RELIVING 83

 RELIVING 83!

For most seniors like me, reliving ‘83’ is a nostalgic experience. Thanks to Kabir Khan for taking us back to 83, through his film (3D and multilingual) with the same title. 

Yes, none of us believed that India could win the World Cup 1983. Our World Cup records till then in the earlier two tourneys were only full of nightmares like the ‘ infamous 36 not out in 60 overs’ from our greatest player Gavaskar!

The film rightly begins with such glimpses of self-disbelief. In a press conference attended by just three  journalists, when Kapil says ‘we are here to win,’ journos raise their eyebrows. Kapil meekly responds in loose English……’what else we are here for?’

During those days we had not read about Kapil’s first team meeting. As shown in the film, it happened in the team bus!  After receiving tips from team manager Man Singh, Kapil speaks with the background of 1981 film song ‘Ham bane, tum bane ek duje ke liye.’ When he appeals ‘ we are here to win,’ meeting ends with unmoved players dancing to the tune ‘I don’t know what you say, don’t know don’t know what you say.’  

When the newly married Srikanth, reveals that most players had booked the tickets to New York, with a few days of stopover in London for the World Cup, one will be shocked to note how casual our most players were. Of course, one man Kapil Dev believed otherwise. 

No exclusive bus, no permission to enter Lord’s stadium, just £15 per day per player, warnings to players before meeting the British queen were all little known to us, which reveal so much about the treatment meted out to our team during those days. Team manager Man Singh rightly remarks ‘we have won freedom, but are yet to win respect.’ 

Even after first two wins (against WI and Zim), experts and even our team were refusing to believe. Next two losses were enough to burst the bubble! 

When Indians were down at 9/4 against Zim,  Kapil was inside the bathroom and was not ready to come out inspite of his team members repeated door knocks. It took time for him to believe that we were 9/4! Of course he walked in to bat at 17/5 and created history by scoring 175 not out. Also we were through to the finals after beating the mighty Australians. 

The story of Indian batting collapse to 183 all out is too well known to us. When Kapil tries to convince his hopeless team mates during the pre-fielding meet, no player was ready to smile. At the end of that meet, they all smile at Kapil’s broken English. 

How the team bowled out the mighty WI for a humiliating 140 is now history. And of course, that Kapil’s running catch to dismiss Richards provided the turning point. 

Emotions inside the team and outside among people are well brought out in the film. Enough fabricated stories are also packed to make it more appealing. 

Ranveer Singh as Kapil has done his best. Other actors as remaining players are convincing too. But except Kapil, it becomes confusing to recognize other players. 

We had heard too little about the team Manager Man Singh. His role in contributing towards team success is well shown in the film. His role in handling Gavaskar when he was dropped against WI, 2nd match is well shown. 

Comparison between the 2016 movie DHONI, becomes obvious. Sushant Singh Rajput as Dhoni was certainly more convincing. His mannerisms and even the helicopter shot were all very convincing. In that film, actual match scenes were used and only Dhoni was substituted by the actor. Here all cricketing scenes are recreated with present day actors as players and therefore the feel of cricket is not convincing. 

Of course, film Dhoni was a biopic and 83 is about the World Cup. Let’s give full credit to Kabir Khan and his team for having recreated history for the latest generation.

klakshminarayana1956@rediffmail.com