Director: Shimit Amin
Starring: Shah Rukh Khan, Vidya Malvade and Shilpa Shukla
‘A Captivating Bollywood Classic’
Few actors in Bollywood are as beloved as Shah Rukh Khan. Ever since his rise toward recognition in the 1990’s, Khan has become one of the greatest actors in the Indian film industry. Whether it is star-crossed lovers, gangsters or doomed superheroes, Khan has proven he can portray many characters. Arguably, Khan’s finest strength as an actor has always been his charisma. He has often been of those rare actors with the abilities to use his charisma to attract audiences to the theatres. Through his abilities to play characters which prove to be compelling, Khan has created a legacy that’s lasting. Known as the Badshah of Bollywood, Khan has stood the test of time as a great icon in Indian Cinema. Despite reaching the ages of retirement, Khan hasn’t lost his passions for making engaging entertainment. An icon in India, Khan has become a bold actor whose movies commonly attract audiences to the Cinema. Throughout his long-lasting career, Khan has appeared in several unforgettable movies which are definitely without a doubt worth watching.
I’m a huge fan of Khan and adore all films he has made in his career. However, “Chak De! India” is definitely his most underrated work. Released in 2007, Shimit Amin’s film offered a strong portrait of cricket players. Packed with breathtaking production, bold storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s one of the best sports movies ever made. At the centre of it all is an excellent performance by Shah Rukh Khan, who embodies a strict coach of a women’s sports team. Ultimately, what makes “Chak De! India” a classic is its strong appeal. Unlike most Bollywood films, it tackles strong themes that everyone will relate to. Viewers don’t need to be familiar with the game of hockey to appreciate it. A captivating Bollywood classic about hockey, there are many strong reasons why “Chak De! India” is worth watching.
“Chak De! India” tells the story of a coach that strives to care for a woman’s hockey team in India. Shah Rukh Khan embodies Kabir Khan, the cynical coach of an Indian hockey team. Following scandalous match fixing incidences, Kabir has given up on his dreams of managing a strong hockey team. However, Kabir’s life forever changes when he is tasked to coach a women’s team with anger. Forced to set sexist prejudices aside, Kabir struggles to guide a women’s team to victories with pride. Facing a dilemma, Kabir questions whether it’s possible for him to be a powerful coach managing a hockey team in India.
Shimit Amin is a newcomer towards stories of hockey teams. Before he directed “Chak De! India”, Amin had never produced a film about hockey. It was the director’s first ever attempt to capture the struggles of hockey players in India but he succeeded. Through captivating cinematography, Amin conveys a strict coach on a journey to guide women hockey teams to victory. Evoking Ashutosh Gowariker’s “Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India”, Amin successfully uses montages to capture women’s hockey games that face a dilemma. For instance, montages enhance the training scene. During this unforgettable scene, Kabir Khan holds a training session seeking to prepare his women’s team for an upcoming game. Using training montages, Amin creates a portrait of hockey which is compelling. Montages are tricky techniques to use in movies. As Karan Johar’s “Kuch Kuch Hota” suggested, montages elevate college romance movies. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this movie. Using bold visuals, Amin captures tension that women hockey players are facing.
Another strong aspect of “Chak De! India” that merits appreciation is the production. From a technical perspective, it’s one of the best Bollywood movies that you’ll ever see. Amin’s decision to shoot the movie in real-life hockey stadiums across India is tricky but succeeds immensely. For instance, the real-life stadiums enhance the final match scene. During this heartfelt scene, Kabir is determined to achieve victories in his final hockey game. Through stunning locations of hockey stadiums, Amin creates a portrait of the game that’s engaging. Salim Merchant’s music is key to the success of the movie. It gives the film a tense atmosphere capturing the heavy burden that hockey players bear. Using strong production, Amin constructs a compelling hockey competition.
Storytelling is one of the reasons why “Chak De! India” is a movie about hockey which is engaging. The film is beautifully written, and effectively uses silence to capture hardships that hockey players always experience. For instance, silence elevates the coach scene. During this intense scene, Kabir recounts his sad memories of losing a hockey game that cages tension. Through silence, Amin crafts a portrait of hockey which audiences relate to. Silence is a complex technique to use in movies. As Ashutosh Gowariker’s “Swades” proved, silence enhances Bollywood films about homeland. Nikhil Advani’s “Kal Ho Na Ho” proved that silence enhances movies about terminal illness. Nevertheless, it works well in this movie. Through an extraordinary screenplay, Amin honours hockey games in India today.
One appreciates astonishing performances.
Shah Rukh Khan delivers one of his greatest career performances as Kabir Khan. Khan achieved appreciation for playing romantic heroes in Bollywood movies. With “Chak De! India”, however, the actor took on his most complex role. It isn’t easy to play a coach of a prestigious women’s hockey team but he succeeds. This is the actor unlike you have ever seen him before: intense, charismatic and emotional in his most stern role. With riveting expressions, he captures the angst, bravery and strong personality of an Indian hockey coach. It’s a powerful performance from one of the most commemorated actors in Bollywood today.
While the film is mainly a strong showcase for Khan, the supporting cast is fantastic and also deserving of appreciation. Vidya Malvade is magnificent, capturing charisma of a young hockey player seeing success in a tense competition in India. Shilpa Shulkla is spectacular, capturing the short temper of a tempestuous female hockey player in extreme pressure. Lastly, Sagarika Ghatge deserves appreciation. As a female hockey player, she is unforgettable.
Finally, “Chak De! India” will earn praise of everyone for capturing hockey teams that seek success in India. Unlike most Indian movies, it tackles strong themes everyone would relate to. It tackles powerful themes such as ambition, mental health and grief which will resonate with everyone. Viewers don’t need to be familiar with Indian hockey to appreciate it. Therefore, “Chak De! India” is one of those rare movies about hockey everyone would adore.
Fans of Shah Rukh Khan would enjoy “Chak De! India” and so will audiences that seek exhilarating entertainment. A spectacular Indian sports drama, it honours an iconic actor with charisma.
Nearly 20 years following the release of a groundbreaking Bollywood movie about a hockey coach seeing victory, it’s a strong reminder of legendary Indian actor that’s built a strong legacy through his ability to portray strong characters in unforgettable movies audiences love dearly.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 