Question: Name a living legend you look up to? Priyanka Chopra: Mother Teresa. And the Miss World 2000 is Miss India Priyanka Chopra! Who had thought she, who claimed the international beauty pageant with such an ignorant answer, would live up to be the biggest and the best actor the Indian film industry has in recent times. With her initial films, she did make her place in the industry, wherein her contemporary, Lara Dutta just found the way to exit from Bollywood. She learned and improved her charms and skills and as a result of which in the early years of her career, she already had Filmfare Best Actor (both debutante and negative role) in her kitty. Laurels never stopped falling in her lap as she maintained her bravura and always proved that she is here to stay and stay for long. It was at that point of time when she was at the top of her career, when Fashion happened and she became a recipient of the coveted National Award for Best Actor in a lead role. It is not that she always hit the bull’s eye but she never looked back and she never regretted of having done a flop. She indeed was unfortunate for missing a few awards for Barfi, but nevertheless it was her talent that came across. This lady never fails to entertain and astonish us with her brilliance in any field. From being a top notch actress and a marvellous singer, she also is an international icon and a doting “Daddy’s Li’l Girl”. And here she is again to prove her might, this time with a biography of the five times Boxing World Champion, Mary Kom (for those who thought that she is following Rani Mukherjee’s footsteps to perish after Black)! Omung Kumar’s Mary Kom finally hit the theatres today and what a day to release such an inspiring film (both in context of a teacher as well as of a devoted pupil). It is a tribute to all the teachers across the globe. The film presents the life, the struggle, the comeback of the world champion Mangte Chungneijang Mary Kom. Omung Kumar’s debut film gives you each and every emotion. People would definitely rebut the film being very clichéd and pretty predictable. For those, first and foremost it is a biography and the director was very loyal to the same and secondly it is not about the story being clichéd but how the thing is presented to you on a platter. Not an iota of over garnishing is seen at any point of time in the entire journey of two hours and fifteen minutes. The director made sure that the beauty of the story is not hampered by any addition of melodrama and unnecessary exaggerations, making it one of the best films of 2014 (till date). It deals with the minutes of the sport it is dealing with and how such national sports in our country, are neglected. All thanks goes to the much followed and overrated game of cricket. Nevertheless it also deals with the negligence and obnoxious behaviour by the management, these national players face. Truly mentioned is how the country seldom promotes and encourages such games with apt resourcefulness. The way the director shows how the champion’s name is long lost, is impeccable. Not going further into the details of the film, i would like to focus on the film making as a whole. You get to some beautiful and out of the world camera work and cinematography. Cinematographer, Keiko Nakahara presents some splendid work of art, especially during the training period for the comeback of Mary. The prepossessing landscapes and scenic grandeur of Manali is fabulously framed and put forth. Along with the same, the dialogues and the punch lines are a few though hard hitting. The music of this flick is just as the film – inspirational. It is unlike most films, all in place and suits the plot. The cherry on the cake being Priyanka Chopra’s “Chaoro” which is as good as it can get. Mary Kom is a film made brilliantly with an ensemble of cast which has not been in limelight for sure, if not unknown. Sunil Thapa as the coach is exceptional and Mary indeed was fortunate enough to have a guide like him who gives his everything to bring out a champion from a jagged, craggy and naive little girl from Manipur who accidentally came across the boxing gloves. Along with him, Darshan Kumar as Mary’s husband presents almost the impossible. A husband who is so caring and considerate about his wife is very rare today. So much he is affected by Mary’s sorrow of missing boxing after being a mother, that he compromises his own job as a football coach to be the householder and let the champion get her lost name and fame, back. Never ever is it seen that a guy doing so much for his wife. It is always the scenario where the woman gives up everything for her family, sacrifices almost her entire living in the name of her babies, society and what not. Seldom is this sort of love and compassion seen from the man’s perspective. Hats off to this man for pulling off this role to the utmost. Last but not the least, hadn’t it been for Priyanka Chopra, this film was impossible. None of the present actors in Hindi film industry could have stepped into the world champion’s shoes ever. Name any and all will fail to even reach close to what this lady has done. From the emotions of being a tomboy tilted towards boxing and the devotion of being a perfect student, from an avid and excellent boxer to being an adoring mother and beautiful wife, she enthrals magnificently. Never ever will you drop your eyes from her especially the moments of her rigorous training period and the moments of compassionate motherhood. The evolution from a brat to a pupil to a champion to a wife to a mother and back to a champion is spellbinding. Towards the climax when she screams and howls after winning the championship (though there is another aspect for which she was crying which i tend not to disclose) with the national anthem as the background scores gives you jitters and leave many with teary eyes. This is the effect of Omung’s direction. You may have been dumb while miss world, but Priyanka, you are the finest that we have with us. If Mardaani saw Rani Mukherjee’s best, this one is way better than that. A film which inspires you, makes you think a bit, analyse yourself and try to keep focus. A must watch for if you don’t you are missing something extraordinary. That extraordinary is called Priyanka Chopra!!!! 4.5 (3.5 + 1) stars out of 5, the extra 1 being for Miss World!!
Posted on: Fri, 05 Sep 2014 09:16:21 +0000
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