11 years ago on 10th July 2007, Chak De! India was released. Even after 11 years, it remains among the most universally loved Hindi movies. It speaks not only about love for the nation but also about the beautiful idea of India – its diverse regions, its many languages, religions and communities – and how all those differences melt away when it really matters. Twitter is celebrating 11 years of the movie; with good reason:
It is a patriotic movie not quite of the typical Bollywood patriotic mould. In today’s hyper-nationalistic scenario the movie is positively sedate and subtle; but no less moving and proud-making.
I am personally not a Shah Rukh Khan fan and never have been. But even I acknowledge that the man has done a superlative job in this film. In this movie, he didn’t open his arms wide, or stutter or look liquidly at a woman - not even once!
Most people think that no one, save SRK could possibly have done this role. Maybe, maybe not. But there is no doubt that he played Kabir Khan with skillful and quite uncharacteristic understatement.
People watch and re-watch this movie. It remains impactful, fresh and relevant and just hugely uplifting. My fave thing is to watch this movie with my daughters and then cheer right along with them.
The boundless joy of those girls in that moment of winning! The vindication of a man falsely accused of selling out his nation. His pride, his relief, his vulnerability and weakness in that moment is eloquent… It’s the perfect cinematic moment!
Chak De! India is arguably one of the best sporting films made in India. It is just a superb story, with identifiable, believable characters, real people and a joyous celebration of the human spirit.
There were no lip synched songs (though some timeless, truly great songs such as maula mere), no choreographed dances, no romance, no fights and chase sequences. And yet this movie was successful then and now… just never grows old!
Those 11 girls were the ones who really made the movie and give it its special character. They were doughty, brave, determined and strong – all disparate and different people who came together in a very special way for one ultimate goal.
In a country where the glamour of cricket holds everyone in thrall, hockey is something of a poor cousin. This movie made the national sport cool. Suddenly more people were playing it, watching it, following the national team. In fact the movie gave a new impetus to the industries of towns such as Jalandhar which produces about 95% of the hockey sticks made in India.
Many of the players are from marginalised backgrounds in the film. They don’t have the support of the federations and other government authorities. They are not taken seriously. They have to fight male bias. In that sense the ultimate victory of the girls is sweeter and all the more special. So yes, all of this does make this a special film... even 11 years after its release!
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