An endearing work of love that focuses on the story and its characters rather than getting from points A to B to C and so forth. Being touted as a sports drama, this is more about family, attachments, dreams and their fulfillment (incl. unrealized ones), desires and passion. it also overtly keeps playing about the hero-worship and fan mentality we have collectively as a country, but does so affectionately, never talking down to us, or subjecting its protagonists to a pretentious judgment, something that could have so easily slipped in a lesser director's hands, or the hands of its fantastic cast. Another call-out needs to be made to the attention that has been paid to period detail, right from the production design, that's not in-your-face, to makeup, that makes us believe the age-transitions that all of its main characters go through, without letting up on the storytelling aspect of it, something that even great movies like 'American Hustle' (IMO - and here come those brickbats) failed in accomplishing (I'm looking at the first scene that called attention to the superb makeup, as well as commitment to character in Bale's prep for the role, but then I digress). Nivin Pauly (to me) fresh off 'Ohm Shanthi Oshaana', where he admirably played second fiddle to a fantastic character essayed by Nazim, and held his own nonetheless, takes on a totally different character, and underplays it to perfection. Playing the teen who's just idolizing his cricket-gods, letting time and the chance of an education slip away without realizing his ambitions (not helped by a typically unsupportive family), he's extremely believable, and to me, struck (painfully?) close to home (having been through similar life-experiences - like I'm sure most of the movie's intended audience has. And oh, the intended audience is sizable). During the credits of both this movie and 'Ohm..', I confess feeling a sense of trepidation when I saw an acknowledgment to this fantastic actor's fan association, but I needn't have worried that all that hero-worship would mean a typical B/Tollywood-level sellout. Not. One. Bit. I promise I won't be worried next time - this is one chap who chooses his roles wisely, and is not scared. He plays the (not really) errant child, devoted yet casual lover, dejected loner, typical spouse and one hell of a devoted parent. The music was a tad loud, but I confess getting into the spirit of things gradually that I forgot when the cacophony became bearable, such is the power of Shine's storytelling. From among the songs, 'Nenjile' stands out, but this is more about the movie and its characters and their bonding and their dreams and their camaraderie.
Nostalgia freaks, this is YOUR movie. Enjoy it, on a big screen, and yeah, I didn't need subtitles.
