Lately YashRaj has been producing movies that provide a lot of adrenaline rush to the audience. Chak De falls in the same category. So, when I first came out of the theater, I was like "Wow! What a movie!".... But now that adrenaline is subsiding down, my reaction is "Ok, A good movie"....
Strong Points of the movie:
1. The movie is all about team spirit, patriotism and mostly about the sport - hockey. Although I do not understand anything about hockey, I was able to enjoy the movie. And that’s because the emotions portrayed are on a generic level... Even the coach Kabir Khan’s turmoil as a player is something that everyone will be able to identify with... All the characters, for that matter, have something that you find is an element of your own personality.....
2. Continuous Non-stop Action. The movie does not allow you time to think and ponder.... The pace of the movie is very fast and it looks very apt as the movie is about a sport.
3. The movie does not deviate from its theme - from start to end....... Throughout the movie, the focus is on hockey. So the lead character of the movie is - the sport of hockey.
4. Performance. All the cast has performed very well. They come across as characters and not actors...
More on performances:
1. Shah Rukh Khan: Being a hard-core Aamir Khan fan, I have always been the biggest critic of SRK. One, because he has spoiled a few movies with his non-acting. Two, because he tries to copy Aamir Khan. Aamir did a period film - Lagaan, so SRK did Paheli. Aamir sang ’Aati Kya Khandala’ and then SRK had to sing ’Apun Bola’. Aamir made a movie on Cricket ( Lagaan ), SRK did one on Hockey.
But.... SRK has delivered a good performance. Still, Swades is SRK’ s best, in my opinion. But Chak De may be called as his second best. His Kabir Khan looks Kabir Khan all the time and you never know where SRK is... Well done, SRK... We would like to see more of such performances than your off-screen shows....
2. Krishnaji and Sukhilala: I am not sure what the names of these actors are. But we have seen them before in other movies and their good acting is evident.
3. The girls: Now, for all these girls, we have never seen them on-screen before. So, as a critic, there is no reference point to comment on their acting. But some characters made an impact on me:
Preeti Sabarwal: Preeti is the only beautiful and more feminine of the lot. She steals heart slowly without letting you know. So that by the end of the movie, I fall in love with her and want her to win....
Komal: She is the tomboy among them all... Makes you love her by her sheer honesty and rural flavor....
Bindiya Naik: The most intelligent among them all.... You believe in her intelligence through her eyes... A throughout consistent character....
Balbir: The loud, noisy and angry young woman.... Punjab da Puttar... Makes you laugh and makes you love her Punjabi andaz.......
Soi moi: The true indian rural girl. Very sporty and yet very Indian.
Other memorable characters: Vidya Sharma, Netra Reddy
Music is very good and brings out the mood of the movie...
Overall, a good movie, a must watch...... I may watch it one more time, probably on DVD....
Chak De,
Simran.