Warning!!: This is a looong review. Sorry, I can’t compromise on it. Its one of my most favourite movies!:)
Hindi cinema loves underdogs. And it also loves the idea of the underdog emerging victorious in the end. In between, are failures, frustrations and the overpowering enemy. But our underdog overcomes all these by his sheer willpower , self belief and
perseverance. Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander is one such tale with an underlying message: Nothing succeeds like success. There is no one who can’t be a winner. It may take a jolt to make you realize your potential, to give you a wake up call. Just like Sanju.
Sanju and his coterie of friends are day dreamers.They fail in exams and love alike. They belong to Model school and college which is a boarding school in the heart of Dehradoon. Model School echoes middle class sentiments. Aspiring yet unrecognized. Trying yet failing. It’s a target of ridicule by the rival Rajput College which is an institution for spoilt brats of the rich and the famous. Shekhar Malhotra is
the reigning Inter school and college champion. He has already helped Rajput college retain the coveted trophy and earn himself the tag of school captain.Sanju’s elder brother Rattan is promising challenger to Shekhar yet he fails to finish first in the deciding cycle race in the annual sports event. Then, starts the preparation for the next year. While Shekhar is egged on by the zealous Rajput-ians(Sabse
aage ladke kaun, Rajput Rajput) and his Principal to create a record by winning it thrice in a row, Rattan’s dad Ramlal, who is also the sports and physical trainer for the Model school has pinned all his hoped on his son to emerge victorious the next
year and fulfill his expectations.
In between these arch rivals are also rans like St Peters and St Xaviers. And the pot of honey which they all target: Queen’s College for girls. The girls of Queens college are more often the bone of content between the boys of different colleges. Sanju’s best friend Anjali secretly loves her but Sanju is unaware of it. He just considers Anjali his best friend. Anjali helps Sanju and his careless friends in their
times of need. In fact they are a quartet. Sanju eyes the newly arrived hot babe of Queens College – Devika, by faking himself as a heir to a rich tycoon. But soon
gets exposed when she finds out his real identity.Rattan ends in hospital being beaten up by Shekhar Malhotra and his gang, a month or so before the final
cycle race. Ramlal gives up all hope but his ‘khota sikka’ Sanju braces himself to fulfill his long cherished dream and works Subsequently, Sanju also realizes his love for Anjali.
Why the movie works?
It starts with a message and uses the cycle race as the medium to convey it. It is focused and isn’t preachy at all. It has dollops of laughter and a terrific climax. The music is youthful and the performances are noteworthy.
Scenes which stand out
Dubeyji: Bus zara si kasar reh gayi Ramlal ji. Varna Rattan ne Shekhar ko hara hi diya tha.
Ramlal: Nahin Dubeyji. Main toh ek hi baat maanta hun. Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar.
Rattan:Saale, wo tujhe chahti hai aur tu uska faayda uttha raha hai.
Sanju:Duh!Wo sirf meri bahaut achchi dost hai aur usey meri fiqar hai.
Sanju: Anjali, Mujhe tumse kuchch kehna hai. Khaas baat hai. Pata nahin tum kya sochogi.Hasogi toh nahin?
(interrupted as Anjali’s dad summons her yet again).Kal akele mein bataoonga.(plants a quick kiss on her cheek and leaves).
Pehla Nasha Song follows. Sanju is singing for Devika while Anjali is singing for Sanju.This is THE most romantic moment in an otherwise fun movie.
Special mention for the scene in which Anjali arrives with a black shawl and wraps it around herself and Sanju to comformt him as he is feeling guilty and crying as Rattan lands in hospital because of his(Sanju’s) fight with Shekhar.
Rattan:Tu janna chahta hai na, main aaj tak chup kyun raha? Toh sun. Jab mujhe hosh aaya to maine dekha tu badal chuka tha. Tujhe apni zimmedaariyon ka ehsaas hone laga tha. Tu meri qadr karne laga tha. Pitaji ki qadr karne laga tha....
Other than these scenes which are turning points in the movie, there are a lot of highly funny scenes too.Specially the cafe melee, Devika ’hiring’ Sanju to pour buckets of cow’s dung on Shekhar and his coterie.
And THE scene. Of course the cycle race. The background score deserves a special mention as it enhanced the thrill and suspense factor.
Continued in comments section!!