Chak De India based on real life story of Mir Negi


After Jhoom Barabar Jhoom, Yash Raj’s next film lined up for release would be Chak De India. The film has already attracted lot of attention as it stars Shah Rukh Khan in the role of a hockey coach, something which he has never attempted before. The film will also introduce some new girls who are a part of the girls’ hockey team which Shah Rukh coaches.

Yash Raj Films generally keep their film plots under wraps. Similar is the case with Chak De India since the storyline of the film is not being disclosed yet. However, the latest buzz is that the film is based on the life of an Indian hockey player Mir Ranjan Negi.

Negi was the hockey goalkeeper of the Indian team during the Asian Games 1982. During the Asian games, India faced a defeat with the score of 1-7 against Pakistan. This was a humiliating experience for Negi. Later in his life, Negi coached the National Women’s hockey team and the team went on to win Gold at the Manchester Commonwealth games. Chak De India is said to have a similar storyline and SRK seems to be portraying Negi’s character in the film. Interestingly, Shah Rukh sports slight stubble in the film which resembles Negi’s look.

Mir Ranjan Negi however remains tightlipped about the film and does not let out details but confirms that the film is based on his life. In fact, it is said that Negi had also accompanied Chak De India unit to Australia to guide them on the hockey field during the shoot. Shah Rukh, a college level hockey player himself, also didn’t take long to pick up the game.

Chak De India is directed by Shimit Amin whose last film was Ab Tak Chhappan. The film stars Shah Rukh Khan and Vidya Malvade along with a group of debutante girls who are part of the hockey team. The first promotional music video of the film will be released during the screening of Jhoom Barabar Jhoom.

According to a leading news channel, ace hockey player Dhanraj Pillay features in a special appearance in Yash Raj's Shah Rukh Khan-Vidya Malvade starrer , 'Chak De India.

As is known Shah Rukh Khan plays the coach of a women's hockey team in the film, shot mostly in Australia and Dhanraj's presence will add a more authentic touch to the movie.

Interestingly, Shah Rukh Khan along with Dhanraj and Priyanka Chopra walked the ramp for designer Rohit Bal's fall collection - Koyla. The event took place at Taj Lands End in Mumbai, last Saturday evening .

'Chak De India', directed by 'Ab Tak Chappan' fame Shimit Amin, is scheduled to release on August 10.

June 15 will see the release of Yash Raj’s Jhoom Barabar Jhoom and like most other times, Yash Raj has come up with a novel way to promote their other film Chak De India. So if you have liked the music and the videos of Jhoom Barabar Jhoom, you will be in for a treat when none other than Chak De India lead Shah Rukh Khan will be seen in a special 5 ½ minute music video during the screening.

“A special Chak De India music video will feature Shah Rukh Khan and the girls of the hockey team during the show of Jhoom Barabar Jhoom. Shah Rukh will be introducing the girls”, said Monika Bhattacharya, spokesperson for Yash Raj Films.

This promotional video is designed to be the first official trailer for the film. So gear up for a double treat when you go to watch Jhoom

Synopsis

Jo nahin ho sakta hai, wahi to karna hai...

Kabir Khan (Shahrukh Khan) knows what it's like to come back from the dead. The ex Indian Captain has now come back in the avatar of the Coach of the Indian Women's National Hockey team. A team that exists more on paper and less in reality.

The team is a rag-tag bunch of girls with their own agenda. A bunch of girls who have forgotten what it is like to play for the love of the game. Of playing because you want glory for your country. Not because you want a pensioned job or a government flat. They have all forgotten the sharp thrill of just holding the hockey stick, keeping their eyes on the ball and playing for all they are worth. They have played every game but hockey to make sure they get selected every year in the Indian National team. But what does it really mean to play for the Indian National team? To play for India?

Mujhe sirf ek mulk ka naam sunaai deta hai –India

The girls have never known the thrilling energy of being Team India. Of giving their all to see their country's name on a trophy. But Kabir Khan, once a captain, now forgotten, does. He knows what it takes to get there. And what it means to return empty handed. This time, he wants to make sure that it's different. He knows there are no second chances. Despite his past, he believes that if only the girls played as one, anything would be possible.

Because Kabir Khan believes that it is not that we can't win. It's just that we have never believed we can.

Chak De India is the story of a coach's fight of making his team, Team India by overcoming their diverse backgrounds, by learning to use everything that life hurls on them as a secret weapon. It's a story about honesty, sincerity and integrity. A story to remind the nation of its national

Character Sketch

The Coach

Shahrukh Khan as Kabir Khan

Once the hero of Indian Hockey, the best Centre forward in the world, the man a nation found a hero in.

And the man it sentenced to hell.

Now he has decided to make a last comeback to the game he once loved, to reclaim his lost honour and prove his point to the nation he still loves.

