Blog: An open letter to Shahrukh Khan
By IndiaFM News Bureau, September 13, 2007 - 09:19 IST
Dear King Khan,

Hope you would have seen the news clippings and read various news articles on India retaining the men’s Asia cup hockey title with a resounding 7-2 win over Korea in the summit clash at the floodlit Mayor Radhakrishnan stadium in Chennai on Sunday (09.09.07).

The win was convincing from the beginning. There was no uncertainty like they exhibit till the last over in Indian cricket. In the 4th minute from the start of the game, Shivendra Singh opened the score. Though Korea could score the equalizer in the 9th minute, Sunil and Prabhjot Singh scored each one goal and changed the scenario to 3-1 lead at the halfway stage. Indians kept up the tempo which lasted in a resounding 7-2 win which was a treat to the eyes and minds of thousands of holiday crowd who were spectators to this victory.

You might wonder why I am detailing about our country’s recent success in hockey to a Bollywood star like you. You have told to press recently that the way Kabir Khan (your character in Chak De India) reacts in the film after the team wins the final match to lift the world cup trophy, was your favourite scene and has given you some inner peace.

But even then you might disagree with me if I say that the success of this film might change the way we look at sports in India. Our recent win in Asia cup might not have any connection to your role in the film. But still the movie can change the thought line of thousands and thousands of Indians about the way sports and sportsmen are treated and how positive changes could be brought in.

The success of the movie may not bring immediate changes in the trend of sports. But it would force people to think positively, dream constructively and ultimately we might be moving to a row of victories.

Similarly you can ask your producer friends ( I know Yash Chopra is your close friend ) to plan a film about Indian politicians and you can play a role of a politician, may be as a Member of Parliament, who could be a role model politician to the upcoming future generations. Since present generation has seen more and more of dirty politicians everywhere, it would be tough to explain to future citizens as to how a good politician would look like.

This letter might not reach your eyes, or even if it reaches, you might just chuckle and forget it, but for me, I have expressed what I felt as a citizen of India.

Thank you

CITIZEN OF INDIA

SYDENY: It came as no surprise when Shimit Amin's "Chak De! India", a gritty tale of Indian women hockey players that also starred 90 Australian players and over 9,000 Australian extras, won the Best Film Award at the 5th Australian Indian Film Festival gala night here Thursday.

Indian heartthrob Akshaye Khanna received the Best Performance Award for his role in "Gandhi My Father" at the glittering ceremony hosted for the first time at the Museum of Contemporary Arts, situated on the Harbour foreshore overlooking the iconic Opera House.

The awards were chosen by an esteemed group of Australian film critics, including Peter Thompson (Showtime), Margaret Pomeranz (ABC TV At The Movies), Nell Schofield (Channel 9 Sunday Show), Marc Fennell (Triple J), Adrienne McKibbons (Metro Magazine) and Ian Taylor (ABC TV).

Back home, "Chak de! India" has won applause from audiences and critics alike.

"I am encouraged to do something different. 'Chak de! India' has been great for Indian audiences at home and abroad," Amin said.

He disagreed that it was "a middle-class film". "It is a nationalist or patriotic film that crosses all boundaries and embraces all. It just took over India! Seeing 'Chak de!' placards at cricket matches has been very flattering for the film. There is this `Chak de! India' spirit in the air."

What led Amin to make a women's sport film? "It is a sports film that portrays the country. Five years ago, the Indian women's hockey team had won the Commonwealth Games, but they didn't get much attention for their feat. The game has low profile in India and there is less support and money for hockey. Jaideep Sahni, who wrote the script, felt if this movie did work, something positive will happen."

Among all hockey-playing countries, why did Amin come to shoot in Australia? "It is such an athletic country and probably has one of the highest numbers of women in sports. Coupled with it, the weather, language and the line producer, MG Distribution, helped me opt for Australia," Amin told IANS here.

The crew and cast spent nearly three months shooting in Melbourne and Sydney. "The enthusiasm and passion of a great group of multicultural people we worked with was phenomenal. It built a great community between film and sports people. The Australian Film Commission was really inviting and that makes it easier to work."

Shimin also thanks Australians for accepting to lose in the final match in the film. "They were gracious and sportsmanlike in their defeat."

For Amin, story is always secondary. "I really go for characters in my film. As in 'Ab Tak Chhappan', I relate to characters and script. In 'Chak de! India', the script was terrific. We just wanted to make something pretty grounded and that honesty has come through in the film."

Actor Sagarika Ghatge, who puts her cricketer fiancé in place in the film, told IANS: "I really felt that hockey is not looked up in our country and what Preeti Sabharwal (the character's name) did is how I felt, as the true sportsperson."

"In fact, we underwent three-month hockey training session prior to the commencement of the shooting. We learnt a lot from Australian players," she said.

"I have some wonderful memories of the time spent in Melbourne, where shopping and cuisine is great. We didn't get to see much of Sydney, so I am hoping to explore it in the next few days," she added.

The Sydney festival, which has writer and director Yash Chopra as its patron, is attended by over 40,000 people each year.

This year's screenings include "Cheeni Kum", "Dhoom 2", "Eklavya", "The Namesake" and "Laaga Chunuri Main Daag".