the World Cup, an impossible feat. Because, in the first place, there is no team, just a bunch of 16 girls who have come together with a baggage of class, region and interpersonal rivalries. The small town girls hate the uber snobs; the city-slickers think Jharkand is a jungle, the seniors can't handle the juniors stealing the limelight and petty camps create a virtual gang-war which even builds into a mutiny against the disciplinarian coach. The only thing that brings them together is gender bias — something they all have faced at some point of their life — desh-bhakti and coach bhakti...
After the tussles between coach and senior players, senior players and juniors suddenly the team comes becomes united and gets ready to play as per the coach.
When the ray of hope comes in favour of the coach the association closes doors on the team and refuse to send them for the championship, the coach challenges the mens side for a ticket to the championship. As in typical bollywood movie the team takes thrashes from all side only when the member of association challenges their gender every1 wakes up and tries to read IMPOSSIBLE as I M POSSIBLE, unfortunately the tiffs between juniors and seniors is seen on the field and they lose the game but manages to get the ticket to Australia.
The rest is a dream come true for all 16 gurls and the coach. The route from 1st game's humiliation to the finals is worth a watch.

Whats On : Passion for the game and the country where the states , clubs and regions are kept behind the country is good to watch.

Whats Not: More focus on the game like it was in Lagaan a bit more enthu would have made the movie more exciting.

Overall it is good movie and worth a watch.

Chak dey - for pete's sake, its my take...

I am late - but I had to give my views on the movie of this month.

Chak Dey India.

Rating : 7 /10 - (Super Cool)

This genre has been milked DRY by Hollywood. From The Mighty Ducks to Miracle - which is also about a player-turned-coach leading a rag-tag group to a Winter Olympics. Sports is not only passion - its a big money maker in the western world and sports like hockey, football, baseball are revered there. The backing that these sports get is mind boggling. Not just in terms of money - but also public support. Alas, in India only sport backed by sponsors and public is cricket and that also, only the mainstream international team. Only Crows watch the domestic matches. Its time People wake up and look beyond cricket, because sports like Hockey, Soccer are fast paced and exciting. And Chak Dey is definitely the step towards that direction. It makes Hockey look cool. ( Its sad to see that national sport needs such a kiss of revival)

Here the plot is very much like those done and dusted Hollywood flicks. A failed player comes back as coach to prove a point. Novelty is that he comes back on his own and is not forced to lead the bunch of 16 girls (which I must say is a wild lot). Kabir Khan(Shahrukh) the player labelled as traitor comes back after 7 years of his disgrace to teach this wild lot a lesson in patriotrism and team spirit. And the way he goes about it is worth a watch. The girls fight, swear, tumble, grumble while he goes about wielding his stick. Nation before state, team before self, honour before money is what he wants them to learn. He teaches them to believe in themselves and then leads them to the world championship. Where they obviously win :)

Whats really good to see is that SPORT is kept at the forefront and nothing else. Not even Shahrukh. The girls - especially The chandigrah Bomb - with her beauty, The Haryana Small Dynamo - with her dialogue delivery and The Experienced Player Naik - with her wonderful performance steal the show. Shahrukh like his performace in Swades - proves that he's not just a romantic genre over-actor, but an actor with depth. Hope he continues doing such restrained roles. Though I still think the movie would have been complete - had the director delved a bit into Kabir Khan's psyche - his angst, his suffering, his will power. The character is so Incompletely potrayed that its alarming. You are never told what he is thinking. Its like Shahrukh almost bites his lips when the director tells him to shut up! Also, he could have added much more thrill into the matches.

