~~~Cricket It Like Patiala House~~~. Review on Patiala House

Inspirational films are always the forte of success where it is success people wanted at the most. When characters which they can identify and sympathise with achieve what they dream of achieving they share the part of success and that is the secret of success of all well made inspirational movies. Audience identifying with the quest for success and successful implementation of the success story are the two basic requirements. Does 'Patiala House' succeed in this mission?

Parghat Singh Kahlon aka Gattu (Akshay Kumar) is our Hero in Patiala House, an all British Sikh family in Southall, England. Gattu was the young hero of Southall and the younger cricket world where he was about to join the English Cricket team. Racial attacks and the blood spilled from it disturbed the environment not only of Patiala House but the political and social fate of Southall. Another fate was also stamped here, the fate of 'dreams' Gattu carried with him, to play for the England Cricket team. Gattu surrendered his dream to Bhauji's stubborn decision and now settled in a local grocery for last 17 years. Bhauji has ruled the Patiala house with a dictatorship where the younger generation had to surrender their dreams and ambitions to the 'will' of Bhauji. England is losing all its matches and the selection committee is planning an all new team to save them from the shame. Eventually, a second chance is in hand's reach for Gattu. Will he able to reach upto it?

It is an interesting story where the subject is all good to generate and keep the interest. The beginning of the movie was quite good, where we identified well with the cause of Bhauji and his reason for determination. After that point screen play struggled to establish characters, including the leading ones. There had an all set of family members and know what, all have there own individual dreams and the writers were determined not to miss any one of them and their dreams. While taking the divertions which have no direction the situations of importance, like the romance between the leading pair or the hatred among family members to hero didn't get a believable presentation. That makes up the first half which was slow, less inspiring and half hearted except for the first 15 minutes or so. In the second half, the movie takes an all different direction, where Priyadarsan would have tempted to make a successful Malamaal Weekly 2 where all of Southall tries to hide Kaali from Bhauji. Some brilliance however came back in the climax which was quite good. The climax also exposed some weakness of direction where the presence of Bhauji seems made no impact on Gattu (as that was what the director tries to show) and the song after that was unwanted. Despite the weak screen play and occasionally weak direction what hold the film together is the soul of success which kept the interest of the audience in one form or other.

Everybody knows that Akshay Kumar is not will be a contestant for national awards, unless some masters come up with some divine shots. In Patiala House, he attempts to be different from his normal fun rides and tries to be serious. Except for few disappointing scenes he did an ok job. The hot and happening Anushka Sharma, tried her best to give life to a lifeless character and succeeds partly. Rishi Kapoor and Dimple Kapadia did the author backed roles pretty well. Rest of the Patiala Parivar did their part well.

Music of the movie was good. Kyun Main Jagoon, though it reminds us of Tare Zameen Par, is my pick of the lot. Choreography too was interesting thought not creative. I however don't like the present trend of Hinglish songs which makes the song obsolete sooner.

Cinematography is average to good. Art designs are good and costumes are colourful. Editing is ok, but it could have trimmed little better.

I wished the makers made a better plan with a Team India place the motivation for the hero. I wished the writers were little more crisp, direct and effective in their narration. I wished the director made those scenes little more affective.

UK may be the best bet for the film where it will find the last of takers from Australia. Punjab will host it and a section of cricket fans may like it for Andrew Symonds in Australian jersey and Nasser Hussein in the gallery where the finale of the movie offers some cricketing moments. The movie fails to create a great impression on me but I cannot say that will be the same with you. I feel the liking of the movie will be subjective but it is ok for a single watch if one goes with less expectation.

My rating: 2.5 stars