| Chak de India screams the zeitgeist! Have the big | | | | yet than movies to take them to the masses. Of |
| Bollywood studios finally embraced the burgeoning | | | | course, this in turn will continue the cycle to push up the |
| sporting culture in India? Or is it another false dawn? | | | | number of people who understand the value of getting |
| Maulik Chandarana explores and comes out with | | | | into sports by appreciating and understanding it. It is |
| some interesting insight | | | | undeniable that Bollywood has moved ahead of mere |
| Shahrukh Khan's Chak De India has once again | | | | lip-service i.e. of showing actors playing rugby or |
| brought about union of two diverse, yet equally popular, | | | | badminton or swimming or ice-skating during brief |
| fields - films and sports. But here's where one would | | | | sequences in films. As proof, besides wholesome |
| like to critically assess how well do the two gel | | | | sports-based entertainers like Lagaan and the other |
| together - like bread and butter or like milk and lemon? | | | | films mentioned in the beginning, Tara Rum Pum and |
| Especially when we speak of mainstream Bollywood | | | | Apne too have tried to focus on sports of F1 racing |
| movies, this question gains importance as there are | | | | and boxing respectively. Yet-to-be released Goal will |
| only a handful of films that have been centered on | | | | see John Abraham and Arshad Warsi pull up their |
| sports or have at least, a remote backdrop of sports. | | | | socks on the football ground. |
| Lagaan, Iqbaal, Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander and of course, | | | | However, production of a memorable full fledged film |
| Chak De India are notable amongst examples of films | | | | akin to Hollywood flicks like Rocky or Karate Kid is still |
| belonging to the genre of sports films. | | | | a faraway dream in Bollywood, considering there is still |
| Bollywood doesn't have a history of producing grand | | | | some fear among producers to dedicate a whole |
| amalgamations of cinema and sports. That is a pity | | | | movie, say to narrate the story of PT Usha or maybe, |
| when similar tales of sports and sports personalities | | | | Dhyaan Chand. This is why until sports and games in |
| have made profound impact on mindsets of people in | | | | general becomes a part of the national ethos; films |
| the west. Bollywood tries to find excuses by citing the | | | | based on any sport will be viewed as 'distinct', |
| twin reasons of failure at box office and the faint | | | | 'different' and 'path-breaking'. Speaking of sports |
| sounds of cash registers. Some of them may be true | | | | becoming a part of national ethos, one may like to |
| as traditionally Indians have never seen too much | | | | pinpoint here that we really lack efficient players even |
| beyond cricket and at best, some hockey and tennis. | | | | though there are sufficient number of them. The |
| Also, cycling, swimming, skating, chess, gymnastics, | | | | reasons are many - poverty, bias, nepotism, favoritism |
| athletics and other individual sports were usually not | | | | to other sports, no trainers, facilities and their costs, |
| seen in same light as the ones which require teams. In | | | | less media hype, lack of sponsors, etc. Once this |
| fact, it is only recently (about ten years) that people | | | | changes Bollywood will rise more confidently to |
| are waking up to other western sports like football, | | | | showcase India's prowess in sports to the world unlike |
| basketball, auto racing, horse racing, ice hockey and | | | | today. At the same time, Bollywood must realize that |
| even, bull fighting (animal lovers may flay me for calling | | | | blind attempts to cash in on some momentary trends |
| this a sport!!). People are now more open to | | | | do not pay off. Look at the fate of Stumped and |
| understand and enjoy the portrayal of 'unconventional' | | | | Hattrick that failed miserably. |
| or newer sports on the silver screen. Moreover, | | | | As conclusion, as of now, we have to be satisfied with |
| innovative marketing strategies based on | | | | the few, but brilliantly crafted movies like Lagaan and |
| demographics and promotion of movies not specifically | | | | Chak De India. And as for the question of Bollywood |
| as a 'sports movie' in spite of central focus of the film | | | | and sports going together, we hope it only to grow |
| being in sport are helping people enter cinema halls | | | | stronger in coming times. |
| without pre-conceived notions, and absorb the | | | | ---***--- |
| contents more liberally. | | | | P.S. Before you start wondering why is Bend it Like |
| But then after all, most sports tales are all about | | | | Beckham not mentioned anywhere in the above piece, |
| triumph and saga of struggle that went into the making | | | | it surely isn't a product from the Bollywood stable, is it? |
| of that triumph. And almost every human mind is | | | | VISIT --> isport.in for more... |
| appreciative of this. And there isn't a better medium as | | | | |