Bollywood
‘Match Fixing – The Nation at Stake’: A Gripping Political Thriller That Unravels Dark Truths
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.
Bollywood
Shatrughan Sinha TROLLED For Demanding Ban On Non-Veg Food In India While Praising UCC In Uttarakhand
New Delhi: Veteran Bollywood actor and All India Trinamool Congress MP Shatrughan Sinha demanded a ban on non-veg in India while interacting with media persons outside the Parliament on Tuesday (February 4). He lauded the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Uttarakhand while also pointing out the complexities of enforcing such a law across the country. However, he was trolled for his statement.
Sinha expressed his support for the UCC but opened up about the regional disparities that could pose challenges in its nationwide application.
“Beef has been banned in many parts of the country. I think that not only beef, but non-vegetarian food in general should be banned in the country. However, in some places, it is still legal to consume beef, including the northeast,” Sinha remarked.
He added a touch of humour to his statement, saying, “Waha khao toh yummy, par humare North India mein khao toh mummy (It is okay to eat it in the northeast, but not in North India).”
Netizens react to Shatrughan Sinha’s statement
Soon after a video of the actor’s statement surfaced, netizens trolled him, asking how is non-veg food related to UCC.
Reacting to his statement, a user wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “UCC is not for food habits… its about marriage and property rights.”
“Non vegetarian food and uniform civil code, what’s he speaking? 😀” read another comment.
Another comment read, “Food has nothing to do with UCC. This is plight of MPs who only spread disinformation all the time.”
“It’s not govts right to tell what people should eat and not , try to fix other bigger issues like like pollution and people littering and shitting in open,” wrote a user.
In the 2024 Lok Sabha election, Sinha won from Asansol (West Bengal) seat. He defeated Bharatiya Janata Party’s Surendrajit Singh Ahluwalia by a margin of 59,564 votes.
On the film front, he was last seen on the big screens in the 2018 movie Yamla Pagla Deewana: Phir Se. He played the role of a judge in the film.
Bollywood
Rakesh Roshan Says He Doesn’t Have Budget For Krrish 4: ‘Marvel, DC Jaise Picture Bana Nahi Sakte, Itne Paise Nahi Hai’
Mumbai: Rakesh Roshan discussed the delay in directing Krrish 4, which stars his son Hrithik Roshan, stating that he is unable to get the required budget for the film. He revealed that due to the grand scale of the movie, managing the finances has become a challenge.
In an interview with Gaana, Rakesh shared, “Kaafi saal se wait kar rahe hain lekin mera budgeting ho nahi raha hai. Picture ka scale bada hai. Scale chota karta hoon toh ek aam picture lagti hai. The world has become smaller. Aaj kal ke jo bacche hain, voh superheroes ki pictures itni dekh chuke hain ki unhe thoda sa bhi kuch fault nazar aayega toh criticise karenge.”
Further, Rakesh cited the examples of Marvel and DC, stating that they can’t create films like Krrish 4 in the same way, as they don’t have the same budget to spend. “We have to be very careful. Itne paise hote nahi hain humare paas. Hume kahani pe zyada concentrate karna padta hai. Halaki bade bade sequences honge picture main par agar 10 nahi honge toh 2 honge ya 3 honge,” he added.
Krrish 3 was released in 2013, starring Hrithik, Kangana Ranaut, Vivek Oberoi and Priyanka Chopra in the lead. The film became a massive hit, grossing Rs 393.37 crore at the box office, after being produced on a budget of Rs 95 crore.
The first movie in the Krrish superhero franchise was the 2003 film Koi… Mil Gaya, starring Hrithik Roshan, Preity Zinta, and Rekha. This was followed by Krrish, which was released in theatres in 2006.
Bollywood
‘Jab Bhi Indian Team Field Par…’: Aamir Khan Shares His Fondest Memories Of Wankhede Stadium After T20I Series Against England
Mumbai: India won the T20I series against England with a dominant 4-1 victory. A major highlight of the final match at Wankhede was Abhishek Sharma’s outstanding knock of 135 runs, helping India post a massive total of 247 against England & in response they were bundled on just 97.
The game was witnessed by several bollywood celebrities in attendance, including Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, and Aamir Khan, who was there with his son Junaid Khan.
After the match, Aamir Khan shared some of his fondest memories of Wankhede Stadium in a video posted by BCCI. He expressed his deep admiration for the Indian team, saying:
“Whenever the Indian team is on the field, there’s a special feeling. If I had ever been a part of the team in any capacity, it would have been a huge honor and a matter of pride for me.”
Aamir recalled two of the most unforgettable matches he witnessed at Wankhede. The first was India’s 2011 World Cup final victory, saying, “That was a special day for all of us one that no one will ever forget.” His second memorable moment was Sachin Tendulkar’s farewell match.
“I was here when Sachin retired. He is my favorite player and a very special cricketer to me he always will be.”
“I used to collect those postcards of the first Indian team I fell in love with” – Aamir Khan
Speaking about the India-England rivalry, Aamir said it’s always a joy to watch these games. He even joked about how this rivalry was featured in his film Lagaan. When asked to describe England using a dialogue from Andaaz Apna Apna, he humorously quoted Crime Master Gogo:
“Aankhein nikal kar gotiya khelunga.”
Aamir also praised Indian cricket for its evolution over the years, sharing that he has been a fan since childhood. He reminisced about collecting postcards of Indian players, saying,
“I used to collect those postcards of the first Indian team I fell in love with.”
Before concluding, Aamir congratulated the India U-19 women’s team for winning the ICC U-19 T20 World Cup by defeating South Africa.
“This is the second time you’ve won the championship, and we are so proud of you.”
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