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