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By Neeraj Nanda
MELBOURNE, 20 December 2021: After all it was a good idea to go to Hoyts, Melbourne Central to attend the premiere of Kabir Khan’s ’83’, organised by Mitu Bhowmick’s Mind Blowing Films.The select cinema enthusiasts, media and the Hoyts added to the post pandemic entertainment blitz kicked off earlier with the release and success of ‘Sooryavanshi’. Today was surely a break from the pandemic blues. People were networking with vigour and looking forward to see an iconic victory celebrated to this day.
Video- SAT/NN (YouTube)
The two hours and 42 minutes ’83’ is a cricket thriller, a combination of documentary style laced with real actors. No doubt, it glorifies India’s 1983 World Cup victory against West Indies, but in essence what it portrays is very simple – we can do it. Director Kabir Khan’s cinematic marathon takes you through every episode (and hiccups) that led to India’s victory, almost seen impossible. So many matches with so much cricket makes this movie probably a pure cricket movie.
The second half, in fact, traces the match to match cronology of ups and downs that finally led to the victory. The in between going ins within the team, their families and the people makes an engrossing experience. One episode where a few of the cricketers go for a dinner with a local South Indian family and the girl there has a crush on one cricketer is exceptionally well done.
The new generation of cricket fans may not know 1983 was a politically volatile period in India led by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. She is on screen attending a meeting where communal riots are being discussed but the World Cup seems to intrude into the discussion. Kabir Khan rightly tells us what cricket means to India and Indians.
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The disappointment of loosing two successive matches and then entering the semi finals is a watershed moment. The tension within the team is evident. The team manager, Captain and players take up the challenge on the cusp of victory. And, it comes and the final. Kabir Khan’s acting team gives excellent performance.
The movie while celebrating an iconic victory has a crystal clear message – Indians of all faiths, communities or whatever they are united by cricket. Interestingly, cricket a British (Gentleman’s) colonial legacy is and will remain India’s passion, is ably portrayed in ’83’.
By western standards the movie could be shorter with some crisp editing in the second half. Kapil Dev, the hero of the 1983 victory comes in as the movie closes and describes the moments of victory and the aftermath. It’s emotional, no doubt. There’s nothing like victory.
I give it 4 stars out of five.
Producers– Kabir Khan, Deepika Padukone, Sajid Nadiadwala, Reliance Entertainment…
Director– Kabir Khan
Starring– Ranveer Singh as cricketer Kapil Dev, along with Deepika Padukone, Pankaj Tripathi, Tahir Raj Bhasin, Jiiva, Saqib Saleem, Jatin Sarna, Chirag Patil, Dinker Sharma, Nishant Dahiya, Harrdy Sandhu, Sahil Khattar, Ammy Virk, Adinath Kothare, Dhairya Karwa and R Badree…
Cinematography– Aseem Mishra
Running time– 163 minutes
Distributer in Australia – Mind Blowing Films
Releasing in Australia – 23 December, 2021
Languages – Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam (with English subtitles)
All Info– www.mindblowingfilms.com
TRAILER
Source- Reliance Entertainment (YouTube)
