For a film that was advertised to be about cricket, expect to find little about the game and more about a father-son relationship in Ajitpal Mangat's Victory.
What it's about: For a film that was advertised to be about cricket, expect to find little about the game and more about a father-son relationship in Ajitpal Mangat's Victory. Vijay Shekhawat (Hurman Baweja) lives in Rajasthan with his father Ram (Anupam Kher). He is a skilled cricketer, but doesn't make it to the Indian cricket team because of corruption in the selection process. Then one day, after seven years of trying, he gets in. Soon, he wins the country many international matches and becomes famous. Drunk on power and money, he soon loses his magic on the field. In the process, he also cuts off ties with his father, coach and girlfriend Nandini (Amrita Rao). On his way down from popularity, he realises his mistakes and sets out to change his ways to rediscover the people he loved, and his love for the game.u00a0u00a0
What's Good: Some of the scenes on the cricket field are well handled, especially since they've been shot at actual venues. The treatment is good in places. The climax is the only redeeming factor in this sorry saga. But those last 15 minutes do little to ease the trauma that Ajitpal Mangat inflicts on you right from the word go. You feel bad for Hurman Baweja who is immensely sincere in a film that isn't.
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What's Bad: In his debut film (Love Story 2050), the director took Hurman into the future. In this one, Ajitpal has taken him into the past. Victory carries the flavour of the kind of films Bollywood made two decades ago. After dazzling us in A Wednesday, Anupam Kher delivers the most irritating performance of his career as the whiny father (a salute to the annoying mothers of the '80s) in those ridiculous orange and pink turbans. In a cricket-crazy nation, all Mangat had to do was show a few gripping games spiked with a tight script and screenplay. But all you get to see is Hurman play 8000 different shots. Cricket is NOT a one-man-game. Even though there were as many as 35 cricket names appearing in the film (as advertised), they haven't been used well. The film is riddled with clichu00c3u00a9d scenes like talking to God and asking "Tune aisa kyon kiya?" We want to ask Ajitpal the same thing.u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0
What's that! Nandini can't tell Vijay she loves him but doesn't mind saying it to his photograph in the newspaper. She even blushes and hides her face! Every time the lovers meet, it is in the desert with sand dunes at the back. Almost as if all scenes were shot together with quick costumes changes. When Anupam travels to Mumbai to meet his son, he arrives minus luggage with only a three-tiered tiffin box! The second time he comes to the city, he comes with one bag, shouts at his son, and leaves with two bags! Beta gaya bhaad mein; main toh shopping karoonga.
What to do: Go play gully cricket instead. Or take your dad out for a beer.
Victory
*1/2
Dir: Ajitpal Mangat
Cast: Hurman S Baweja, Amrita Rao, Anupam Kher and Gulshan Grover
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