vamsi krishna

I have never written a review for at least 5 years, but couldn't stop writing for this. As many have already said this is one of best sport based movies. However, I feel Cricket is just a premise to move the story ahead. It shows the struggle and redemption of a once excellent cricketer who couldn't realise his dreams earlier and challenges himself in an age when most sports persons retire, to once again achieve his dream. What lies beneath all this is the love of a father for his son. We realise that the man takes on life to achieve what he couldn't earlier, not because he wants it personally or for platitudes from those around him, but for his son and only his son. The beauty of the film is it is never preachy or goes overboard with narration, in spite of the need to inject commercial elements. We see a man, who, for most part of his life knew nothing but play cricket and is struggling not knowing what to do to support his family as he is suspended from his government job. And cannot play cricket either, till he sees the spark and pride in his son's eyes when he watches his father play in a charity match. Now the father in him longs to see that pride in his son's eyes and he is willing to go to whatever lengths he can. The son asks his father to present the jersey of Indian team, which the father is unable to do so as he doesn't have money. Now, having seen the pride in his son's eyes for him when plays cricket, the father sets about to get his son the real jersey, not by buying it but rather by earning a place in Indian team.This is also where the title of the film comes from and is perfectly apt. The performance of every actor is superb as we don't see the actors but the characters. All technical aspects are well dealt as well. I actually want this film to be simply dubbed rather than remade in other languages, for it is difficult to match the performances of the main actors, who are restrained yet powerful in their display of the characters. Only gripe, if one call it that, is I would have liked the songs, which again are excellently rendered on screen in the background without stopping the narration, to be a bit more absorbing. The songs work well in the movie but not much as standalone listening. They are good but not great. On the whole, I would give it top rating, whatever the metric.