The director gets a round of applause from my side for breathing life into this genre. His treatment of the sport is worth 4 thumbs up. Also, his revolt against the male dominated sport and social setup in India is worth a mention. And finally for not putting in worthless stuff like Love angles and loads of songs I salute him. The Title Song has such an amazing power- that its packs a brutal punch and sends ripples of patriotrism through your veins. The passion and patriotic sentiment that sport brings out is tremendous and I wish Indian directors start milking this cash cow more often. The examples are there to follow : Jo Jheeta Wohi Sikander and Lagaan to name a few, and now Chak DE. The plot is simple - Make an underdog, Make a transformational leader, Make an Unbeatable opponent, Make the win impossible and then Make the win possible! Thats a sport classic for you!

Iqbal - get a dream foryourself

IQBAL

RATING: *** 1/2 outta 5

What does one expect form a low-budget movie from Nagesh Kukunoor. Nothingmore than critical acclaim, some accolades from a certain A class audience.Well, what you get from Iqbal is much more. You'll see why..

Iqbal is the story of a young deaf-mute boy (Shreyas) from a village in South India. It is about Iqbal's dreams. Yes, for a change, this is not a hard-hitting and real life cinema. It is fantasy shown in a different light. Unlike big banner fantasies where things seem improbable, this one is fantastically woven in a thread of emotions,hapiness and dreams. Before one jumps into conclusions, Iqbal is not a sad,depressing movie. It is refreshing, feel-good cinema at its best.

Now back to the story. Iqbal stays with his parents and his sister. His dad,Anwar(well portrayed by Anand Bannerjee of Munnabhai fame) is a poor farmer,who has a strong dislike for cricket. He believes that interest in such sports brings about laziness and a lax working environment amongst Indians which affects the economy and the fate of millions of farmers(He's correct,ain't he!!!!!). Her wife(Dunno her name, but still very a very commendableactor), sister(Shweta, brilliant) and son Iqbal,however, are die-hard cricket fans and share Iqbal's dreams of donning the Indian cap as a premier fast bowler.

Iqbal faces a lotta problems both at home and outside. Firstly, he has to deal with the bureaucracy and red-tapism in the form of his coach,Guruji(Girish Karnad) at the academy, resulting in his removal from theacademy. Next, he finds an aging, drunkard Naseerudin Shah, who once played Ranji cricket. He wants Naseer to mentor him and help him in pursuing hisdreams. Naseer rehabilitates, coaches Iqbal and gets him a place in the Andhra team for Ranji, must against the wil of his father. Now, starts his real test. But, as people say, opportunity knocks only once and make thefullest of it, Iqbal takes Andhra team from doldrums to glory and wins himself the Indian cap. A simple yet a very well made movie.

About the characters: Shreyas is the show-stealer. You feel like laughing,crying, celebrating with him. A perfect example of actions being louder than words. The brother sister chemistry between Iqbal and his sis are eye-candy and adorable. Naseer, once again proves his mettle, questioning openly as to why is he ignored/restricted to lesser roles in the Bollywood circuit. This performance by him is of the highest calibre. Also, I think actresses from the industry must take a leaf out of the young Shweta in acting. This child artiste(not exactly achild artiste after you see the way she delivers dialogues) is surely making waves which will take her places. Girish Karnad marks his return on a sober note.

All in all, everyone has played his/her part exceedingly well. ALso, aspecial mention for Suhash Ghai, who has made the wisest decision of hislife in producing Iqbal. But Kukunoor is the man behind this success. His unique style of thinking is purely reflected in this movie. One expects alotta hullaballo and sympathy for a deaf-mute boy(ala BLACK), none of whichis shown in the movie. ALso, the fact that Iqbal comes from a minority community and hence some communism, inclination, partiality could have been exploited. But Kukunoor sticks to the basics and gets his priorities right.As against other arty, small-budget capers, he avoids using the Queen's language and rigtly too, since it would have effaced the pastoral settingsto a large extent. ALso,the versatility of the man is reflected in Iqbal.After a series of light-hearted Hyd Blues and a serious 3 Deewarein, Iqbal brings the best of both worlds.

GO watch Iqbal, enjoy the movie, enjoy the game, get a dream foryourself!!!!