Chak De India!

I saw a movie in an Indian Theatre after two years, and the movie was Chak De India.
Awesome movie, I enjoyed watching it. Here are five reasons why I liked Chak De India



1) SRK and the girls:You go to the theatre to watch SRK. But you'll be surprised that it is the 16 girls that steal the show. SRK has given a tight and restricted performance and ensures that the girls are the ones who manage to keep the audience involved.

2)Good direction: No scene is extended (expected from a typical bollywood flick). It is fast and crisp. Knowing that it is a Yash Raj production, one would have expected some pompous sets and this would have made the film look unreal. Have a look at the training camps, the hostel where the girls practice in the movie, and you will know what I am talking about.

3)Itz about hockey and not cricket.: And this is just another reason I liked it. This movie will for sure create some awareness and at least lure some youngsters to have a serious look at the game. The national sport of India is always given a second rate treatment, and the success of the movie will for sure motivate a few young folks to take up the sport. One of the radio channels in Bangalore organized a hockey match on Independence day, and it was nice to know that there were several girls who had signed up for it.

4)Some good management fundas: I won' be surprised if the movie makes it to the Indian B Schools as case study. Lagaan was a long movie and had lot of songs etc. This movie talks about determination, discipline, strategy, keeping your cool, and placing the needs of the team before self. Good stuff!

5)Powerful dialogues: And they hit you hard. There is a scene when one of girls in the firm ("Nethra Reddy") gives a fitting reply to answer what is the difference between Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. In Bangalore, where I was watching this movie, there was a thunderous applause from the audience for that dialogue. Another one was when SRK says that there can only be one bully in the team . Reminded me of Denzel Washingtons' statement in Remember the Titans "Now, you know who your daddy is, don't you?

The movie is refreshing. It is fast paced. There is no love angle. All the girls have done very well to look and act like hockey players. I had gone to see the movie with not many expectations, but I was pleasantly surprised to watch a unique bollywood flick.


A few days back, I read a quote that said "Failure reminds you of one thing - that the determination to succeed was not strong enough". Shahrukh "Kabir" Khan in the movie was determined to coach a team so that they could win the world cup. He had to restore his lost pride and there were several challenges lined up for him. The movie beautifully describes a man's lone journey at restoring his pride and a team's belief that they can achieve a dream.I liked SRK in Swades and Paheli. Here is another movie of his that I liked. The maturity with which he acts will make you realize why he still commands the leadership position in Bollywood. More well crafted roles for SRK please.!

Some Bollywood Sports Movies:Iqbal,Bend it Like Beckham,Lagaan,Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander, Saheb,Hip Hip Hooray,Shatranj ke Khiladi,

Hollywood Sports Films:Remember the Titans,Hoosiers, Caddyshack, Ragin Bull, Chariots of Fire, Rocky, The Hustler,Body and Soul, National velvet, The Natural, When we were kings