#SaalaKhadoos

#SaalaKhadoos : 

How do you review a movie which, in the very first few scenes, you are able to predict? Well, despite all the predictability, there is also a great deal of credibility in the movie, thanks to good direction and some great performances by all the leading actors! After all it's a Raju Hirani movie! 

Saala Khadoos, the story of a fallen boxing star and coach is almost the boxing variant of Chak De India, with a minor difference; this one is an individual sport while Chak De was a team #sport, of course! But it's the same formula. Fallen coach, personal animosities, corrupt sports administration, under-utilised talent, sexual harassment, strenuous training and the grand finale! Thrown in with greater finesse is the element of sibling rivalry!

 Madhavan is the foul mouthed,shaggy haired, bulky and earthy coach who fires verbal canons all around him, unmindful of the gender of his clients! Banished to Chennai, on a punishment posting ( uhm, uhm uhm), he spots his alter ego, his female version, a fish seller, a Jhalli, as the well picturised song tells us, a potential champ. But it's her sister who is being coached for boxing. You can smell the beginning of a serious case of sibling rivalry! Romance is, of course, predictable! 

It is the slimy, debauch and exploitative national coach whose character provides stereotypical situations and behaviours. So much cliche'! He is the quintessential Sports official one has learnt to loathe. But, it's the very convincing and nuanced acting by Zakir Hussain which prevents you from squirming in your seat. 

The new girl Ritika Singh, as the fiery shrew, waiting to be tamed is good! She has done a good job both as a maverick, fish selling tomboy, training to be a boxer and as a young girl falling in love with her mentor, even wearing a sari to experience and express the love. She dances with abandon and that alone qualifies her as a potential star for Hindi cinema! Madhavan was also very good, although I don't know how he manages to fall a wee bit short of sublime in every movie! He was damn good in Tanu Weds..., but Dobhriyal stole the show! Here also he is very good but Zakir Husain and the Junior Coach out-do him! I wonder what I would have thought of his role if he had kept his hair short or tied it in a pony! I was almost looking for a scrunchy to tie up his hair! 

Many social messages in the film, but let them be! It's an entertaining, enthralling film and I learnt some boxing rules, finally! Worth a watch, for sure!