Weekend Watch: Chak De India!

I tried avoiding reviews for Chak De India. I didn’t want to be disappointed, but I walked in prepared to feel annoyed. Fortunately, the movie was far better than I expected to it to be. I enjoyed every minute of it. I’ll admit, I know very little of hockey. Just some stories about the glorious days of Dhyan Chand. Yes, I do recognize Dhanraj Pillai, and when India makes it to some decent level in international hockey events, I read about it.

Shah Rukh Khan isn’t really the star of the film. Though, there are too many instances of his screen time being overwhelmed by very loud background music. He has very little screen time, but he performs well. You just sit back in awe and pay far more attention to the motley group of girls who are training together. All these girls, in your heart you know every one of them. The posh one that you’re sometimes a little jealous of, the small one with the heart of lioness. The cynic in the corner. The slightly big one who loses her temper. The North Eastern girl who gets teased on the streets. The best part was, they actually play hockey. Not just dribble while hobbling around slowly. But actually run. Fast.

Perhaps the even better bit is that the movie doesn’t go into jingoistic overtones. And even when the notion of “India” is discussed it isn’t in terms of motherland etc, but in terms of the identity of the team. Sure, they talk about girls from various states, with their prejudices about each other. But none of it is cringe worthy. It all seems almost realistic. Including the horrible condition of the dormitory they sleep in, and their shower and locker rooms.

Whatever Shah Rukh Khan is – he isn’t patronizing towards the girls. He doesn’t treat them like children. I was half-scared that there might be lines like “Play like a man!” or “If you can’t play, go back to your kitchen”. Not so much because my expectations from Bollywood are low, but these are the sort of lines you actually hear from coaches. The film acknowledges that it is harder for women to choose to play in India, but at the same the women needn’t be given an “easier time” because of the sacrifices they make.

There’s so much I felt while watching the movie. Almost grateful that they don’t show women who break down easily. Or that they don’t show women sitting coy and discussing clothes. These women have filthy mouths, they are rough, but they are not without compassion for others. They are competitive. They care for each other without behaving like maternal figures. Their relationships don’t overwhelm them, and they are so much in control. Most of all, these girls are not mythical figures. They are ordinary. That just warms your heart.

There are the standard Government babus. A little harshly represented. Sitting with their Britannia Good Day biscuits. (Maybe it’s just me – but I’ve noticed the Government is very partial towards Crack Jack and Good Day biscuits.). You really begin rooting for the girls. The second half is such an exhilarating watch. I know it goes by too fast, and it feels unrealistic. But underdogs do win. You root for them not because they are women, or because they are Indian. But because of their sheer spirit. Oh, and it’s such a relief that there’s no “love story” between the coach and a player. There’s underlying tension, there’s even promise of a sexual favour. But it’s refused without a moral judgment.

You don’t relate to the film because you are a woman and so are the protagonists. But there’s a certain rawness to the spirit and the concept of a team, something tinged with irony and grit that really gets to you. It’s rare that women are shown accomplishing something in a team. I don’t mind clichés that don’t bore me.

Apparently it’s inspired by the Women’s Hockey team winning the gold in 2002 at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester. There’s an interesting article in The Hindu about Mir Ranjan Negi, the coach with the team that won in 2002.

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