Ghoomer Review: This sports drama depicts an extraordinary journey of a physically challenged female cricketer
Ghoomer Movie Rating: 3.5 Stars
Just watched Ghoomer movie in Cinemas. Let’s focus on the complete details, story, positive/negatives and at last my personal view on this movie.
Cast: Shabana Azmi, Abhishek A Bachchan, Saiyami Kher and Angad Bedi
Director: R Balki
Release Date: 18th August 2023 in Cinemas
Story: Movie revolves around Anina (Saiyami Kher) who has always been interested in cricket since she was a child. She resides with her father (Shivendra Singh Dungarpur), grandmother (Shabana Azmi) and brothers Anuj (Piyush Raina) and Tishu (Akshay Joshi). She pursues the sport even while studying and gets shortlisted for the selection process for the Indian cricket team.
One day, a horrific road accident shatters her dream. While returning home in her boyfriend Jeet’s (Angad Bedi) car and she meets with an accident. The doctors try their best but are not able to save her right arm. On her birthday, Paddy (Abhishek Bachchan) is an expert bowler who comes into her life like a messiah. He’s the only one who doesn’t take pity on her and advises her to become an expert bowler with her left hand.
Paddy aka Padam Singh Sodhi is a retired test cricketer who never got his due after suffering a rib fracture during a match in 1995. Together, they come to set new benchmarks. Is it enough to keep the audiences invested?
Positives
1. Excellent Performances
2. Climax
3. Direction
4. Story
Negatives
1. Length
2. Music
3. Screenplay in 2nd half
Durgesh Tiwary’s View: When I watched the trailer of this film planned to watch this movie on release day in cinemas as loved the trailer.
Anina, a young batting prodigy, loses her right hand in an accident. An unsympathetic, failed cricketer gives her new hope, trains her with unconventional techniques, to turn her fate around.
Ghoomer is inspired by the story of Károly Takács, the Hungarian right-hand shooter who won two Olympic gold medals with his left hand after his other hand was seriously injured. It has all the right intentions. It is not a story of sympathy but empathy. It isn’t trying to be a sob fest about a woman losing her right arm, but a tale of revering strength to fight back. A heartfelt story and a sensitive screenplay, both of which strike a chord in the viewer’s heart. The pace of the drama is fast and does not give the audience a chance to think. The best part of the drama is that it does not become morose and depressing despite the accident Anina meets with. Rather, the humorous happenings actually serve to keep the atmosphere one of fun and frolic notwithstanding the harsh reality. The last part of the drama is devoted to the game of cricket, and it is so beautifully written that the audience would simply love it. The weak hearted among the viewers would even feel a lump in their throat or shed tears in the last part of the drama on the cricket field. Abhishek Bachchan does a phenomenal job as Padam Singh Sodhi. He is so natural that it doesn’t even look like he is acting. Saiyami Kher gives her cent per cent to the character of Anina. She makes the pains and joys of Anina identifiable for the audience. R. Balki’s direction is wonderful. Without getting into the melodramatic space, Balki makes a very sensitive film which touches the heart.
On the flipside, the film is too quick at times. A few developments are convenient, especially in the cricket match in the climax. Paddy makes a shocking revelation to Anina but nothing much happens about it after this dramatic sequence. And the major problem with the film is that the trailer ended up showing too much of the story. An important plot point is also depicted in the promo. A lot of buildup happens in the film with regard to this development in the film. However, when it unveils on screen, it won’t surprise the audience as they have already seen it in the trailer. While the concept is beautiful, it is certain skipped and over portrayed emotions that makes the narrative look convenient, and sometimes even confused.
Some verdicts are hard to give. While the heart leans towards the emotions, the mind is unable to completely ignore the flaws. In both situations, what stays consistent is the human connection with the overall story. Overall, movie is a heartfelt film which entertains and engages. It isn’t just a cinematic experience into the world of cricket; it’s an expedition into the uncharted territories of human emotions. Rests on Abhishek Bachchan and Saiyami Kher’s performances and some well-executed scenes. But the narrative is too quick, and the trailer ended up showing nearly the whole story. My view on this movie Highly Recommended for every family.
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