Chak De India...a review

Should I think of Shah Rukh,my favorite hero...should I think of India, my country and the sudden surge of patriotism I feel for it, now that I am away from home, or should I think of the inspiration this movie left behind for me, above all else.
Better not debate and let's start off without a prejudice. Its a SRK movie...I am being invited, I cannot say no. But I don't know the way to the theatre,huh...what a thing to say for a 27 year old girl. Stop being a baby dear. I have grown confident after coming here. So it was with a mind full of excitement and 'josh' that I headed for the venue all alone. It was my new sporty look...for a sports movie, where SRK is probably going to show the world what he would be doing in the coming years.

Want to say a few things here which are purely personal statements which a staunch fan of SRK is making...whoever doesn't agree, kindly do not take to heart. SRK is a natural king...and he knows how to rule. He is a normal human being at the same time, and he is concerned about his throne. But this concern doesn't stop him from being himself. SRK hasn't changed his hair syle ever, neither his looks, neither has he been taking up roles just for the sake of making a mark. He has enjoyed and dutifully done whatever has come his way...and that is why he holds on to his position so damn strongly. If you know your standard, you can always stand up with your head held high, even after a mistake. The good part is that except for a couple of movies in the very beginning of his career, I have never seen SRK doing mistakes.

So here is a winner who comes in the first scene of the movie. The penalty stroke...a captain should lead from the front, so he decides to take it himself. People in the hall comment, "I think he'd miss it"...I...a die hard fan...speak to myself..."Shah Rukh can't lose!" and he misses...oh my God! The anguish that torments my mind...overwhelms me! His suffering in the moments that followed, and during the unfortunate events that followed, when he is marked a traitor....I suffer along with him.

And then after some time the real story line begins. There is a perpetually side-lined thing called women's hockey in the country, and a perpetually blacklisted hero comes forward to revive it, and perhaps along with that revive his lost pride. And indeed it's a difficult job. Excellent editing I should say...editing is the thing that maintains the speed of a movie...and without this efficient an editing, I wonder how much successful this unusual story telling would have been. Glimpses, just glimpses of the 16 young fighters who are going to get assembled and trained to bring about a wonder...but glimpses enough to show us their traits. It was evident from the first scene that this is not a story of hero worshipping...it is a story which rather focusses more on the negative traits of their character...and how they emerge victorious from the things that could very well hold them back.

And now about the coach who shows them the right path that leads to victory. Oh my God! I can die for that man in Ray Ban. He looked ultimate. Not to mention his acting. If you are not intelligent, you cannot do intelligent acting. Just the right expressions. Can't tell how much Shah Rukh impressed me in this movie. He never overshadowed the young rookies. But he just held on to his own magnetic personality. Kabir Khan and Shah Rukh Khan became one and the same. A winner always guides others to win.

Excellent screenplay. Just the right dialogues, short, precise and hugely impacting. A diamond cuts diamond. Obstinacy from the team members is cut by even more obstinacy from the coach. Diplomatic at every step, he is well aware of the loop holes that led to the scar in his career. He battles from Day 1 to remove these loopholes. As the girls makes a ploy to remove him from his position, he has the farsight to realise that this is their first step towards being a unified in a mission. He gradually achieves everything, team spirit, fighting mentality and the committment to win. The men's hockey team acknowledges the talent of the ladies' team even though they lose to them 2-3 in a game that was organized to prove their worthlessness and drive their deserved money to the men's team. It was the first victory for Kabir. He tells his team, that they are flying to Australia...for the world championship.

Vidya, the captain. Married to a family who wants her to be a housewife. Kabir understands her agony, her confusions...and through these lesser qualities, is very well able to see her determination. Just the right quality a girl should have, to lead this team against all adversities. Preeti, the gorgeous looking fiance of the vice captain of Indian Cricket team. Is that her identity and hockey her pastime? No and just the opposite. She fights on to prove herself...and while making an impossible promise of coming to the lime light when they return, she is shaky, emotionally drained...but she makes the promise all the same. Bindiya, the girl with a complicated character, who always complicates things. Fights for the position that she thinks her seniority should deserve. Kabir is not willing to abide by her wishes. A silent fight goes on between the two, which finally results in a truce during a most critical match which nothing but Bindiya's experience could have saved. Komal, the village girl who has the guts to come here after fighting with her family.

A shattered team after a 7-nil loss to host Aussies in the opening game, Kabir patiently bring them together. This reminds me of a dialogue said earlier in the movie in context of Kabir's own failure...ek galti to sabki maaf hotihai...perhaps God consented to forgive this one mistake of the team he has so painstakenly formed. The next match with England, and here comes a transformed team. The English coach is confused...which one of them is didi...the didis finally lead to a 1-0 victory. And this saga continues...right unto the finale. 16 gorgeous ladies in sarees bordered with the Indian tricolor in the pre match evening reception. The three party discussion between Kabir, Preeti and Komal, to sort out the only loop hole that still threats the team. Their silent competition of scoring the maximum number of goals. The discussion drifts on without a solution, an agitated Kabir leaves and Preeti unhappily remarks...main ek laundeko dikhana chahtihun ek laundiya kya karsaktihai...such unpolished language, so uncharacteristic of Preeti, just to impress upon Komal the importance of her mission to herself.

And a most beautiful scene in the game next day, when the Aussie coach is sure that Komal won't pass to Preeti and flagging off the same to his Goalie...when Komal passes...and shouts to Preeti...dikhade us launde ko...and woman power glitters with the newfound identity. But success doesn't come so easily. The tie break...and first two shots are missed.

Preeti urges Komal to take her shot. Komal brings the first success.
Vidya saves.
Mary the penalty stroke specialist scores.
Vidya saves.
Bindiya the most experienced doesn't succumb to pressure. She makes the goal.
Kabir knows the moment has arrived. From his experience he studies and finds out where the striker is aiming. But how to communicate this to Vidya. He desparately wants Vidya to look at him. The last few months had gone in creating a team spirit so that even the untold can be realized. Vidya looks...just as the striker strikes. Kabir asks her to stay at her place.
VIDYA SAVES!!!

As they say, impossible is nothing. And didn't I tell you, Shah Rukh can't lose. India can’t lose. Me, you, none of us can lose. Just that we need that spirit to fight. Come let’s win!

Indeed a good movie. Please watch.