Chak De: Winner All the Way!

With Independence Day around the corner, Yash Raj Films decided to pay its tribute not only to the nation but to its national game too, through an effectively directed film, titled Chak De India.

Written by Jaideep Sahni with its foundation being a real life story and directed by Shimit Amin Chak De India belongs to a genre of the premium sports based Bollywood film. It is replete with myriad emotions. And the best part is that it is not a film about ‘ oh-so-obvious’ cricket or football, but our national game hockey. Shimit Amin tells the story very pragmatically, making it all the more realistic.

Chak De India is a story about a despoiled ex- national hockey player, who shows up after seven years, to motivate and coach the national women’s hockey team. Shah Rukh Khan plays the coach in query, Kabir Khan. As coach his techniques are extraordinary. He teaches his team to forget their regional identities. They're all playing for the country and winning a hockey match is not about personal successes but combined endeavour.

Apart from King Khan we have the 16 actresses, which make up the women’s hockey team. Despite their terrible acting skills, they come across as delightful and appealing because the director upholds their innate impulses. Tanya Abrol who plays the Punjabi kudi, Balbir and Chitrashi Rawat who plays the minuscule Komal are nothing short of brilliance.

After a long time, perhaps since Swades, Shah Rukh plays a role without any of his emblematic accoutrements. He uses his dialogues and facial expressions to his advantage and delivers a praiseworthy performance. He plays the role of a coach with such conviction that the character of Kabir Khan seems to be life-like. The passion that Kabir Khan has for his game is what makes him the one above.

Director Shimit Amin strokes all the right chords when he creates those excellent altercation scenes between the girls. Moreover, there is a patriotic angle to the entire plot and it talks about gender bias too. In short it has all the essential elements to be a riveting film.

The film’s climax is the World Hockey Championship, which keeps you glued to your seat. The hockey scenes are excellent and dramatically shot. It gives you the feeling as if you are sitting in a stadium and Championship is going on. It is a mind-blowing experience. The director weaves in emotion, empathy and enthusiasm to the entire plot. It is improbable that the film will bore you, even if you are not a sports freak. I think it is one of those films that every enthusiast of good cinema must watch.