An Absolute Gold!
Director: Reema Kagti
Story and Screenplay: Rajesh Devraj, Reema Kagti (story and screenplay)
Dialogue: Javed Akhtar
Cast: Akshay Kumar, Mouni Roy, Kunal Kapoor, Amit Sadh, VIneet Kumar Singh, Sunny Kaushal
Genre: Drama, History, Sport
Rating: 4.9/5
Going into the theatre, I was somewhat skeptical given Bollywood’s track record of making commercial period pieces. But when, after 2 hours and 50 minutes, I came out of it, I was taken by a sense of pure joy and sense of disbelief. Yes, the movie was that good. It had everything.
Reema Kagti’s Gold brings to light the little-known story behind India’s first hockey Gold in the Olympics as a newly born republic. It is a story of struggle, a story of countless ups and downs, of failure and redemption, of freedom and victory. Aptly released on the 15th of August on India’s 71st Independence Day, Gold doesn’t disappoint. Gold, as they say, is an ABSOLUTE GOLD!
Usually, when reviewing a movie a movie, a reviewer always finds a flaw, always! However, minute. But thanks to the efforts of everyone involved in the making of Gold, I’m having a hard time as far as finding the flaws is concerned. I believe, it is at this point, I should stop raving (so to say) and actually talk about the film at hand.
Let me, then, begin with the story, screenplay, and dialogue, the spine of any movie. the trio of Rajesh Devraj(story), Reema Kagti(story and screenplay) and Javed Akhtar(dialogue) have done a fabulous job. Although a historical drama and, thus, by its very nature with a definite final outcome known by almost all the audience members, the movie still manages to keep the audience guessing. Thanks to the several ups and downs and unexpected turn of events i.e. the rise and fall and rise and fall and the final rise of the anchor Tapan Das and by extension that of his hockey team, Gold keeps the audience enthralled until the very end.
In the acting department, you couldn’t have asked for more. Akshay Kumar is flawless as Tapan Das. His acting here is his best so far. In his previous roles, you could always see the Akshay Kumar bit. Here, however, he is Tapan Das through and through. And, it’s not like he carries the movie on his back. Debutant Mouni Roy (Monobina Das) is superb as Tapan Das’ wife and anchor. The supporting cast, although they are more like co-stars, containing the likes of Kunal Kapoor (Samrat), Amit Sadh (Raghubir Pratap Singh) and Vineet Kumar Singh (Imtiaz Shah) to name a few are commanding presences as well. Kunal Kapoor and Amith Sadh play their respective roles to perfection. Sunny Kaushal (Himmat Singh )does a terrific job as well. Anyone of these “supporting casts” could have easily carried he film. Akshay Kumar is, without a doubt, the biggest star in Gold and the anchor around whom the story revolves but he is not an out and out lead. In addition, unlike in many previous Hind flicks, where the foreign characters, more often than not, were hyperboles of stereotypes and cheap stand-ins, here they stand side by side with Bollywood actors. Andrew Havill (Sir James Benson), as well as other Caucasian characters, add an extra layer of authenticity to the movie.
Talking of authenticity immediately brings to my mind the set and costume design and, by God, have the production and costume team done some job. They effortlessly bring to life both the luxuries of British India and the struggles of it. Similarly, the cinematography deserves its fair share of plaudits as well. Filming a sports movie is a tricky affair. How many movies have we seen fall prey to poor gimmicky camera work? Gold, most certainly, is not one of those. The nifty camera work and editing do not only make the game of hockey look and feel real but also takes the audience right into the thick of it.
Now, on to the music. Because what is a Bollywood film without some music numbers? Normally the songs tend to take me out of the movie and, as such, I’m not the biggest admirer of songs in films. However, here I felt the songs were in perfect synchrony with the movie and its plot. The songs, to my surprise, enhanced the movie experience. Add to this the fact that I was listening to these songs for the very first time and it becomes even more impressive. So, hats off! “Monobina”, in particular, was best of the bunch. The song so beautifully highlights the British-ness and the Indian-ness of the India of the ‘40s.
At this point, you should be excused for thinking— “Is there even a flaw in this movie? Is this guy even a reviewer? He makes it sound as though the movie is perfect.” Yes (the answer to all three). Yes, there is a flaw. Yes, I’m a reviewer (simply because I’m reviewing this movie). And, yes the move is perfect but NOT flawless. The movie could have done a bit more budget in the editing department. The crowd in the jam-packed stadium in the climax feels a little too artificial which irked me a bit. But thanks to the emotional heft and the drama, it didn’t take me out of the experience entirely.
Going, once again, back to the story element, there has been very few of its kind and not just in movies but in the entirety of South Asian popular culture. Whenever you see or read anything remotely, India-Pakistan related, more often than not, the focus is primarily on the hatred and violence, enmity and bloodshed and separation. Gold does these things too but it is not its primary focus. Gold much like Salman Rushdie’s “Midnight Children” tackles the lesser known or shown nuances of the partition— the familial ties and friendships and shared goal and beliefs and dreams shared by the friends and families that was forever divided by a white man’s pen.
A movie such as Gold doesn’t come about very often. The story it has brought to light and the finesse with which it does so is something to behold. And, if the stories of struggles and of the inevitable penultimate success touch you, Gold will definitely leave you with “dust” in your eyes. This one is not to be missed.
Sudarshan RajBhandari
