Review: Say Salaam India

Say Salaam India (drama)
Cast: Sanjay Suri, Sandhya Mridul, Shraddha Nigam
Direction: Subhash Kapoor

Bechara Bollywood! Like the corporate world, it too fell prey to the chimera of desi cricket; like the corporate world, it too believed in the false promise of a World Cup victory; and like the corporate world, it too ended up with egg on its face.
Because, there's nothing worse than an ill-timed film. Who, out there, is willing to say Salaam India anymore? Especially to a team that's veritably in hiding.
So, here we have a film which is doomed from the onset. Cricket just isn't the flavour anymore. Nor does the film boast of any mirch masala that might suddenly transform the mood and bring cricket back to the public mindset.
The story of a diehard cricket coach again misnamed as Hari Sadu (Sanjay Suri) — the film traces his efforts to create a bunch of sporting heroes out of the galli cricket boyz. On the way, he faces hostility from the people who believe cricketers and cricket is all about moolah rather than a mania to excel, a passion to survive odds, and a drive to reach the goal, come what may. The coach tries to pass on his obsession and training to four small town boys who unfortunately, fail to end up as mini Iqbals.
End result? Our never-say-die hero tries to build up another local team — a cricketing eleven from the wrestling team at the municipal school. Little heroes are born, but sadly, there's nothing much and no one to cheer them on.

SOURCE : THE TIMES OF INDIA