Mirror Mirror on the Wall : A review of Chak De India
The state of Maine in the United States is a magical place. No where is the water as clear ,or is as blue. No where the sky as inspiring. While in Maine it seems that one is part of one of God’s masterpiece paintings. One walks in humility completely in awe of nature. This weekend I took off from Teterboro airport (TEB) on my maiden flight after getting my pilot license (sports). The weather was bad on Friday and my friend who is a chicken at heart right away began to draw parallels with JFK Jr’s tragic flight. It took a while to get her on the plane. I assured her that unlike JFK Jr I would fly mostly IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) and not VFR (Visual Flight Rules). I also reminded her that I don’t do drugs nor do I consume intoxicating drinks. Moreover the plane we were flying, I told her, was brand spanking new and with the latest technology (unlike JFK Jr’s hand me down plane). With a little caution, the flight was very uneventful, we got to enchanting Maine safe and sound.
In the dreamlike land of Maine, I found myself in front of The Magical Mirror. This mirror is brutally honest. It is very unkind to most people. It calls a spade a spade. I am very fortunate that The Magical Mirror is very kind to me. In return I do not take it for granted. I always look and admire the mirror as much as I look and admire myself in it. The fact that I am not vain, certainly helps. Hence, on Sunday morning while my friend was off to the Church (her father is a Pastor at a local Church in Maine). I found myself in front of The Magical Mirror. I had made this trip only to be in front of The Magical Mirror (but please don’t reveal this to my friend). I asked “Mirror Mirror on the wall which is the best sports film of them all”. See, I am not vain, and shame on you for thinking I would fish for compliments.
The Magical Mirror replied “Many sports movies that have been made in Hollywood. Some of them have been just brilliant. Unfortunately there has never been a big budget sports movie attempted in Bollywood”
I apologized and interrupted, “What about Lagaan”. The Magical Mirror got very upset, “Laagan was a jingoistic formula movie with cricket thrown in. It was not a sports movie. It was a villager, Bhuvan’s wet dream. There is no doubt that Lagaan was a good movie, but it was not a sports movie”. The Magical Mirror went silent for while. I was scared that it would now not finish the thought that I had interrupted. Hence I said “I am sorry that I interrupted, please continue, I will not do that again”.
The Magical Mirror continued “Pound for pound, as a sports movie, Chak De India is no less than the best of sports movies made in Hollywood. But when you consider the social commentary that CDI provides and the fact that it allows us an inside look at the state of affairs in India today, one has to attach greater importance to CDI. Very few sports movies have been able to arise above and beyond their niche. CDI as a movie apart from being a fantastic sports movie also straddles the domain of say Bimal Roy’s Do Bhiga Zameen with equal elegance. Therefore for its dual duty, it qualifies to be counted amongst the best movies ever made. It is certainly the best sports movie ever made.”
“Wow”, I said, “Tell me oh Mirror Mirror on the wall, what do you think about the production values”
The Magical Mirror responded “All praise be to God for giving Yash Chopra and the dashing young Adi the strength and courage to make this movie. It is a miracle that this movie was made. It is a no nonsense movie. There is none of the usual Bollywood cheesiness in this movie. In CDI there is no demented aging actor in awful getup shaking his hips gingerly to some over the top song. On the other hand, even with SRK in the movie the producers did not succumb to the temptation of inserting some romance and some songs. Chak De India could not have been made without the courage of YRF. Additionally praise be to God for giving Jaideep Sahni the talent to write a complex multi dimensional story with no compromises. A story told straight from the heart without any apologies. Finally, praise be to God for giving Shimit Amin the ability to convert a rich story into a visual poem. Keeping the narrative as simple as possible and yet very thrilling and entertaining. Nothing in CDI is forced or contrived. The movie follows a pleasant arc and ends in total satisfaction”
Sensing that it would not be too long before my friend returned from Church, I quickly asked “Mirror Mirror on the wall, what do think of SRK’s performance”.
After some deliberation, The Magical Mirror replied, “It is easy to take major risks when you are over the hill, or a has been. It is likewise also easy to take a risk when you are a young turk and have nothing to loose. Nonetheless it is very difficult to take risks when you are at the top. It is even more difficult when you are attempting to be constructively disruptive (going against the grain of what has made you great). For his ability to constantly take risk I salute SRK. For his ability to take risk even while at the very pinnacle of his career I commend him. May SRK go from strength to strength. SRK is the very soul of CDI. Without SRK (the 16 girls were brilliant too) there would be no CDI. It can be said that CDI is proof positive why SRK is the best ever actor that Bollywood has seen. No amount of praise is enough. No one could have done Kabir Khan”
At that point The Magical Mirror stopped talking. It went into a deep thought and then said, “Did I not tell you months ago to hold all awards this year for SRK. Did I not tell you months ago that SRK will show once and for all why he is the Don Jungli Billa Khan of Bollywood. Did I not tell you days before the movie released that CDI was going to be the best sports movie ever made. Why are you wasting your time asking me the same things again? A tall young handsome and athletic man with light hair and even lighter eyes could have used this opportunity to fish for some compliments. But instead you ask me the same old questions again”.
To which I replied, “I just wanted to confirm the truth, besides I am not vain”.
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superb review!!!!!!!!1 of the most movies ever made,truly,wid everything mixed in!!!!!such movie should be duly saluted like u did!!!!!!!!!!hat’s off!
Hie…ur review was awesome just like the movie itself…
i liked ur presentation…
keep writing alwaz
love
sweets
Awesome review .. really two thumbs up for SRK & Adi for making such a bold attempt .. The movie deserves these kind of reviews .. Based on National sport .. Jai Hind & Vande Mataram .. Enjoy indians on this 60′th Independence Day ..
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