Just a little while before we got engrossed with the heroics of the ‘Men in Blue’ in the ODI, World Cup 2023 and it’s heart-breaking finale, R Balki’sbrilliantly riveting film and inspiring sports drama ‘Ghoomer’ broke on Zee 5, leaving its impact on discerning audiences and earning critical acclaim but sadlywithout much fanfare behind it (and no super stars to boast of), the movie didn’t set the stage on fire.
We finally watched it yesterday&got simply bowled overby its great twirl of emotions. For starters, significance of the film’s title is to be understood.Ghoomer or Ghumar is a traditional folk dance of Rajasthan that follows a circular motion. The suggestive title twirls into meaning, quite literally, as a part of a rousing climax, after it journeys a one-handed cricketer’s giant struggles. Delving into the realm of women’s cricket and its processes, the film tells the amazing story of Anina, an upcoming batting prodigy who loses her right hand in a freak car accidentthus ending her bright cricketing career.
However, the unsympathetic and failed test cricketer, Padam “Paddy” Singh Sodhi, gives her new hope to revert to‘spin’ bowling as batting is no longer an option for her. A tireless, ruthless taskmaster, he goes about training her in his own backyard with unconventional techniques, to turn her fate around as a bowler who then stuns the cricketing world with the most unique bowling action and figures. Though fictional to Indian context, the film is inspired by the story of Károly Takács, the late Hungarian right-hand shooter who won two Olympic gold medals with his left hand …
It’s easy to say that the film will only find resonance with cricket buffs &lovers of the game. Others may take it akin to a documentary on the art of spin bowling. The film in some ways is reminiscent of the film ‘Iqbal’ (2005) on making of a pace bowlerfacing many hardships. It’s all about indomitable human endurance and an unshakeable will to succeed on the big stage on one side andthe emotional turmoil that the family and kin of the cricketer and coach must undergo in their unstinted support to their cause.
The highlight of the film apart from Balki’s superb direction and narration, are the lead stars, Saiyami Kher and Abhishek Bachan. The former being a cricketer who’s played for Maharashtra state, plays her role with intensity and passion that’s most laudable. It’s not surprising that Abhishek puts in a stellar performance as the disgruntled but immensely talented coach, but he’s still not rated as highly as he deserves in Bollywood where mediocrity can succeed. Also in the form of bonuses are two cameos – Shabana, as Aunt who’s cricket knowledge is encyclopaedic &Big B as theEnglish commentator, highly surcharged with patriotism and lapsing into Hindi phrases,are sodelightful !Wish we’d more soul-stirring films like these & less of masala mix of gore & violence.
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