R Balki’s films are known as much for their unique concepts as for their new ways of telling familiar stories. So it was almost predictable that Ghoomer would be much more than your average sports movie that hinges on its protagonist’s fight to achieve success by overcoming the odds. Inspired by the story of Hungarian shooter Karoly Takacs, who won two Olympic golds by shooting with his left hand after seriously injuring his original shooting hand, it begins with an acknowledgement of the great athlete.
With respect to its plot, Ghoomer is a story that revolves around cricket and a woman cricketer, Anina Dixit’s (a brilliant Saiyami Kher) love, talent and passion for the game. It is also a story of her courage, determination and endurance, and how it is possible to turn adversity into an advantage when backed by a supportive family. It is as much the story of Paddy, her mentor, who makes it his life’s mission to fulfil her dream of playing for the country at a time when she has lost the will to live any longer. More importantly, the film shows you how to have hope amidst despair and how to keep faith in the face of tragedy.
Watching Abhishek Bachchan’s remarkable, complex portrayal of Paddy or Padam Singh Sodhi is certainly one of the most interesting takeaways from Ghoomer. The archetypal anti-hero, Paddy is the man wronged by destiny and misunderstood by the world. He nurses a sad secret and another shocking one to boot. He will remind you of Shah Rukh ‘Kabir’ Khan in Chak De! India, but not quite. His intrusive propositions and insolent words and actions will shock you at the outset. It would also not be out of place to argue on the merits of the reverse psychology applied by him in persuading Anina to change her mind about giving up on life and returning to the cricket field. A dedicated but stubborn and difficult-to-please coach, he devises new ways of helping her practise better. He constantly helps her push her boundaries and makes her strive harder for success. His tough, harsh methods teach her (and the audience) the importance of hard work and sacrifice as necessary requisites for reaching their goals. Paddy is as much of a life coach as a cricket coach to Anina and their compatibility and bitter-sweet friendship is as beautiful as his relationship with Rasika (Ivanka Das), his caregiver at home, a transgender woman whom he has ‘adopted’ as his sister.
Their random conversations and friendly bickering are the perfect foil to the sporting idioms, and smart, witty dialogues loaded with puns that punctuate most of the film. Making its entry into theatres in Oppenheimer season, Ghoomer also includes short, sharp lessons in physics and the laws of the universe in so far as they are fundamental to the understanding of the mechanics of bowling. The concept of momentum and how it controls the speed and spin of a bowler’s delivery is explained by a doctor before Paddy accidentally discovers how to bowl a ‘ghoomer’.
As Paddy says towards the end of the film, life works not by logic but by magic. And nothing short of magic happens on screen when Anina makes her international cricket debut. Appearing as a commentator for television in a superb cameo, Amitabh Bachchan adds fun, emotion and excitement to the proceedings, giving the audience the experience of watching a live cricket match on screen. As rightly articulated by senior Bachchan, language becomes too understated to express what one feels upon seeing Anina’s victory. So don’t be ashamed if you find tears streaming down your cheeks as the end credits start rolling.
Piya Roy
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