MOVIE REVIEW: SAY SALAAM INDIA (2007)
MOVIE REVIEW: SAY SALAAM INDIA (2007)
Cast:Sanjay Suri, Milind Soman, Sandhya Mridul, Sachin Khedekar, Manoj Pahwa
Directed by:Subhash Kapoor
Music by:Gaurav Dayal
Lyricist:Gauhar Raza
Cinematographer:Fasahat Khan
Predicted Rating: 6/10
Say Salaam India is a story that begins with cricket, continues with cricket and ends with cricket. Movies based on concepts has become the order of the day and this time director Subhash Kapoor comes out with ‘Say Salaam India’ which deploys the game of cricket as its main plot.
It is a film that has everyone involved in the narrative attached to cricket by some means – good, bad or downright ugly. But then as the saying goes, may the best team win. And something similar is expected as the film culminates into a climax.
The story of Say Salaam India revolves around a bunch of 4 boys who come from a humble background and don’t have riches to their disposal.
Viru, Mahi, Shakeel and Guri are completely passionate towards the game — passion to excel, passion to prove a point and passion to do everything that it takes to bring them closer to their goal – CRICKET!
They are pursuing their education in the local corporation school where the favorite sport is wrestling, all thanks to the sports teacher Surinder Huda who believes that cricket is responsible for destroying traditional sports like hockey, kushti and kabaddi which were popular for ages.
Eventually the boys fight with the odds and they move on further to an elite school Royal Heritage in the state capital. Royal Heritage – A school that did have children with talent but then they lacked something that makes great sport stars – PASSION!
Hari Sadu is the coach of the Royal Heritage team who are on their way to win their sixth state championship, but he faces a stiff opposition to his coaching methods by the headstrong, arrogant members of the school team, who are more allured towards the brands that the cricketers endorse rather than the game.
His stint with the team began soon but due to his unique thinking and coaching methods, he was opposed by the young cricketers. Finally he is out of the team as a coach. Time for revenge!!
Hari Sadu gets determined to make a local team to take on the cudgel at the inter school challenge. He is helped in this pursuit by his wife Sonali and his cerebral palsy suffering son Rustam. Predicatably, he prepares his 11 men to take on the Royal Heritage School at a championship.
The film is completely dependent on its plot for its success as it does not boast of any big names associated with it. Also starring Sandhya Mridul, Manoj Pahwa, Sachin Khedekar, Vinay Pathak, Shradha Nigam and Ojas, the film is written and directed by debutant Subhash kapoor with music by Gaurav Dayal. The film is aiming for a release during the World Cup.
The movie is seems to be full of energy but it is less likely to be a blockbuster.