“Chak De India” is one of my favourite Bollywood movies. It’s a motivational experience to see how one good leader can create winners from a pack of underdogs. There are lot of leadership lessons hidden in the movie.
Chak De India – My favourite Bollywood movie on sports
Shah Rukh Khan played an Indian Hockey player and captain, who was alleged to have “thrown” the final match between India and arch-rival Pakistan in an act of sympathy towards Pakistan. Seven years later, the tainted player comes back and guides the underdog Women’s Hockey team to an unprecedented victory over world champions Australia and gain his dignity back.
The story was about the ups and downs of the women Hockey team in India, and the situation of Hockey players in India. The struggle these players go through is something which is true in practical.
The ‘Sattar minute’ sequence from the movie went on to become one of the most celebrated dialogues of that time and is famous till today. ‘Chak De India’ taught important lessons about team building, team spirit, commitment, integrity and patriotism.
Shah Rukh Khan was immensely praised for his performance as the tainted Hockey captain.
SRK’s character named Kabir Khan in the movie draws parallels from former Hockey captain Mir Ranjan Negi. However, screenwriter Jaideep Sahni had reportedly denied this and said that the similarity was just coincidental.
SRK also thanked the crew members and his team of girls.
The movie keeps your adrenaline pumping, right from the start. I mean the coaching performance given by Shah Rukh Khan in the movie was tremendous.
The film was a critical and commercial success. It inspired youngsters, especially girls, to take to hockey, the national sport of India.
The film had a good soundtrack by Pritam with ‘Billo rani’ occupying the top slots for many weeks. The players (actors) were fantastic and were keeping the movie interesting throughout and we enjoyed those winning moments, didn’t we?
Because Chak De India is not just a sports film. It’s a life lesson on the purest & the most unadulterated bond that exists in the world – love for your country.
In Bollywood, sports films though seized the frame quite recently, is rapidly becoming the favourite genre of filmmakers as they try to plot the films over popular games and sports in India.
With the success of ‘Chak De India’, a spate of sports film followed and made other sports as popular as cricket.
Tags: Bollywood, Chak De India, Hockey, India, Movie, Shah Rukh Khan, Sport, Sports
