Chak De India: The Art of Making Stereotypes work!! review
Acknowledge the fact that in the Indian mainstream cinema you finally get to see a Muslim as a hero, writes Mihir Pandya
This is a strange comparison. Last Friday I saw Amitabh Bachchan talking about one of his favorite movies Aamr Akabr Anthony on CNN-IBN. He said that when Manmohan Desai was making this movie no one believed that such an illogical plot would ever work. So many stereotypes and so many cliches are there in the film that people would laugh. But there was something in movie that audience felt connected to. Despite all stereotypes and cliches the plot worked.
Last week when I was watching Chak De India I felt the same. With such stupid scenes like the one where Kabir Khan had to leave his old house, a boy asked his father, "papa manu bhi gaddar dekhna hai." (papa, I want to see the traitor) Bad!!! Or in all the board meetings, the chairman keeps saying, "ye chakla-belan chalane wali bhartiya nariya hain." Hey man don't show such cliches like that again and again. Indian cinema has moved ahead of them. But despite every shortcomings I like the movie. It has something quite similar to Amar Akbar Anthony.
At the first place. Acknowledge the fact that in Indian mainstream cinema you finally get to see a Muslim as a hero. As our biggest icon and idol, SRK mostly plays characters such as Raaj, Rahul or Veer Pratap Singh or Mohan Bhargva after a small role in Hey Ram as Amzad Khan. Acknowledge that as a writer and director it would have been difficult for Jaideep Sahni and Shimit Amin to convince Yashraj about a story which has a leading man called 'Kabir Khan'.
Chak De India is an average film. Nothing in the film stands out. But it's a film with a heart of gold. As a sports film it captures the right story, the underdog story. Hockey is the most wasted sport in India in our times and in women's hockey the situation is even worse. So like the most celebrated sports film India had... Lagaan, Chak De is also blended with the same underdog-becomes-winner storyline. And you all know this fact that if Tom and Jerry ever fought, Tom would be the winner. This is the essence of Chak De storytelling.
Shahrukh is acted with none of his KING KHAN style first time after SWADES. Although it's true that SWADES is a much better film in every department, Chak de is in the same compartment. With a good storyline (that's the biggest strength of the movie) it ensembles a rainbow of characters from each part of the country. The challenge for coach is to build a team from 16 different identities. And with that he proves again that the ultimate strength India lies in "unity in diversity".
The stand out character is Komal Choutala with her Hariyanvi accent but special mention to Bindiya Naik, only girl who stands at par with SRK whereas acting is concerned. Shilpa Shukla played this character with all her skill she acquired in her theatre life so far. Actually the credit goes to the writer who defined every small character so well.
The climax with penalty shot was too predictable. A little more drama could have been added.
After all... A simple film, good at heart. My rating is 3/5.
Comments( 8 )
the film seems reasonably good except
the film seems reasonably good except the high pitched melodrama around SRK leaving his old house. In an otherwise intelligent film the one you pointed "even i want to see the traitor" is the only stupid scene. nice observation!!!
Review presented is good. This film
Review presented is good. This film presents current sports scenario in effective way. SRK has done wonderful job and director has presented him effectively without creating a larger than life image.
I completely agree with your review,
I completely agree with your review, Its an average film full of cliches but some where it works. The efforst by the writer and director cannot be ignores least not acclaimed. Good observations by saying that its in the same compartment as Swades, but not in the same department. Also that gaddaar scene.. man.. and also the end where boy rubs the gaddar written on the wall... do they had to put those scenes to titillate the Indian audience
i found them pretty irritating than
i found them pretty irritating than titillating...if they could do away with all that stuff...some kind of justification, eh?!!
Actually if u see all the mainstream
Actually if u see all the mainstream movies after late 80s, u saw a nice Muslim guy as a friend or in a chahca type role. With that our bollywood is trying to make a middle rode where they address all kind of diversity in this divided society. But most of the time this silly innocence made the situation worse like what happens in chak de. In that gaddaar scene this same silly innocence made situation irritating. Like I said, we are came far ahead from this type of silly innocence!
how would you respond to a point raised
how would you respond to a point raised by khadeeja in her review - that why, at all, is such a justification needed for Indian Muslims...esp in Bollywood...isn't that worth thinking about?
Hey anamika, clear your point a little.
Hey anamika, clear your point a little. Khadeeja not talked about anything like that in her review. She is saying, “All those reviews stinks of sheer surprise and sympathy. My question is why a Muslim needs a certificate from Janta of their patriotism?â€
actually this is what I am saying. This film has a problematic end. When kabir proved his loyalness with winning the cup his mohallawala’s turned again nice to him. Here is the problem. Why a Muslim need a certificate from other people?
that's exactly what i am
that's exactly what i am saying...