Post-mortem-e-film - Chak De India

What is Post-mortem-e-film

This ain’t a run of the mill film review that simply gives a brief account of the films story and either recommends the film or asks you to stay away from it. This is a my new format meant for those who have already seen the movie or know the story. It is my take on the movie in an analytical manner so as to discuss the movie in its entirety (including recommendation and criticism).

Chak De India

Well, the only times that I had seen hockey sticks before was in the action-formula films of the 80s. There it did not exactly serve the purpose that it was originally meant to. Since then, hockey as a sport was somewhere lost in the hype created by cricket and later by tennis (read Sania Mirza).

But Jaideep Sahni, the writer of Chak de India not only gives the game its due recognition, but also gives us some fantastic cinema which not only entertains us but also touches us. And is what great films are supposed to do, they connect with you in a manner no other medium can.

We all know the story, so no point in discussing it; but little do we know that the movie is loosely based on the life of Ex-Indian Hockey player Mir Ranjan Negi.(See his is picture on the left) Negi lost a match against pakistan 7-1 in 1982 and was made responsible for the loss. He was also called a traitor for fixing the match. But he emerged again after 16 years and he coached the Indian Men's Hockey team in Bangkok Asian Games 1998, where the team won Gold medal. He recreated the success with Indian Women's Hockey Team as well in Manchester Commonwealth Games of 2002. Mir Ranjan Negi was hired as the Technical Advisor by Aditya Chopra for Chak De.

This movie succeeds on many levels, script, screenplay, editing, direction, casting and last but not the least performances.

For Chak de, one khan (Shah Rukh) lets the other khan (Kabir) take over. The films showcase SRK as a character called Kabir Khan and not as the Star that he his. He does not romance any heroines (like his previous Yash Raj films) and there is not romantic angle to his character. The audience is watching the film with Kabir khan in mind and not the star. He even tired to cover his good looks and grew a beard to look more like the character of a non glam Muslim. Shimit Amin, the director has made SRK give heart and soul to this movie. Among the girls, Shilpa Shukla (Naik) and Vidya Malavde (Vidya Sharma-Goalee) and Sagarika Ghatge (Preeti Sabarwal) have meatier roles than the other girls in the team. But Chitrashi Rawat (Komal Chautala) and Tanya Abrol (Balbir Kaur) get good amount of screen footage.

Vidya Malavde made her debut in the forgettable Mahesh Bhatt movie, Intehaa after which she did a B Grade movie Mashooka before getting a break in Chak De. Wonder if she is the one who replaced Neetu Chandra. Shilpa Shukla has had a screen presence in Silent Waters / Khamosh Pan, Frozeni and Hazaaron Khwaishein Aise (don’t remember seeing her in it though). There’s an “Aap ko pehle bhi kahin dekha hai” feel to Sagarika Ghatge but don’t remember where was she last seen on TV or movies. Read somewhere that she is a national athlete who misses the shooting of Chak De so much that she has bought herself a Hockey stick as a reminiscent of the wonderful time.

The most awesome scene in the movie is the one when the girls lose out to the boys, but they (boys) still praise their effort and their game by raising their sticks in the girls’ direction and they in turn raise their sticks for Kabir Khan. What an awesome scene, take a bow Shimit Amin. We need more film makers like you.

The other scene is the one in which Kabir Khan sees an Australian hoists the Indian Tri-colour. A routine for the Australian, but an awe inspiring scene for an Indian to see it’s flag hoisted by a Gora. Too Good!!

The Hockey matches engross you in a manner as if you are watching the real game and not a fictional movie. Shimit Amin has paid tremendous attention to detail. Even in film placements of Puma and Ultratech Cement have been dealt with intelligently and made it an essential part of the script.

There are some who spoil the party by drawing parallels of Chak De with Hollywood flick, The Mighty Ducks. I haven’t seen the film as yet but planning to watch it soon. But if it is copied, mere adapting it to Indian scenarios and the audience requires a lot of effort. Kudos to the entire team for it

This movie is recommended for everyone.

In fact I feel the movie is a must watch for anyone who has to handle a team, so all you team leaders, managers etc. go watch this move as you will only learn from it. The way Kabir Khan builds his team, with all it differences and the differences of the team players with each other is simply commendable.

Yash Chopra has been brave to support a project like this which has no conventional Bollywood film elements in it. Ti simply rocks.

Chak De !!

View exclusive and probably unseen pictures of the films cast over here:

For all of you who have become instant fans of Sagarika Ghatge (Preeti Sabarwal)

Pritam the Copycat

While surfing the net, I came across this piece of info on Pritam, the guy behind the music of Dhoom 1 and 2, Gangster, Chocolate, Woh Lamhe, Awaarapan, Life in a Metro and so on. But it was quite surprising to know that most of his superhit songs are actually copied or if euphemism is to be used "inspired" from other international albums (mainly pakistani). The list of his copied works appears on this page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pritam

It may be interesting to know that sometimes the producers hear a certain song and ask their music director to "lift" the song for their movie. Most of Pritam's copied songs are from movies made by the Bhatts i.e Mahesh and Mukesh. Mahesh Bhatt is known for his affinity for Pakistan and Pakistani music and it could be quite likely that he forced Pritam to "lift"the songs that he (Mahesh)likes and include them in the movies produced by the bhatts.

However in the process Pritam has lost his credibility. In due course of time Pakistani music will available to indians if not thru anything else then thru internet. Only then the Mahesh bhatts and Pritams of bollywood will try to make original music. (One only hopes so)

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