Chak De! India...
Can I say a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my wonderful friend c_cfan? Have an awesome day!!!!
And - HAPPY 60TH INDEPENDENCE DAY, INDIA!!!! Mera bharat mahan ki jai! We worked long and hard for our freedom - let's make use of our wonderful diversity and make our new momentum count!!
On this note - I saw Chak De! India (with Shah Rukh Khan as coach Kabir Khan) and I absolutely loved it...
"Kuch kariye, kuch kariye...." *bounces* "Chak De... Chak De, ho Chak De India..."
I loved it.
I really did. I found myself enjoying the whole movie and simultaneously critiquing whilst allowing myself to get swept up in this... very emotional film.
To put it broadly - Chak De! India is a relatively predictable and emotion-filled sports film - you know, the ragtag tea with a hardworking, passionate coach who rises to achieve the best they can in the field of that sport.
In this case - the Indian women's hockey team, who travel to Melbourne (!!!) for the Women's Hockey World Championships.
But there are so many connotations just in that one statement that made the film that much more.
I loved the way the film touched upon many different (some taboo) aspects of India, Indian women and sport in India - the wonderful mix of realistically beautiful young women from all around India (the girl from Haryana was just gorgeous) and the associated issues, national unity, women's rights, the bureaucracy, corruption, match-fixing, poverty, religion...
What I loved that it wasn't shyed away from - it was dealt with, it was part of the plot and overcome.
The movie had some strong messages which I think is really timely - women's rights and independence within India, and national unity. Mera bharat mahan!!
Being an Indian and Yash Raj (with Shah Rukh) film, it was bound to be emotional, and it was - but in this case, I didn't mind. I was swept up in the emotion - the audience in the cinema clapped when Kabir points out (as an Aus official puts up the Indian flag) - that this was the first time he had seen a foreigner lift the Indian flag.
Perhaps the film went over-the-top at times, but I'm so glad that finally there is some enthusiasm in the country, y'know? Who cares if you could construe it (like my freakin history teacher would) as propaganda? We need this - we need this unity, this pride, this confidence. And damn it, we deserve it.
I'm making this film sound really serious, aren't I? But it's not, not really - it's damn funny (there are some really cute scenes - but I'll let you see it yourself), well made (Yash Raj - duh) and beautifully shot - with some really rousing tracks. It's been a while since I've wanted to really dance to a Bollywood film song without cringing at the practically naked women on the screen. "Chak De... ho Chak De India... Chak De ho Chak De India!!!!!!"
A Bollywood film without the "Bollywood masala" - A wonderfully light movie - good for some smiles and some nourishing of the spirit. And so today, on India's 60th Independence Day, I cry - "Chak De! India"!!!!!!!
For a more articulate review, and covering a few things I forgot - http://www.musicindiaonline.com/ar/i/movie_name/9230/1/
And - HAPPY 60TH INDEPENDENCE DAY, INDIA!!!! Mera bharat mahan ki jai! We worked long and hard for our freedom - let's make use of our wonderful diversity and make our new momentum count!!
On this note - I saw Chak De! India (with Shah Rukh Khan as coach Kabir Khan) and I absolutely loved it...
"Kuch kariye, kuch kariye...." *bounces* "Chak De... Chak De, ho Chak De India..."
I loved it.
I really did. I found myself enjoying the whole movie and simultaneously critiquing whilst allowing myself to get swept up in this... very emotional film.
To put it broadly - Chak De! India is a relatively predictable and emotion-filled sports film - you know, the ragtag tea with a hardworking, passionate coach who rises to achieve the best they can in the field of that sport.
In this case - the Indian women's hockey team, who travel to Melbourne (!!!) for the Women's Hockey World Championships.
But there are so many connotations just in that one statement that made the film that much more.
I loved the way the film touched upon many different (some taboo) aspects of India, Indian women and sport in India - the wonderful mix of realistically beautiful young women from all around India (the girl from Haryana was just gorgeous) and the associated issues, national unity, women's rights, the bureaucracy, corruption, match-fixing, poverty, religion...
What I loved that it wasn't shyed away from - it was dealt with, it was part of the plot and overcome.
The movie had some strong messages which I think is really timely - women's rights and independence within India, and national unity. Mera bharat mahan!!
Being an Indian and Yash Raj (with Shah Rukh) film, it was bound to be emotional, and it was - but in this case, I didn't mind. I was swept up in the emotion - the audience in the cinema clapped when Kabir points out (as an Aus official puts up the Indian flag) - that this was the first time he had seen a foreigner lift the Indian flag.
Perhaps the film went over-the-top at times, but I'm so glad that finally there is some enthusiasm in the country, y'know? Who cares if you could construe it (like my freakin history teacher would) as propaganda? We need this - we need this unity, this pride, this confidence. And damn it, we deserve it.
I'm making this film sound really serious, aren't I? But it's not, not really - it's damn funny (there are some really cute scenes - but I'll let you see it yourself), well made (Yash Raj - duh) and beautifully shot - with some really rousing tracks. It's been a while since I've wanted to really dance to a Bollywood film song without cringing at the practically naked women on the screen. "Chak De... ho Chak De India... Chak De ho Chak De India!!!!!!"
A Bollywood film without the "Bollywood masala" - A wonderfully light movie - good for some smiles and some nourishing of the spirit. And so today, on India's 60th Independence Day, I cry - "Chak De! India"!!!!!!!
For a more articulate review, and covering a few things I forgot - http://www.musicindiaonline.com/ar/i/movie_name/9230/1/