Released Date : 17 Aug, 2023
Avg. User's Rating : 4.9/5
Story: Just before her dream debut in international cricket as a batsman, Anina Dixit (Syami Kher) loses her right arm in a freak accident. This ends her desire to survive, until she stumbles upon Paddy (Abhishek Bachchan), a crazed ex-cricketer alcoholic.
Review: R Balki's Ghoomar prioritizes magic over logic (Abhishek's superb monologue) to tell a story of human resilience and frailty. The film is inspired by the story of Hungarian right-handed shooter Karolyi Takacs, who won two Olympic gold medals left-handed after severely injuring his other hand. Joyprad Desai's outstanding cricket biopic 'Kaun Pravin Tambe?' Barring a few like (2022), Indian sports films are largely confined to rags-to-riches themes. Politics within the team, the team selection process and an athlete's financial struggles dominate the narrative. R Balki's Ghoomer breaks this template to deliver a poignant and powerful story on human resilience through cricket.
In true Balki style, gender and age-related roles, prejudices and stereotypes are seamlessly discarded. Shabana Azmi plays the role of Anina's cricket expert grandmother full of youthful spirit. A self-proclaimed fan of Roger Federer (who is also the veteran actress in real life), her character tips on ICC cricket rules and regulations, cricket trivia and health drink recipes for professional athletes, doing a good job of breaking down the notion that women don't get statistics. It makes you wonder, why women cricket lovers basically end up as cricket anchors and not experts.
The tortured but endearing relationship between the rude coach and his players is a common trope. Dhan's adoption of a brutal training-poison coach approach, predictable but effective (remember Whiplash?) makes the film profit from their heated dialogue and differences. Dhan (Padam Singh Sodhi), a loner who drowns his sorrows in a deserted house. His strange meeting with Anina changes the course of their lives. He offered to train him so that he could re-enter the Indian team as a one-arm bowler. He reminds himself, "Vijayi ko kase lagta hai, yeh ek baar mehsus karna hai." What disgruntled misfit helps Anina and transforms her weakness into strength, shapes the story.
Paddy shares a strange relationship with the women in his life. These include his domestic help, the transwoman Rasika (Abhimani Ivanka Das) and an aspiring cricketer struggling with a life-changing disability. We hear about his good deeds through jokes, but that side of him is long buried beneath a brutally rude, uncivilized persona. Only when he is asleep does he refrain from crossing the line of snide comments. Years of rejection turned her anger into silence. "I dreamed of playing for India one day and I only played one day for India," he recalled.
Meryl Streep's introduction to the series 'Only Murders'… as an actress who never made it, sums up the character of Paddy. "All in search of a moment in the spotlight, where you hope someone can look at you and say, 'Where have you been?'" Which speaks the truth. Underrated for long, Ghoomar gives Abhishek his due. He delivers a career best. The self-reflection makes it all the more real.
Sayami Kher is a cricketer-turned-actress, making her the best choice for this very challenging part. One-handed bowling with just the left arm is no cakewalk but he nailed it. His athletic body, positioning and cricketing shots are impeccable. Her showdown with coach Paddy and boyfriend Jeet (Angad Bedi) is the film's most moving scene. Saiyami brings life to a role that doesn't require her to wallow in self-pity and yet show her trauma. Shabana Azmi's majestic presence and timing, is worth watching.
Ghumar is elevated by its performance but its soul is r. Balki, Rahul Sengupta and Rishi Birmani have uplifting writing that makes you tear up and laugh. "Oh lefty na bam hai" describes Anina as Paddy to Rasika. The characters are refreshingly supportive, non-judgmental, unpretentious and good-hearted.
The film struggles a bit towards the end. It gets a bit predictable and crowd pleasing (part of the match) as the creative freedom becomes a bit excessive. Can India's national cricket team give its much-coveted berth to a one-arm spin bowler who can't bat or field properly? Is the media attention and the equal opportunity position of voters enough to address the rules? Artistic license is considerable but Ghomer consciously opts for magic, hope and second chances. Your mind suddenly races when you think, "What happens when everything is taken away from you in a matter of minutes?" Kisise ko chiz bewaza chini jaye, oh galat hai.” You can tell how obsessed Abhishek, Sayami and Balki are. While watching cricket.
