83 - Fablous recreation of Golden chapter in India Cricket history         

Kabhir Khan directed `83’ the first movie of the inspiring journey of rank outsiders - the Indian cricket team -, surprising everyone, including themselves in lifting the world cup is unarguably the best sport based films made till date.    The most challenging aspect in attempting such movie is  risk of making it to be a boring documentary (like the movie on Sachin) or taking too many cinematic liberties and departures thereby killing the true spirit.    It is where Kabir scored full marks in keeping it close to original events cleaverly intermingling it with light hearted moments in dressing room and powerful emotions.    Another challenge is not to make it look  more like Kapil’s centric movie rather than 83 word cup triumph movie

Few minutes into the movie Kabir Khan has established how casually Indian Team, who had a dismal record of winning only one match against East Africa in previous two versions of World cup, was taken by BCCI officials, Cricket Fans, India media not to speak British officials and press.  Manager Mansingh remark that `India got indepdnence but still not respect' sums up it all.   Even most of the India players taking it as a break journey before proceeding on vacation to US.    Amongst such disheartening and negative vibes, it is Kapil who was brimming with self belief which got infected  to entire team soon.    

Kabir and his team have to be complimented in recreating the stadiums, electrifying atmosphere, audience emotions and reactions.     The workshops conducted for honing the skills of actors selected in picking up not only the body language but batting, bowling and fielding skills.   Most of the actors, both Indian and foreign, looked like real cricketers.    In this aspect Indian cinema has come a long way.     There was a time whenever few shots of badminton, tennis being played by our leading stars was to be shown, it used to look so awkward with the stars not even holding the racquets properly.

As far as acting is concerned, Ranvir Singh has absolutely nailed Kapil’s role,  in his body language, diction, dialogue delivery, batting & bowling and fielding on the field.   He is the heart and soul of the movie.   Very close to him is seasoned Tamil Actor Jiva as Srikant.    He brought the funny side of Kiri off the field and smash buckling on the field.   Surprisingly lot of footage was given to Sandhu though he did not have that cracking world cup.   May be Kabir Khan might have felt a Sardar character will be very popular in Northern circuits.   Ammy Virk did a good job as Sandhu.     It is disappointing that the stars of 83 world cup Yashpal, Mohinder and Binny were not given the deserved footage, Lala Amarnath (played by his son Mohinder Amarnath) getting more prominence role than Mohinder.   As far as other teams which Indian Team faced, too much focus was kept on West Indies.   Australia and England were reduced to a passing reference with no player among galaxy of star Australian and England players getting registered.    Among West Indian players actors who did the roles of Richards and Gomes did good job, the look alikes of West Indies fast bowlers are big letdown.  The record breaking and match saving innings by Kapil, which unfortunately was not recorded and televised due to strike by BBC staff, was very well recreated.   Though we hardly know anything about Team Manager Man Singh, Pankaj Tiwari, as usual, did a great job.   Bomman Iran as a commentator was full of emotions is interesting.  

Kids adjusting their TV antennas risking coming out during curfew, PM Indira Gandhi advising his officers to make sure every house hold watch the semi final over TV so as to control communal tensions  are few of the many non cricketing anecdotes.   

I personally could related to the movie, as i started watching world cup matches since 1979 and 1983 world cup very keenly as India went from strength to strength and its lifting world cup in a folklorist manner.    Those were the days when Indian team was treated as a push over and least preferred team to be invited for bilateral matches, though we had some of the world star players like Gavaskar, Vishwanath, the spin foursome.   It’s the 1983 World cup win which has given a self belief to Indian team that they can beat any team in ODIs .   After this win there was no looking back and Indian Cricket and BCCI has gone from strength to strength and became so powerful that at present it commands the world cricket through IPL.   

Those who are in the age group of 50 and above can relate and enjoy 83 well.    But how much fancy youngster, including ardent cricket fans, take to this glorious saga which has happened 38 years ago is to be seen and the commercial success of the movie depends a lot on that.   Whatever may the commercial success but Kabir Khan and his team of technicians and actors should be appreciated for such a sincere effort.  

Strongly recommended to all to hail the dare devilry of Kapil Devils.  

 

S. PRABHAKAR

27.12.21