Director: Kedaar Gaekwad , Producer: Pallavi Gurjar, Cast: Vineet Kumar Singh, Anuja Sathe, Manoj Joshi, Raj Arjun, Shataf Figar, Lalit Parimoo and Kishore Kadam, Duration: 2h26m, Rating: 4 stars.

‘Match Fixing – The Nation at Stake’ is based on a book ‘The Game Behind Saffron Terror’ written by an ex-army officer, Col. Kanwar Khatana. This gripping yet controversial political thriller unfolds the intricate web of Indo-Pak politics. The film dramatizes a series of devastating terror attacks that shook India between 2004 and 2008, culminating in the catastrophic 26/11 Mumbai attacks.

The opening scenes of the film, pack a punch, drawing viewers into a complex web of conspiracies and parallel plots. As the story unfolds, closed-door meetings between Indian and Pakistani politicians and leaders reveal a shocking agenda – to malign the reputation of Hindus by concocting the term “Saffron Terror” for the sake of vote-bank politics.

The film’s first half masterfully sets the tone, weaving together multiple subplots in India and Pakistan, while introducing the protagonist who is an undercover army officer from intelligence. He has become a thorn in the flesh of those who are hell bent on spreading the false narrative of Saffron Terror. The ominous Samjhauta Express and Malegoan blasts serve as bookends to this half.

As the narrative unfolds, the second half becomes increasingly engrossing, with the antagonists meticulously planning their final, devastating attack. The culmination is expertly handled as the protagonist hands are tied. All of this leads to a thought-provoking and impactful conclusion that lingers long after the credits roll, leaving audiences to ponder and deliberate.

The producer Pallavi Gurjar has not only chosen an extremely powerful subject but also facilitated high production values to the film, bringing the necessary gravitas to this important subject.

The film’s creative brilliance is largely attributed to Director and DOP Kedaar Gaekwad, whose storytelling seamlessly brings together political intrigue, complex characters, and real-life events. His cinematography is a visual treat, making the film an unforgettable viewing experience.

Vineet Kumar Singh’s portrayal of Col. Avinash Patwardhan – the protagonist is pitch perfect. After Mukkabaaz and Gangs of Wasseypur, Vineet gives one of the finest performances of his career. Vineet shines with his remarkable portrayal, effortlessly transitioning between roles as an undercover agent, army officer, and devoted family man, showcasing his impressive range and versatility as an actor.

Vineet is ably supported by an ensemble cast of distinguished actors. Anuja Sathe, as his wife, plays the perfect counterbalance with her solid yet restrained performance.

Veteran actors Manoj Joshi and Kishore Kadam deliver standout performances, bringing to life complex and unconventional characters with convincing authenticity and depth.

Shataf Figar’s towering personality, Elena Tutteja’s uncanny resemblance, Ramanjit Kaur’s intensity and Lalit Parimoo’s effortlessness are noteworthy.

The surprise package of the film is Raj Arjun. His outstanding portrayal of a Pakistani Colonel is nuanced and multifaceted. He masterfully provides justification and motivation to his character’s actions, avoiding stereotypes with remarkable subtlety.

The film’s location and production design teams have meticulously recreated the era with remarkable accuracy. The makers have ensured authenticity, accurately replicating army protocols with attention to detail in every frame.

Anuj S. Mehta’s exceptional screenplay weaves a riveting narrative, expertly intertwining multiple plot threads, characters, and layers. Sameer Garud’s razor-sharp dialogue and incisive character interactions. The writing team pack a lasting punch, lingering in the viewer’s mind long after the credits roll.

Ashish Mhatre’s crafts a thrilling narrative with his sharp editing, skillfully balancing tension and comprehension of such a complex subject. Thankfully the film never digresses into unnecessary subplots and largely remains focused to the central plot.

Rimi Dhar has composed two songs for the film. While the first is an electrifying anthem sung by Daler Mehendi, the second is a melodious composition which takes the story forward in flashback. Hrishi Girdhar’s background score is a standout, enhancing each scene.

‘Match Fixing – The Nation’ at Stake is a must watch for those who love intense political thrillers which are entangled in terrorism and conspiracy theories.

Mumbai, Jan 9: Bollywood couple Rajkummar Rao and Patralekha are celebrating the birthday of choreographer-director Farah Khan.

On Thursday, Raj and Patralekha shared a joint post on their Instagram handles. The post showcases many heartwarming moments featuring them with Farah.

They wrote in the caption, “Happiest Birthday to our dearest @farahkhankunder ma’am. Wishing you only the best in life..We love you to the moon and back”.

The couple and Farah are known to be best of friends. Farah even attended their wedding ceremony in November 2021 in Chandigarh. One of the pictures shows Farah tying a pagdi for Rajkummar during the ceremony.

Rajkummar Rao and Patralekhaa’s wedding was one of the most cherished moments for not just their fans but also for the members of the film fraternity. The who’s who of Bollywood graced the wedding celebrations and blessed the newly – wed actors.

The names included bigwigs like Farah Khan, Rao’s close friend Hansal Mehta, ‘Article 15’ director Anubhav Sinha, Luv Ranjan; the famed director of ‘Pyaar Ka Punchnama’ series, ‘The Family Man’ creators; Raj and Dk.

Raj and Dk’s social media handle recently shared a picture from previously concluded reception of Rajkummar and Patralekhaa where all the directors along with Rajkummar, look all decked up in black tuxedos. They captioned the post in Español, “Hombres De Negro (Men In Black)”

The comment section was soon flooded by fans and the film personalities. While Rajkummar expressed his feeling for the most influential people in his life by commenting, “I love you guys”, Shreya Dhanwanthary wrote, “Omg. All that’s missing from this photograph is background musicOmg. All that’s missing from this photograph is background music”. Actor and casting director Abhishek Banerjee wrote, “League of extraordinary gentlemen !!”

Mumbai, Jan 9: It is no secret that aside from being a celebrated actor Jackie Shroff is also a nature freak. Proving the same, the ‘Housefull 3’ star recently shared a clip on his official Instagram handle, giving the netizens an insight into his recent visit to a center for cows.

The video has Jackie Shroff spending time with the animals. His latest Insta post was captioned, “𝑃𝐸𝐴𝐶𝐸”. However, this is not the first time that Jackie Shroff has openly shown his love for nature. Time and again, the actor is seen talking about the need to plant more trees to save the planet.

On another front, Jackie Shroff is all set to be a part of the highly-awaited crime series, “Chidiya Udd”. Scheduled to premiere on the OTT platform Amazon MX Player on 15th January this year, the drama is inspired by Aabid Surti’s popular novel Cages. “Chidiya Udd” will revolve around the life of a young Rajasthani woman named Seher, who gets caught up in the dark world of Mumbai’s crime syndicate. The story moves forward as she attempts to break away from the chains of power and violence. The makers recently unveiled the official trailer of the forthcoming web series.

Helmed by Ravi Jadhav, the project has been jointly bankrolled by Harman Baweja and Vicky Bahri. Apart from Jackie Shroff, “Chidiya Udd” will also feature Bhoomika Meena, Sikandar Kher, Madhur Mittal, Mayur More, and Mita Vashisht in crucial roles. Jackie Shroff will essay on the character of Qadir Khan in his next.

In addition to this, Jackie Shroff will also star in the highly-talked-about sequel, “Housefull 5”. He will be seen sharing the screen with Akshay Kumar, Nana Patekar, Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, and Riteish Deshmukh, along with others. Directed by Tarun Mansukhani, the movie will reach the cinema halls on 6th June this year.