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Review - Chennai 600028 |
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Chennai
600028 - For the love of the game
Cast: Premji Amaran, and lots of new faces
Direction: Venkat Prabhu
Music: Yuvan Shankar Raja
Production: Capital Cinema, SPB Charan |
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This
review is being written in the wake of the World
Cup final between Australia and Sri Lanka turning
out to be one of the most lopsided matches seen
in the tournament. If you are one of the fellow
sufferers disillusioned by the seemingly unshakeable
dominance of 11 men from Down Under and are yearning
for some real seat edge cricket that makes you gnaw
at your fingernails until you have none left, then
go watch Chennai 600028 - for the love of cricket.
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Let’s get things straight. This movie
is not a masterpiece, nor is it going to form
a case study for students of cinema in the years
to come, but believe me, if you have ever felt
a ball thud on a bat, ever enjoyed the sound
of leather striking timber, ever felt butterflies
in your tummy as a bowler stands at the top
of his run up; then you are going to enjoy this
movie. Chennai 28 is a reality catch of one
thing that can bring together all the people
of our amazingly diverse country - cricket.
Cricket for many of us is the elixir of life.
What if the ‘Men in Blue’ were back
home long before the World Cup gathered momentum;
we did find men in green, black and yellow to
support. Now decide. Will you support the Sharks
or the Rockers? |
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Who are the Sharks and Rockers? Well, they are the
backbones of Chennai 28. Two teams playing local league
cricket. Their standards might be pretty ordinary
but their passion for the game is unmatched. The teams
are a motley collection of young men who are from
very middle class families, for whom life is a big
challenge. Both teams can’t set their sights
on each other without coming to blows. It’s
a rivalry that when brought out on screen matches
the Indo-Pak one. The tension is palpable when they
come face to face.
The story takes off when one guy from one of the teams
is forced to shift along with his family to the locality
of the other team. Interesting twists and turns and
a neatly woven love track result in something that
one thought was impossible. The guy is estranged from
his home team and very soon in vengeance finds a place
in the team that he thus far swore against. Then it
is the build up to the all important meeting between
the two teams on the cricket field. |
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Leave the story aside; it is the characterization
that is par excellence. Every character seems
to have been picked from the streets of Chennai.
The composition of the two teams is perfect;
just what you will find in any local 11. A star
performer, a few good players, a few hangers
on and one absolute dud who hangs in the team
just because he is too sweet to avoid and because
the team can’t find anyone else. In most
cases it is this dud who is most passionate
about the game. In the movie Premji Amaran plays
the dud of one of the teams and he is simply
adorable, always failing to catch the ball,
even if it is what cricketers call ‘plum
pudding’. The moment in the big match
where one stunner of a catch sticks to his hand
is easily one of the best parts of the movie.
The expression of disbelief on his face after
realizing that he has caught the ball cannot
be described.
The Chennai lingo has been used to perfection
in the movie, you can connect to it if you are
from Chennai. |
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The
big match as usual (it is cinema) is a seat edge thriller,
you cannot guess the winner till the end. The fact
that there is no ‘hero’ in this movie
does not make a certain team’s victory mandatory
(in Lagaan you always knew who was going to win).
But that’s just the semifinal and the victorious
team enters the finals where it meets……oops,
we shouldn’t be telling that…for that
you must see the movie and it all ends on a hilarious
note. |
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You
might have got a picture of what the movie is
by now. Well, if you think so, you are wrong.
The fun and energy in the movie have to be experienced.
It will help you a lot if you have played cricket,
but even if you are one who has even the slightest
inclination towards sporting activities, then
too you will still enjoy it. There is everything
in it, the team formation, the selection, practice,
strategy and the actual match. You can enjoy
seeing the team mates squabble, blame, ridicule
and then forget everything and play together.
You can feel the innocence and energy of youth
and why not, this movie is a product of youth,
the results are evident.
In short, Chennai 600028 is different, energizing
and thoroughly enjoyable. Again remember, this
movie is not a masterpiece, the inexperience
shows in parts. But take my word, such a movie
is not going to release in theaters for at least
a few years and if you choose not to encourage
this effort then such a movie may never release
again. |
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Chennai
600028 is about youth, cricket and the everlasting
bond. Enjoy…..For the love of the game. |
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