The King Khan has returned and boy has he done it in style!!! I finally managed to see Chak De yesterday-been hearing and reading rave reviews abt it all week.The promos on tv had me convinced that it's a movie with Shah Rukh the actor n not the star.And yes-it's refreshing to see that the actor in Shah Rukh still towers over the rest of Bollywood.It's only fitting that Yash Raj banner which made Shah Rukh a romantic Raj in DDLJ and had us spellbound,then made only the superstar in forthcoming movies (Shah Rukh practically sleep walked through his Rahul in DTPH-there was no room or need to act) and has now given a new platform and persona for Shah Rukh.And Kabir Khan is just that.He's not a superstar who can do no wrong...who's always got lady luck in his corner..He does not achieve success in everything in life..He's human..he can falter n make mistakes..he feels pain and anger just like any of us...and like the best of humans-he's got a great heart and a never-say-die attitude.He's a star alright-the best center forward in Asia yet he faltered in a crunch situation..Why?? Coz he's human!!! He made a mistake and since it was India v/s Pak-he had a heavy cross to bear for it! He bore it for 7 years and then redeemed himself by donning the coach's mantle and taking the women's team to the top spot in the World Cup.It may be the run-of-the-mill underdog story but it's the way it's put across that enthralls you.The movie's main strength is Kabir Khan-not Shah Rukh the star but Kabir Khan.The man falls from his huge high pedestal of fame because of one mistake in a cruch situation. And like the song "It happens only in India"-the media obviously has to overplay the issue, find various spin off stories and harp on it till the news get stale..Kabir Khan gets the brunt of his mistake and disappears.He knows he will not get a chance to get back and play on the men's team to redeem himself. So he chooses the next best thing-be a coach and win the Cup which eluded him when he was a player.The neglected women's national hockey team provides just the right opportunity for him to show his mettle.The team is just a bunch of gals from all across India.Talented gals none the less but not a team. Kabir does more than just hone their skills,rather he shows them what more is needed to win a game-teamspirit,comradery and belief in one another. We know from the moment India leaves for the World Cup that they will win-but it's more than just knowing how the story ends..it's about how the story goes forward.The story shows how people often strive for personal glory and not team glory...how petty egoes can ruin great partnerships and how only a true sportsman can see these mistakes and tell you how to correct it.Shah Rukh has finally broken free of just being the "star" in movies and for a change he's taken a normal character and made him into a star.Kudos to the cast n crew for a wonderful movie and to SRK for breathing life into Kabir like only he can.And one last word to all sports enthusiasts-watch the movie...somewhere along the line,your mind will definitely go back to your old team days... mine sure did :)
