What can be a better movie to watch than “Chak De! India” at a time when India is celebrating its sixtieth year of freedom? The patriotic movie portrays sports, which the country has been neglecting grossly, as main theme. Gone are the days of the love-triangle or hero-villain movies and surely our audience has matured to appreciate the movie.

The movie, certainly, has taken a brave step of portraying and glorifying Indian Women’s Hockey, the sport that has seen more ebbs than tides. This sport-centric movie creates a sense of patriotism which is why becomes a must see movie for all Indians at home and abroad.

The hockey coach- the protagonist in the movie- once faced the wrath and rage of Indian public, specifically the media, for his suspicious role in the final match against Pakistan in his hey days. Since then he vows to prove his innocence and loves his country as same as any other true Indian. It took almost seven years for him to grab a right opportunity to prove his love for country by bagging the coaching contract from the Indian Hockey Association after much tug of war with the association.

The managerial and the leadership skills of the coach have been able to bind the players, coming from different parts of the country and clashing with the diversified culture and languages. With efforts putting in by the coach, the players finally stand tall with unity and go on in a winning streak. The concerted endeavor by the coach became successful with India winning the final match and emerging the world champion for the first time in the history.

I sensed two basic points in the movie. One- the movie genuinely portrays some grey areas of Indian sports and how the mismanagement is ruling the roost by some of the inefficient and indifferent administrators and two, how a former national player, being termed as ‘traitor’, single-handedly fights against all odds to prove his love for the country and emerges victorious with full public attention.

A spellbind movie ‘Chak De! India’ truly reflects the sense of patriotism.