BOLLYWOOD XI

Hi guys I came across this interesting article in Sunday Times so thought of posting a blog on it. It deals with sports films made till date in India which are worth a watch.

BOLLYWOOD XI

1. CHAK DE! INDIA 2007 Spurred by a no-nonsense coach fighting demons of the past, a bunch of no-hope-in-hell hockey players dribble past gender prejudices and overcome their own insecurities to win the women’s World Cup. Director Shimit Amin’s flick makes you laugh, cry and soar







2. JO JEETA WOHI SIKANDER 1992 Shopkeeper’s boy ignores the neighbourhood sweetheart and dreams of hooking up with the school’s gold-digging hotbod. Redemption comes calling in a cycle race he wins despite all odds




3. SAHEB 1985 Young goalkeeper (Anil Kapoor) with a heart of gold sells his kidney and barters his career for the sake of family. Reward comes in the form of a great job and the horsy Amrita Singh. Original Bengali version starred Tapas Pal, Tollywood star and Trinamul leader





4. HIP HIP HURRAY 1984 City-bred computer engineer becomes a parttime physical training teacher in laidback Ranchi and ends up reforming a bunch of rowdy kids through football. Director Prakash Jha’s first film had innocence, heart and a star Bollywood never had: Nikhil Bhagat




5. MOHUN BAGANER MEYE 1976 A Mohun Bagan fan gets married into rival club-loving household. Starring Utpal Dutt and Robi Ghosh, there’s no dearth of humour and mayhem in this Bengali film




6. DHANNI MEYE 1971 No village football match had more intrigues and was more passionately contested than this Uttam Kumar-Jaya Bhaduri Bengali film








7. KAVALAM CHUNDAN 1965 Malayalam cinema’s charming tribute to the annual snake boat race in Kerala’s backwaters and the village that first won it thrice. The track, Kuttanadan punchayile kochu penne, kuyilaale, is regarded as an all-time classic
   
   


8. IQBAL 2005 With a little help from a coach drenched in country liquor, a deaf and dumb boy overcomes physical handicaps and social prejudices to succeed as a cricketer. Director Nagesh Kukunoor’s flick engages, shakes and stirs
   
   












9. FOOTBALL SHOOTBALL HAI RABBA 2002 Spunky Indo-British girl hates cooking aloo gobhi and loves to bend it like Beckham. Director Gurinder Chaddha’s endearing ode to football feminism. Hotspot: Watch Keira Knightley before she became the Keira Knightley
   
   








10. LAGAAN 2001 In the dustbowls of hinterland India, a bunch of pugnacious villagers challenge their colonial masters to a game of cricket. Director Ashutosh Gowarikar’s blockbuster, brimming with feel-good proto-nationalism, converted cinema halls into stadiums .
11. SHATRANJ KE KHILADI 1977 Few Indian films have used sports to examine complex social and political issues. But director Satyajit Ray’s movie based on Premchand’s story is an exception. The movie isn’t only about the game that Sanjeev Kumar and Saeed Jaffery play in homes and open fields; it is also about the game that the colonial rulers played .

CHAK DE INDIA

CHAK-DE INDIA

The biggest movie of the year released , I say big due to SRK factor. Yeah the movie is big and the movie is just SUPERB. Best Sports based Indian Movie till date , I say so bcoz Lagaan has a British element there and not a pure Sports movie.

Moving on the movie is about a National Hockey Player Kabir Khan who gets De-famed due to some sabotage in his image after his team loses at the last moment in the final. He is announced as a traitor by people and he subjected to social Boycott . After Seven years of exile he comes back to coach the Women's hockey team which is fighting for its survival. He takes this opportunity to restore his pride .

Then starts the fight of a coach against the hockey association and against people who think that women cant do what men do. He forms a team which has got players from all over the country who are of different thinking's and different in their lifestyle.

Now talking about the Direction of movie, Shimit Amin of Ab tak 56 fame,has done an excellent job keeping the movie right on track without putting in some commercial elements. The sports shots of hockey have been shot brilliantly which excites the audience . The best part is the variety of cast of hockey players which connect with audience very well . There are lot of comic moments among the Girls which make people laugh out loud. There are also some very emotional moments like when the Men's Hockey team gives the women's team a bow.

SRK is just fantastic in his role as coach which he has done with a lot of conviction . He plays a brilliant coach who knows his job very well and doesn't fall prey to Player Politics. He teaches the team to attack the opposition's mind and not physically . He has acted brilliantly in scenes where he is accused of traiting India. He as usual is really KING of all actors and connects very well with the audience.

The movie is a must watch for every Indian and is full of patriotism . With Independence day round the corner the movie is bound to work. The Movie has an excellent message that every SPORT deserves respect and not just CRICKET. The movie will appeal maximum to Indian Women and every women should watch it for sure. There is a feel good factor about the movie which will leave a mark on audience's mind.

The background score and music is just great and suites the movie very well. The SCRIPT by Jaydeep Sahni is very tight and doesn't get Vague at any moment. Hats off to the Entire TEAM. Final word, a must watch for every Indian.

Movie Rating: **** fours stars just for the excellent performances and great script

and direction. Go for it .