Chak De India, Indian Women’s Hockey and Muslim Victimhood: a thread.
Many people are praising #ChakDeIndja, for scripting the revival of Women’s hockey. I agree with them. It was a fantastic movie. It had an engaging script, brilliant performances and a mind blowing climax. But
Many people are praising #ChakDeIndja, for scripting the revival of Women’s hockey. I agree with them. It was a fantastic movie. It had an engaging script, brilliant performances and a mind blowing climax. But
But sports was not the core of the movie. I know it’s an outrageous claim to make but I repeat sports was not at the core of the movie. It was at the periphery. It was just a medium to glorify Muslim victimhood complex.
Thread continues.
Thread continues.
Picture this:
A Muslim man becomes the main reason for India’s loss in the finals of a tournament.
He is branded a traitor.
He makes a comeback as coach.
He turns a team of underdogs into world champions (hence redeeming himself).
The story is only about the man.
A Muslim man becomes the main reason for India’s loss in the finals of a tournament.
He is branded a traitor.
He makes a comeback as coach.
He turns a team of underdogs into world champions (hence redeeming himself).
The story is only about the man.
The movie starts with people calling the man a traitor.
A kid says “Papa Papa mainu vi Gaddar vekhna ai”
But the highlight is the intelligent story telling through the song “Teeja tera rang tha main to”
A kid says “Papa Papa mainu vi Gaddar vekhna ai”
But the highlight is the intelligent story telling through the song “Teeja tera rang tha main to”
Teeja tera rang tha main to
(I was your third colour - Green)
Jiya tere dhang hi main to
(Muslims trying to peacefully adapt themselves in a Hindu majority country)
The song is literally the epitome of Muslim victimization.
(I was your third colour - Green)
Jiya tere dhang hi main to
(Muslims trying to peacefully adapt themselves in a Hindu majority country)
The song is literally the epitome of Muslim victimization.
But while the movie was a roaring success at the box office, it failed to achieve its objective. The periphery became the core and the core was lost in translation.
Stellar performances from supporting cast especially the Punjaban and Haryanwi watered the message down.
Stellar performances from supporting cast especially the Punjaban and Haryanwi watered the message down.
Shahrukh Khan had to come up with a more direct and unsubtle “My Name is Khan”, 3 years later to send the message to Indian people, that Chak De India failed to send.
Thread continues.
Thread continues.
But MNIK was released in the Social Media era. It was trashed for over the top performances, bad script and gross generalisation. The movie couldn’t garner the same commercial and critical success that Chak De India did.
And that’s how CDI became an out and out sports movie.
And that’s how CDI became an out and out sports movie.
Another movie that suffered the same fate was Samar Khan’s “Shaurya” where KK Menon as an anti-Muslim Brigadier was so powerful and captivating that the last minute secular twist didn’t matter. And Brigadier Rudra Pratap Singh became a cult figure.
So yes, Chak De India must be credited for the rise of Indian Women’s Hockey.
But did the movie set out with the same purpose.
I don’t think so.
But did the movie set out with the same purpose.
I don’t think so.
Video version of my tweet threat:
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