STARRING

Ravi Kapoor, Suresh Oberoi, Zakir Hussain, Ehsan Khan, Manisha Chatterjee, Saba Karim, Nikhil Chopra and others.

DIRECTION

Ravi Kapoor


STORY

The story of the flick has cricket as its background. It is in the backdrop of upcoming world cricket cup 2011 that the whole edifice of the flick has been erected. As the underworld dons became starved of green pastures due to strict government and better law and order situation, they turn their attention towards cricket to extort money.

A bookie Shobam (Zakir Hussain) strikes a deal with Indian cricket team captain Ravi Indulkar (Ravi Kapoor) during the year 2007 world cup match against Pakistan. Ravi Kapoor, in connivance with his four teammates (Rajpal, Hiten, Irfan and Balwinder), throws the match against Pakistan

However, the deal gets exposed as a journalist Balakrishnan comes to know of it. Prem Chopra, who is BICI President, takes a very serious view of the whole thing and suspends all four for four years. Even Ravi’s girlfriend Soha (Manisha Chatterjee) deserts him over the disgraceful act.

After some time, coach Suresh Oberoi decides to give the captain Ravi Kapoor and his teammates another chance to play in the world cup 2011. This time Ravi and company wants to prove their patriotism by winning the cup against Pakistan.

However, bookie Shobham would not leave them alone and approaches Ravi for a fixing deal. But the captain refuses this time. Not one to concede defeat easily, the bookie abducts Ravi’s girlfriend ‘Soha’.

When Ravi comes to know of this, he approaches home minister, who in turn appoints encounter specialist Ehshan Khan to solve the case.

What happens after this is revealed in the latter part of the flick.

PERFORMANCE

Ravi Kapoor, who plays the main character of Indian Cricket Captain Ravi Indulkar, impresses with his personality but that is not sufficient to carry a feature film on his own shoulders. In fact, the debutant actor need to polish his acting skill before venturing into filmdom for a hero’s role.

Suresh Oberoi, who plays the part of coach, comes out good. Similarly, veteran Prem Chopra, who enacted the part of cricket chief, acts his part well. Zakir Hussain, who as a bookie induces Ravi Kapoor to lose the match, carries his part well. Others provide able support to main cast of the film.

The direction of Ravi Kapoor seems to be handicapped by a poor writing. Though the subject of cricketer-underworld-bookie nexus is interesting, it needed more mature writing on the part of script writers.

Some scenes like umpire and captain talking to underworld, when the world cup final match was being played, make mockery of the whole thing.


STARDUST VERDICT

Despite of best intentions, the film does not work due to poor script.  A non-starter at the box office.

Star Rating:  *