CHAKDE! INDIA
HIP HIP HURRAH
By Vishal Verma

Rating:- * * * 1/2

What is it?
Boy! This is indeed a bundle of pleasant surprises, while watching the movie I was wondering whether it is a movie from the Yash Raj camp. No  US, no love angles, no romantic duets, no flying of duppatas etc etc. but a saga of honesty, sincerity, integrity, passion for the game, nationality and any other things which you can find in a coach’s manual or in a personality development crash course. And last but not the least, Shahrukh Khan. We see King Khan as an actor not a star.

Bravos to the Yash Raj Banner and director Shimit Amin in making a niche in realistic sports flicks – a rare phenomenon in bollywood.

CHAKDE! INDIA reminds me of India’s national sport – Hockey and its goalkeeper Mir Ranjan Negi. The goalkeeper was made the scapegoat for the Indian fiasco at the Asian games 25 years ago where India suffered a humiliating 1-7 defeat by Pakistan in the final. Negi was blamed to have accepted bribe to betray his country.

The training shown in the flick can be debated but it does not take away the credit from Shimit Amin in creating a maverick piece of art on the marquee.

What makes CHAKDE! INDIA stand out as a unique film on its own is it success in showcasing nationality above Language and states, and playing for the nation as the ultimate goal and triumph.

The team of writer Jaideep Sahni & the director in their own style has successfully conveyed the ongoing quotas and the state mindset amongst selectors, board and players.

No wonder if kids start playing hockey on the streets from now on after watching CHAKDE! INDIA.

My honest feeling and a humble suggestion – kindly organize a special show of CHAKDE! INDIA for our highly over ‘rated’ Indian cricket team, selectors, couch, board and everyone.

Whats it all about?
Kabir Khan (Shahrukh Khan) a victim of the paparazzi and the over enthusiastic electronic media, gets labeled as a ‘desh drohi’ cause he missed a penalty against arch rivals Pakistan in a world cup final. He gets humiliated and is looked upon as a traitor. But Kabir knows what it's like to come back from the dead. The ex Indian Captain comes back in the avatar of the Coach of the Indian Women's National Hockey team. A team that exists more on paper and less in reality.

The team is a rag-tag bunch of 16 girls coming from every hook and corner of India with their own agenda. A bunch of girls who have forgotten what it is like to play for the love of the game. Of playing because you want glory for your country. Not because you want a pensioned job or a government flat. They have all forgotten the sharp thrill of just holding the hockey stick, keeping their eyes on the ball and playing for all they are worth. They have played every game but hockey to make sure they get selected every year in the Indian National team.

But Kabir Khan, once a captain, now forgotten, does. He knows what it takes to get there. And what it means to return empty handed. This time, he wants to make sure that it's different. He knows there are no second chances. Despite his past, he believes that if only the girls played as one, anything would be possible.

A story of a coach's fight of making his team, Team India by overcoming their diverse backgrounds, by learning to use everything that life hurls on them as a secret weapon.

What to look out for?
An intriguing soul stirring saga of a forgotten player turned couch with the added echoes of patriotism. Sharukh Kahn as an actor and the Indian women hockey team, specially the outspoken haryanvi Chitrashi Rawat as Komal Chautala, egoist big girl Shilpa Shukla as Bindia Naik, understanding Captain Vidya Malavade as Vidya Sharma, and the firebrand Tanya Abrol as Balbir Kaur.

The movie is well written by Jaideep Sahni, the dialogues have the sarcastic punches. Like the one on cricket ‘ hockey mein chakke nahi hote’. Shimit Amin narration is to the point and avoids any unwanted melodramas. Right from the first reel till the end the feel and enthusiasm is well maintained. A difficult job but simply well done.

The title track keeps the zest and passion alive.

What Not?
Other chracters like the muslim girl, girls from the far east, and others are wasted. Not everyone speaks in the movie. Some more explanation regarding the bonding between the players cold have been done.

Conclusion : A niche and a nice attempt. Worth a ‘Dekho’. 

More CHAKDE’S  PLEASE!