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at 05:12:43 pm on August 22, 2007
Ok, I know I am extremely late to watch this film, but I have wanted to watch it for a while. Infact my last review even mentioned that I was looking forward to seeing this, because of SRK, Aditya Chopra and Shimit Amin.
Well I saw it late, but I saw it. Before I go any further, let me summarize my take on the film with one line – Go Watch it, Go Watch it, Go watch it and Go watch it – Watch it for one of SRK’s best performances – he actually acts, and very well too. Watch it for the entire cast and crew. Watch it for Aditya Chopra’s sense as a good producer. He has actually taken the risk, to make a non popcorn, chick flick film and instead produced and promotes an unusual film, story and treatment of the film. Watch it for Shimit Amin’s work, and finally watch it to get a real good feel, topped with a generous helping of patriotism.
Reel Life – The Indian women’s hockey team exist on paper. Even the authorities don’t give much time to this team. It’s beurocrasy full time, topped with an ancient mentality that women belong to the house, looking after the household and cooking a meal. Then walks in a coach, with a past of his own. A past he has lived with and is determined to set things straight. His battle is not just with the authorities but more importantly within the team, and the mentality that sportsmanship represents today within India. So there starts the battle, and the battle is painted on celluloid in a very practical way. There is a world level competition, and there is an internal personal competition. Sportsmanship represents honor and more importantly it represents that beautiful statement – Let the best one win. The coach brings this to the team just before the climax of the film. Really in all honesty, the movie ends with a very powerful climax.
Real Life – I have so much to add here. First of all, the film does showcase how the media’s interpretation of a situation can influence the masses. It seems that the masses looses it’s own standings at times like these and get carried away with what they read and see. Oh Mankind, this is a wake up call. Listen, Read but decide for yourself. Then, there is the spirit of a soul, that exist in all in us. A spirit that can be brave to stand up for honor when times call for it. SRK’s character is very well sketched out and I know that we all are like that, at some time or the other in our lives. There is then this element of patriotism. Man, it made me want to cry, to be proud about my country. I wish we could feel this strong about her more often than we do now. Finally the film showcases the stupid greed and ridiculous attitude that our sports people have as they grow in the game. They have a terminally ill attitude where they believe that they are bigger than the sport itself. Look at so many of occur cricketers. They have the attitude that the coach will change but they won’t change to better their roles in the team. I would like every parent to take their children to watch this film and let them get a dose of patriotism and good sportsmanship. Let them see that they need to work hard to be able to contribute their best, and realize that they will NEVER be bigger than the sport, the team or the country itself. Let them see that they should know that they never play for a state or a sub group, they play for the team – and team India it could be. I personally have had a wish and that has been to take my short film to an international level and when I would win an award, I’d do it with the tri-color flag at the podium with me. When my film has entered festivals it has had my name with India associated with it. So go, every parent, every youth, every dreamer – go watch it. Also I think today’s corrupted sports authorities should go watch it to shame themselves and last but not least, every celebrity sports or not should watch it as a wake up call – you are NOT doing it for yourself, you never were supposed to.
Cinematically – I will say this here. I know a lot of people think that I do not like SRK. Well I have seen potential in him from his Bazigaar days. Then when he did DDLJ, and even KKHH I was happy for him. But from then he went on to become a star / superstar and left behind his potential of growing as an actor. Then came Swades, and I said to myself ‘Oh yeah’ with regards to his performance. Now comes this film and very seriously, he is an actor in Chak De India. No typical SRK laughs, expressions and routines that he has done to death in Karan Johar films. Here SRK is an actor. Here SRK is Kabir Khan the character, unlike so many of his other movies wherein the character is SRK. Kudos, real kudos to SRK. Thank you for doing this film. To all the guys out there who feel that it’s cool to hate SRK, well go watch this film. The cinematography is excellent, the matches are captured like they are when watching them on TV, giving it that real feel. The music by my all time favorite music directors Salim-Suleiman is top notch. Now, all I will say about Shimit is to Shimit himself – Take a Bow as we have stood up applauding your work. Finally, all I will say to Aditya Chopra is – you are one of the best producers that Bollywood has, as I have looked up to your sense of business, packaging and all. In recent times, things have been hard, and you come from a legacy that has made it doing cinema of a certain genre, so Thank you for making this film. Your worth as a great producer when measured, will have Chak De India contribute to that.
One More Thing – I heard that the film did not do well in the overseas markets, specially in the UK and the USA. Well, there is nothing to worry about here. Chak De India, is about patriotism towards a country called India, therefore has touched to hearts of everyone in India and it’s children walking tall on her own soil.
Tagore Almeida lives in the United Arab Emirates. He is a full time technologist and a part time film writer and maker. He runs a humanitarian site, trying to tell the world to unite and overcome man made barriers. Read more about him at www.tagorealmeida.com
