83 – The Legacy of Indian Cricket
“Through shadows cast by silver screens,
Where dreams unfold in vivid scenes,
The world awakes , bright and bold,
With stories whispered, truths retold.”
INTRODUCTION –
The euphony of the cheering fans is a testament of how cricket transcends the boundaries of mere sport in India. It is indeed an emotion fabricated into the very roots of the society. The rhythmic motion of a bat striking a ball resonates like a heartbeat echoing in the passionate hearts through the crowded streets, bustling markets and serene villages alike.
There have been numerous narratives of triumph and tears in the history of cricket.
India’s victory in the 1983 world cup is one such precedent which reveals how Indians celebrate cricket as a festival, which has been beautifully depicted in the bollywood movie ’83 directed by Kabir Khan.
It is amazing to witness how cricket invokes a sense of nostalgia for the older generations. Sitting together with the family, listening to radio or watching television of the black and white era is something our parents and grandparents recollect as their most cherished moments.
MOVIE GENRE –
‘83 is a 2021 Hindi language based Bollywood movie which belongs to the genre of sports biographical drama depicting the Indian National cricket team under the captaincy of Kapil Dev, popularly known as Haryana Hurricane. The fact that this movie can be enjoyed by every age group of audience or what some people call as a ‘family film’ adds to its grandeur.
SET UP & BACKGROUND –
The movie highlights the 1983 cricket World Cup, the 3rd cricket World Cup tournament, held from 9th to 25th June 1983 hosted by England.
It is quite interesting to note the minute details added in the movie, which reveals that eight teams participated and were divided into groups of four. The game was played as a 60- over match.
CASTING & DIRECTION –
The movie ’83 is a masterpiece creation by Kabir Khan, a renowned director in the field of sports biopics.
He was entrusted by a magnificent star cast including –
1) Ranveer Singh as Kapil Dev (Captain of Indian Cricket team during 1983 world cup)
2) Deepika Padukone as Romi Dev (Kapil Dev’s wife)
3) Tahir Raj Bhasin as Sunil Gavaskar
4) Pankaj Tripathi as PR Man Singh (Manager of Indian Cricket team)
5) Saqib Saleem as Mohinder Amarnath (Vice captain)
The film also stars Ammy Virk, Harrdy Sandhu, Neena Gupta and others in important roles.
It’s interesting that Chirag Patil was signed to play the role of his own father, Sandeep Patil and Mohinder Amarnath himself, played the role of his late father Lala Amarnath in the movie. The director is indeed a genius and the casting is a reflection of his gratitude and respect towards the 1983 team.
PRINCIPAL THEME & HIGHLIGHTS –
The movie begins with the depiction of Indian mindset towards the cricket team, which had never won even a single match in the World Cup before 1983.
Also, there has been a touch of reality by highlighting the sparse funding and lack of adequate resources in sports and how a sportsman has to cross barriers like inadequate diet, poor equipments and lack of funds during international tours.
The movie shows Kapil Dev’s struggle to establish the fact that India had an equal chance to win, just like any other country and that it was unacceptable to him to settle for less. He took the media criticism positively and motivated his team constantly to put their best foot forward.
For boosting the morale of his team, he is often seen quoting –
“Taste the success once,
Tongue wants more.”
The movie is a real life depiction of the actual incidents which happened in the dressing room as well as on the pitch. The viewers also witness how human element of overconfidence after two simultaneous victories becomes an initial obstacle and brings about two major crushing defeats in a row for the team. But the captain did lead by example and worked on the deficiencies along with his team’s support to overcome them eventually. The world had never imagined that on the 25th of June 1983, India would defeat ‘the giants’ West Indies at Lord’s and secure the World Cup title!
HIDDEN ESSENCE –
Cricket unites people irrespective of caste, gender and ethnicities. This is in reference to a scene in the movie where some parts in India witnessed communal violence during that period. However, cricket became instrumental in liberation of people from their miseries and united the nation as a whole. A similar depiction towards the end of the movie showing Indians celebrating the victory like the festival of lights, is commendable.
CINEMATOGRAPHY & MUSIC –
What seems appealing to the audience is inculcation of the actual clips from 1983 World Cup in the movie. The actors have creatively approached the skin of the character and the resemblance seems uncanny in respect of appearance and mannerism. It is amazing to see how Ranveer Singh has mastered the accent and techniques of the Indian skipper, Kapil Dev.
It is often said,
“Music is a symphony of life,
Echoing our innermost feelings and unspoken dreams.”
The film’s soundtracks are a perfect blend of melody with a pinch of patriotism. Music composer Pritam has woven a rich tapestry of sound skilfully blending traditional influences and contemporary sensibilities. The song ‘Lehra Do’ is a mesmerising testament to the power of music to evoke profound emotion and connection. The heart of this enchanting piece of art is its vocalist, Arijit Singh whose voice is nothing short of a transcendent.
CONCLUSION & FUTURE SCOPE –
‘83 is a breathtaking and visually stunning tribute to the indomitable spirit of Indian cricket with a marvellous portrayal of triumph against the odds. This electrifying narrative keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. This movie is indeed the celebration of perseverance and hope. This one of a kind depiction is a great piece of cinema for our future generations to be acquainted with the golden history of the 1983 victory – a memory that still illuminates the hearts of millions.
“ So let’s raise the curtains once more,
With epic cinema, we will explore.”
By: ADAMYA TYAGI
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