By doing the impossible.

Making a rag-tag bunch of loser girls a team.

And the World Champions.

The Girls

Preeti Sabarwal

Fair, Athletic, Stunning
Position: Center Forward
Jersey Number: 9
Home State: Chandigarh

Preeti went to Sanawar, but on her way to Harvard from there, took a sharp left towards the Punjab University and its hockey team for reasons best known to her. Chandigarh captain, she looks like Princess Leia and plays like the terminator, the only one she's close to is her iPod. Would you then blame the rest of her mostly rural team-mates for calling her mem? She has a secret, but then, that's a secret.

Komal Chautala

Short, Tough
Position: Right In
Jersey Number: 8
Home State: Haryana

The Rohtak Express, also known as chhokra in her village for her tomboyishness, and as chhipkali in her team for her devious dribbling. Born to tough Jats, she has just one regret that she wasn't born a boy. But she's doing all she can to make up, including not using make-up. Ever!

Bindia Naik

Tough, Seasoned
Position: Center Half
Jersey Number: 5
Home State: Maharashtra

Experience corrupts, and too much experience corrupts completely. A veteran of field positions, federation politics and award manipulations, she could make any team's dirty tricks department proud, if she wasn't the department herself in real life.



....Contd....


Vidya Sharma

Mature, Experienced, Nice
Position: Goalie + Captain
Jersey Number: 18
Home State: Madhya Pradesh

Just married. And it already looks like she will have to divorce hockey. She knows this is probably her last tournament but can she give up hockey for marriage?

Balbir Kaur

Big, Intimidating
Position: Left Defender
Jersey Number: 3
Home State: Punjab

Known as tataiya, bhootni, rakshas and ghatotkach depending upon what she has done lately, everybody in the team is terrified of her temper. Fearless, sometimes to the point of being brainless. She is the team's main hope against the giant Australian girls and the manly Argentinean zagalonas. Heart of gold, in a body of armour-plated steel.

Aliya Bose

Sultry, Sexy, Carefree
Position: Right Out
Jersey Number: 7
Home State: West Bengal

Sexy Aliya should have been born in the swinging 70's. The world is a winery of boys and she's the taster-in-chief. And she takes her job very seriously. In spare time she also plays hockey, unfortunately she's good at it, and so year after year, team managers and coaches have tolerated her.

Gunjan Lakhani

Tall, Fast, Smooth
Position: Right Half
Jersey Number: 4
Home State: Andhra Pradesh

This Hyderabadi potti has seen it all, because she knows when to shut her eyes. Playing with seniors Bindia and Aliya has taught her only one thing there are more games off the field than on it. And a smart player knows how to stay out to stay in.

Rani Dispotta

Dark, Tall, Wiry
Position: Right Defender
Jersey Number: 2
Home State: Jharkhand

What Soimoi is undergoing now, Rani underwent when she moved from her jungle village to Ranchi Sports School. And that makes her an expert on how to handle the city-breeds, or manhandle them if need be. She knows enough Hindi to offend anyone and enough English to defend herself, especially on the field.

Soimoi Kerketa

Dark, Sinuous
Position: Substitute
Jersey Number: 17
Home State: Jharkhand

From Jharkhand Grameen Adivasi Balika Kalyan Kendra Vidyalaya on the edge of Ghamaorni jungle, straight New Delhi. Dicey Hindi and devious English confound her as much as hair-raising roads, blood-curdling cars and monstrous skyscrapers. Not to mention the other creatures around her who call themselves girls. But she knows what to do with a stick and a ball. That she knows.

Nethra Reddy

Dark, Tall, Quiet
Position: Left Out
Jersey Number: 11
Home State: Andhra Pradesh

The grounds-man's little daughter who grew up in stadiums among players, and dreamt of being one herself. All she ever wanted to do was to make her dad proud, and finally, she's an inch away from her dream...

Gul Iqbal

Medium, Lovely
Position: Left In
Jersey Number: 10
Home State: Uttar Pradesh

Hockey legend Zafar Iqbal's grand-daughter. Her family's history is Indian Hockey's history. And nobody ever lets her forget that. Whether she wants it or not.

Molly Zimik

Rough, Competent
Position: Left Half
Jersey Number: 6
Home State: Manipur

Mary Ralte

Stocky, Reliable
Position: Substitute
Jersey Number: 15
Home State: Mizoram

They are clubbed as one because that's how they eat, live and behave. Their school books taught them that they are Indians but Indians taught them otherwise. The only reason they play for the national team is that it is the only national team they can play for. They'd love to belong, but not to the team that calls them 'foreign', and definitely not to the people that call them 'loose'. So they stick together and play. For the love of the game, and the honour of their people.