I was in a nutshell, “circumspect” when I walked into watch Cycle Kick this afternoon. My experience with trailers, as most of you would know by now, hasn’t been the best to date. And therefore – circumspect. It was the 3rd movie of the day for me and I was quite bored after having watched Resident and Always Kabhi Kabhi before this. Hence the hope in my heart that the movie turns out to be as good as the trailer and not another damp squib. Adding to my doubt was the fact that it came from the stables of Mukta Arts and Dr. Ghai hasn’t been at his best for over a decade now.
But about 20 minutes into the movie, I was quite at ease. The story had built up pace well and there were some really good performances to watch. The entire cast was fresh. I haven’t heard of Nishan Nanaiah, Sunny Hinduja, Girija Oak, Ishita Sharma & Dwij Yadav – Ramu, Ali, Shrishti, Suman and Deva respectively. These are the lead characters in a movie that is about hope – ala Iqbal – Aasha Niraasha se Nikalti hai. Bas Nikaalne waala chahiye (From despair springs hope. It just depends on the person who can generate it – very loosely translated). Again ala Iqbal there is a coach but this time he isn’t a drunk and desperate Nasserudin Shah. Cycle Kick marks the return of Tom Alter in the role of Coach Thomas – the spirited, principled coach of St. Joseph’s College who refuses to accept a team built with kids who are present only because their father is a reputed trustee or provides the institute with money. He gets into a disagreement with the school principal, Gaitonde (Ashok Beniwal) and moves to the local Government College in the hope of teaching football to the economically deprived. All of this is happening as the characters of Ramu and Ali are getting fleshed out as two young kids who can play football but are poor enough to barely afford 2 square meals a day. Their only aspiration is to own a cycle – for the former it is about making more money by putting up more movie posters in a day and picking up his kid brother after school each day; for the latter it is about impressing his lady love.
Newbie director Shashi Sudigala, who has also written the story – an original one – based on old concepts however. But the good part is that it is written sincerely and from the heart. The difference between this one and AKK is perceptible to say the least even to the unseasoned eye (Roshan Abbas are you listening???). Sudigala builds up the story very well in the first half with great camera work and editing in a manner that is very natural to say the least. The emotions and worries of 2 young kids and their passion for their broken down cycle have been represented very well indeed. We do seem to have a good prospect on our hands with Sudigala. Before I close I would like to call out an outstanding performance by Dwij Yadav in the role of Ramu’s little brother Deva. Super confident in front of the camera and exceptional dialogue delivery. And I am not taking anything away here from Nishan Nanaiah but to see a 3 foot kid performing the way he did was superb to say the least. Cycle Kick is a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon with the family. Probably the best movie released this weekend – 6 on 10. Would have loved to give it a 7 had Sudigala not goofed up on his execution post the interval.
Watch the trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1jB9dZfto0
But about 20 minutes into the movie, I was quite at ease. The story had built up pace well and there were some really good performances to watch. The entire cast was fresh. I haven’t heard of Nishan Nanaiah, Sunny Hinduja, Girija Oak, Ishita Sharma & Dwij Yadav – Ramu, Ali, Shrishti, Suman and Deva respectively. These are the lead characters in a movie that is about hope – ala Iqbal – Aasha Niraasha se Nikalti hai. Bas Nikaalne waala chahiye (From despair springs hope. It just depends on the person who can generate it – very loosely translated). Again ala Iqbal there is a coach but this time he isn’t a drunk and desperate Nasserudin Shah. Cycle Kick marks the return of Tom Alter in the role of Coach Thomas – the spirited, principled coach of St. Joseph’s College who refuses to accept a team built with kids who are present only because their father is a reputed trustee or provides the institute with money. He gets into a disagreement with the school principal, Gaitonde (Ashok Beniwal) and moves to the local Government College in the hope of teaching football to the economically deprived. All of this is happening as the characters of Ramu and Ali are getting fleshed out as two young kids who can play football but are poor enough to barely afford 2 square meals a day. Their only aspiration is to own a cycle – for the former it is about making more money by putting up more movie posters in a day and picking up his kid brother after school each day; for the latter it is about impressing his lady love.
Newbie director Shashi Sudigala, who has also written the story – an original one – based on old concepts however. But the good part is that it is written sincerely and from the heart. The difference between this one and AKK is perceptible to say the least even to the unseasoned eye (Roshan Abbas are you listening???). Sudigala builds up the story very well in the first half with great camera work and editing in a manner that is very natural to say the least. The emotions and worries of 2 young kids and their passion for their broken down cycle have been represented very well indeed. We do seem to have a good prospect on our hands with Sudigala. Before I close I would like to call out an outstanding performance by Dwij Yadav in the role of Ramu’s little brother Deva. Super confident in front of the camera and exceptional dialogue delivery. And I am not taking anything away here from Nishan Nanaiah but to see a 3 foot kid performing the way he did was superb to say the least. Cycle Kick is a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon with the family. Probably the best movie released this weekend – 6 on 10. Would have loved to give it a 7 had Sudigala not goofed up on his execution post the interval.
Watch the trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1jB9dZfto0
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