Chak de India...Rocks!!!!

Rating: 10/10 (14 August 2007)

When I first Saw the poster of movie on Web or promo on TV, for me it was just an another flick on movie + Sport. The only change was that this time instead of Cricket, they have chosen even more sounding bore 'Hockey'. So, truly speaking, I had no interest in movie despite it has Shahrukh Khan in it (which also doesn't attract me anymore because of his portrayal of same old emotion in same old manner). But suddenly on Saturday morning, there is huge BUZZ on television channels about movie, creating some feel good factor, so for a movie buff like me, it enough to give me a kick to go and watch the movie.
The movie start with introduction of Kabir Khan (Shahrukh) as one great hockey player and how he miss one final and important penalty against Arch rival Pakistan which kills his entire career; and being Muslim, add more misery in his life as people start treating him like a Pakistani residing in India and still playing for Pakistan. He has to left his home as well as Hockey for some 7 year before he return back as Coach of Women Hockey Team, who is looking for coach to lead team to world cup, just to prove that his is still hard-core Hindustani from heart and the best player in hockey. What he get is bunch of 16 gals, who all hale from diff part of India and have lots of ego. They all lend up to play for themselves and have no respect for country or team. Then start the grooming of Gals by coach Shahrukh and how he get involved with each players in order to improve them as better player. He finally able to manage to take women team to Australia for Women Hockey world cup final and how he make them to win against all odds. Don't think that I have kill the excitement of Story as pleasure of this movie doesn't lie in Story but in character development and screenplay.
The cast of movie is just so Amazing. After years, I have seen such a good cast especially these bunch of gals who before doing movie neither was Hockey players nor actresses except one or two odds. Chitrashi Rawat as Komal Chautala, Shilpa Shukla as Bindia Naik, Vidya Malavade as Vidya Sharma and Tanya Abrol as Balbir Kaur are just better then any existing actresses. Other gals too have worked wonderfully and especially Sagarika Ghatge (Preeti Sabarwal) who would definitely go very far as she has a face of actress but need more polishing in terms of acting. Now Shahrukh. What I can say. Speechless is what I become as he really dominate all the scenes and looks so convincing as coach of Indian women hockey team. After few minutes in movies, you really start looking him more as hockey coach rather then Star Shahrukh Khan.
Shimin Amin as director already proved himself with Ab tak chappan and this attempt is even better then earlier. He really have grasp on trade and not a single moment come in movie where you will feel to move out of chair. The pace is kept at quite a good speed i.e. neither fast nor slow, and you will cherish every moment which is been lived up on screen. They best part is that it has no routine songs or useless romance exist between coach or any player. Songs are played in background and especially Chak de India number by Salim - Sulaiman duo will pushed you so much that you really want to jump in movie theater and want to say aloud...Chak de India.
Finally, A MUST DEKHO movie for everyone along with your whole family. Be prepared to paint you face with tricolour as you will experience same kind of thrills, voices, buckups and clapping which you mostly found in cricket stadium between India and Pakistan matches during movie. Excellent attempt to lift some hope for our dying national game "HOCKEY".
Rating (out of 5): ****