Akshay Kumar has come up with another Patriotic Period Drama after Rustom, in Gold.
The premise of the film is era of 1930s and 1940s, when India was a part of British Empire.
The movie starts with a scene of "Nazi Salute" to the then Furher of Germany, Adolf Hitler.
This marks the beginning of a two and half hour long tiring journey of nationalism sugarcoated with sports in theme.
THE PLOT:
The movie’s plot is a one pager, that how India won Gold in Field Hockey 1948 Olympics as a Free Nation, after winning the same in 1936 as a British Territory, in Berlin.
This is it.
The movie then stretches its story to the limits of tolerance at times, Can not believe this is a film from Excel Entertainment which gave us gems like Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and Talash.
and Much shock to see an Intelligent Director like Reema Kagti falling to the market’s will.
Basically the movie is apt in times when Jingoism is replacing true Patriotism.
The story revolves around a manager of Indian Hockey team, who seems to be more interested in getting drunk in half of the film, rather than focusing on Hockey.
The Performances:
Let us first talk about supporting cast:
Kunal Kapoor as Samrat:
Kunal Kapoor is one talent that Indian Cinema has been wasting since long by giving him meaningless side roles. His character could have had a larger screen space, but the screenplay was too harsh on him. but he did justice to whatever part he had; He was better convincing in his character than the lead
Vineet Kumar Singh as Imtiaz Ali Shah:
As an INA veteran in the movie, Vineet had a good amount of role and screen space, also at places was better than the string of actors, this movie has. The Mukkabaaz and Gangs of Wasseypur actor, has proven yet again his metal in his craft.
Amit Sadh as Raghubir Pratap Singh:
Amit Sadh, by far has been one actor, who has justified his roles, in every film he has been, even in smaller roles he has been effective. As a member of royal household, his accent and mannerism are commendable. The boy holds on to his character till the end.
Sunny Kaushal as Himmat Singh
Himmat Singh, Sunny’s character is a Sikh with boiling blood against British empire. Sunny has proven the fact that he is Vicky Kaushal’s brother and is like his brother in sticking to the character. His frustrations and anger is so easily visible that audiences start to empathize with him.
Nikita Dutta as Simran;
The former Miss India Finalist plays Simran, love interest of Sunny’s Character. She is just as a filler in the movie, more so like a female quota to be filled in.
Mouni Roy as Monobina Das:
Playing Bengali Belle is easy for the TV veteran, although her role is not that elaborate, she looks beautiful as Lead’s wife.
Akshay Kumar as Tapan Das:
Akshay Kumar has been a great actor, and synonym to meaningful mass cinema, of late. But this time he misses the Goal by a large distance. His character of Tapan Das, has been written as a Drunk Bengali Hockey Manager, who dreams of Free India to win Olympic gold. But his accent as Bengali is looked unconvincing, Bengali’s in general have low clarity in Hindi, but clarity in his language proved that the actor has not adapted to accent. The way his back story was cut short in screenplay, was another reason why no one could connect to his character easily. If his character would have been any other Hindi speaking guy it would have enhanced his performance
The Music:
Music of the movie is average with exceptions of "naino ne bandhi" which is love song, most of the songs are just as fillers.
The Cinematography:
As a period sports drama, the cinematography is exceptionally well, Alvaro Gurtiezz has made an excellent debut.
All In all:
The movie suffers a "Delhi 6" syndrome, where it preaches a lot, but has no content to it, to fit in stories of Partition, Sports Struggles, Love Story, Politics, etc in a 2 hour 30 minute movie is an over burden.
Additionally with Hockey in the back drop the film is bound to be compared to Chak De India and recently released Soorma; and by large, stands lower on the pedestrian to these movies.
Verdict:
not a "Gold" but a "Bronze" maybe.