The official trailer of the film 83, which chronicles the journey of the Indian cricket team in the 1983 World Cup, was released yesterday with the film releasing on December 24.
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The 1983 World Cup is an event that is etched in the memory of a billion Indian fans. It was a moment that changed the face of sport and society in India. The 1983 World Cup laid the foundation for India to be the economic superpower of cricket. The triumph of 1983 gave dreams to many modern greats like Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, and others. Kapil Dev and his men set out to do the impossible in 1983, which was to break the hegemony of West Indies dominance in the sport.
The victory on June 25, 1983, gave a billion Indians plenty of reasons to dream the impossible. The exploits of all the men who played in the World Cup have been chronicled ad nauseam. Every kid, growing up, will know the exploits of Roger Binny, Kapil Dev, Mohinder Amarnath, Balwinder Singh Sandhu, and Madan Lal. To make a film on the 1983 World Cup, when every Indian knows about that event, takes plenty of guts.
But, Kabir Khan, the director of the film 83 who was also at the helm when ‘Chak de India’ was made in 2007, is known to create magic in sports films. His ‘Chak de India’ theme is now played each time India wins in any sport. That it was originally meant for hockey but it was hijacked by other sports is another matter altogether
The opening sequence of the trailer itself keeps the audience gripped. The backdrop is the India vs Zimbabwe match at Turnbridge Wells. This match is remembered for not being telecast, as India was not the top side at that time. Many had stated that at that time there was also a strike by the BBC due to which the match could not be telecast. But, all attention was on Australia vs West Indies match at Lord’s.
Thus, the best part about the trailer and the film is that audiences will get to see what was Kapil Dev’s epic knock much more than what could have been seen in 1983. The commentator’s voice in which he mentions that India needed this win after thrashings against Australia and West Indies is something that adds a lot more value.
The incredible true story of the underdogs who pulled off the unthinkable!#83Trailer in Hindi Out Now: https://t.co/3p6pO6X78q
— Ranveer Singh (@RanveerOfficial) November 30, 2021
83 RELEASING IN CINEMAS ON 24TH DEC, 2021, in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam. Also in 3D.#ThisIs83 pic.twitter.com/2xfTyz4Qz4
The build-up is excellent with wickets tumbling and players informing Kapil Dev about the situation. Kapil, played by Bollywood star Ranveer Singh, is annoyed with each update. When he comes out of the shower, he admonishes his players that they are not serious. When he comes out, he sees the shock. He asks for the score which then reveals the shock.
The whole movie then portrays India’s journey in the 1983 World Cup. It is centered primarily around Kapil Dev the batsman and captain. Ranveer has done his best to bring out the mannerisms and body language of Kapil while speaking and batting. As a batsman, he has managed to bring out the exact way in which Kapil used to bat. The iconic lofted shot and the Natraj shot which Kapil was famous for are executed brilliantly.
While talking, Ranveer has done his best to bring out Kapil’s feelings. Coming from the small town of Rohtak at a time when Indian cricket was dominated by the Mumbai and Delhi power circuits, Kapil had to fight the odds. His weak command over English and also the emotions he feels when fans egg them on are clearly on show.
Apart from Ranveer, the other star who steals the show is Jiiva. The Tamil superstar plays the role of Krishnamachari Srikkanth. The mannerisms, flamboyance, and the cool quotient that Srikkanth bought to the Indian team are highlighted brilliantly by Jiiva. His comic moments and his style are on par with Ranveer’s brilliant portrayal of Kapil.
The trailer of the film already has garnered over 50 million views. There will be plenty of moments that will tug the hearts of Indian fans. The 1983 World Cup was also played at a time when there were race attacks against Indians in the UK. The line by team manager PR Man Singh is sure to make every Indian choke. The Indian team has to wait for the team bus, is mocked by the media, and the people are targeted. PR Man Singh mentions, “We gained independence 35 years ago. But, we still have to earn respect.”
The trailer has already shown glimpses of Kapil Dev’s iconic 175 in more ways than ordinary broadcasters could have shown. The sounds of glass breaking in the dressing room or the parking lot whenever Kapil hit a six is sure to give you goosebumps. The portrayal of the West Indies side seems genuine, although one cannot discount Bollywood’s tendency to unnecessarily stereotype the opponents.
83 will do wonders at the box office as it is on cricket. Traditionally, sporting films have tended to focus on human suffering as the backdrop for their on-field heroisms. Some element of masala will be added in the 83 film which might make cricket pundits cringe. But, if one has to chronicle the exploits of the 1983 World Cup-winning Indian team, Kabir Khan, along with Ranveer Singh and others, might have lifted the cup.
83 trailer rating: 4/5
Recommended to watch: Very highly
Directed by: Kabir Khan
Release date: 24 December, 2021
Starring: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Jiiva, Pankaj Tripathi, Tahir Raj Bhasin, Saqib Saleem
