‘83 movie,’ directed by Kabir Khan, is a dramatisation of a historic event: India’s first-ever World Cup victory in 1983. Despite its predictability, the film is an exciting and occasionally heartbreaking experience that leaves audiences with an afterglow of ecstatic patriotism as they leave the theatre.
The film, which is set up like a beautifully restored or reconstructed documentary, depicts three and a half months of ‘the may or may not win’ drama, in which the actors and a handful of the genuine characters effortlessly weave in and out of the storey.
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The film is entirely towards cricket and contains everything that cricket lovers could wish for. The storey emphasises and flashes key matches and events in between, bringing memories to the big screen for the first time in nearly 38 years.
As you travel back in time, you will see how the ‘underdog‘ Indian team was treated with contempt. Moreover, how, despite all odds, they triumphed.
In the 83 movie, it’s energising to see the matches again, and your mood fluctuates like Kapil’s bat.
You root for him when he smashes the Zimbabwe team for 175 runs not out, but your fury boils when you learn that the game was not captured on camera because the BBC didn’t think it was significant enough.
The magnetism of Kapil, the locker-room banter and the occasional friction. The bad behaviour between teammates, the strategy they prepared during the matches. Moreover, above all, the anguish and thrills of the matches performed over that historic summer are all depicted on screen.
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Ranveer Singh’s performance as Kapil Dev elevates the film to new heights. It’s not easy to play Kapil Dev on TV, but Singh was immaculate in the part and nailed it. The cosmetics, as well as his Punjabi accent, were spot on for Dev, leaving the audience speechless.
However, the movie would not have qprled so well if it didn’t have a supporting cast complimenting to Ranveer. Pankaj Tripathi, who plays team manager P.R. Man Singh, Saqib Saleem, who plays Mohinder Amarnath, Jiiva, who plays Krishnamachari Srikkanth. Also, Jatin Sarna, who plays Yashpal Sharma, bring their characters to life.
Deepika Padukone didn’t have much to work with. However, she made the most of her little screen time as Romi Dev.
The film is available in 3D, giving the spectator a true-to-life experience of a gala event.
