Story

It is the era of sports, thanks to the craze created by Lagaan. The game that touches the hearts of the audience setting the cash registers ringing is cricket. This film gives good length to the game. Puri Jagannath, who made name with a few successes as writer-director, pens the story for this film directed by Rama Rao.

Rohit pockets the coveted role drawn on the lines of Sachin Tendulkar. His character is calledSachin as a short form for his given name Sachidananda. The texture, otherwise, is routine with a rival, Rajeev (Rajeev Kanakala), doing villainous acts and his father, a State Minister (Devadas Kanakala) abetting them.

While coach Vithal Rao (Benerji) stands by the player, the selection committee's chairman G.K. (Vizag Prasad) is hand in glove with the minister. There is a college love story thrown in where the hero is in love with Rekha (Rekha), though he pretends, in the beginning, that it is his ploy to reach the selector G.K. More than her love for him, it is her hatred for cricket that puts him in bad spot for some time. Unfortunately, even his father hates the game. Chalapati is the driver of the same minister who aspires to make his son Rajeev as test cricketer, ditching the more talented player, Sachin.

Vithal Rao sends Sachin for a match as Rajeev's substitute, when the latter fails to turn out for the match and Sachin shows his skills. Rekha however becomes the bone of contention between Sachin and Rajeev, as the latter wants to marry her as well. Her father prefers minister's son, for his own materialistic reasons. The narration becomes interesting only when it is deals with cricket.

The rest of the scenes including love between Rohit and Rekha and related dances and songs do not look that interesting.

A senseless, ridiculous and irrelevant comedy track is introduced featuring Dharmavarapu and Gundu Hanumantha Rao. They do more harm than good. Sachin's drunken scene where he misbehaves with G.K. is overdone and is the weakest in the film.

The introduction of the visiting Pakistani junior test team is needless manipulation. Sachin is chosen to play due to the pressure by the media and the public. Now, `patriotism' comes into play. No prizes for guessing the ending.

The screenplay looks unpolished. Needless scenes and mechanical acting weaken the drama, occasionally. The love between Rekha and Sachin looks amateurish. Benerji, Vizag Prasad and Chalapati Rao impress in that order. Music by Chakri is marked by the song We love India. Credit goes to veteran cinematographer V.S.R. Swamy for capturing the real mood of a cricket match.

courtesy: The Hindu