Striker Review

Chandan Arora’s new film is very much unlike his previous two attempts – Main Madhuri Dixit Banna Chahati Hoon and Main Meri Patni Aur Woh. While his first two films were quite good and simple, Striker looks to be a fake attempt in showing realism.

The main problem of Striker is that it has nothing new to offer except for the game being played. Siddartha plays an ambitious person who plans to go to Dubai to make it big in life. He falls into the trap of gambling and plays carrom to earn money. I never thought carrom is such a famous or popular game that people actually bet in lacs of rupees on it. And then we have the unneeded Mumbai Communal riots in 1992 in the film. The setting and the scenes were very much inspired from ‘Salim Langde Pe Mat Ro’ film by Saeed Akhtar Mirza. Also there are some scenes in films like when Surya and his friend chat with each other on terrace which reminded me of the chemistry between the two brothers in Slumdog Millionaire.



The best part of the film was the soft and sweet romantic track between Surya and Noorie. And with a mesmerizing song sung by Sonu Niggam. Sad the entire romantic track only lasted for a few mins. Why couldn’t he make the entire film on this sweet romance?? Simplicity is where Chandan Arora excels. Sadly, the romantic part was the only segment in the film that was worth watching.

Read more from HERE

'Striker' Movie Reviews (Filmfare, Khalid Mohammned, Nikhat Kazmi, Taran Adarsh)

Director: Chandan Arora
Cast: Siddharth, Aditya Pancholi, Padmapriya, Ankur Vakil
Quick Take: Siddharth steals the show

Bombay in 1992. In 1988. In 1977. Striker is an art director’s wet dream. The textures are real, the colours authentic and the ambience is bang on. The film with its clever camera work and frames gives you Bombay not Mumbai. The squally lanes, the ghettos of Malvani, the underworld, the struggle, the fire, the angst, it’s all there in Chandan Arora’s Striker. Save for a coherent plotline. The film has some trouble making up its mind as to what it really wants to say, what the story really is about and that’s the principal flaw. Supposedly a loose biopic the film follows the life of Suryakant Sarang a carrom whiz played to perfection by Sidhaarth. The canvas has a moody quality and a wonderful assembly of actors. The background score is intriguing and cleverly used and the songs too flow seamlessly within the narrative. But the story itself is erratic and fails to hold beyond a point. The characters are interesting though be it Surya who rarely smiles (but when he does, the camera springs to life), Zayed (played brilliantly by Ankur Vakil) or Jalil essayed by Aditya Pancholi.
A lot of carrom is played in the film but naturally, but for those who are uninitiated with the game or not interested in it, these bits can be a drag. Romance in the film is strategically used and both the girls Nicollete Bird who plays Noorie and Padmapriya who plays Madhu are charming. Aditya Pancholi who plays the badass Bhai is superlative. He is stylish, forceful and looks like he had a ball doing the role. Sidhaarth’s striking screen presence is only enhanced by his nuanced turn. He makes us root for Surya and plays him with honesty and conviction. We’d like to see him do some fun zany roles in Hindi like the ones he plays with such aplomb in his Telugu films. The actor makes the film worth a dekko. Otherwise despite it’s engaging premise the film doesn’t manage to strike a very strong note.

Sukanya Venkatraghavan


http://www.filmfare.com/articles/striker-442.html

Chandan Arora's Striker makes its debut on YouTube on February 5.

Chandan Arora's Striker makes its debut on YouTube on February 5. Mind you, this isn't a leak but an official release of the film on the site making it the first Bollywood release to premiere on the portal.

However, the catch is that the movie will be available on rent for the US audience, and online visitors from India won't be able to watch it.

Those outside the US will be able to see it for free on www.youtube.com/studio18. However, we think it won't be too long before the film leaks and makes its way to other sites.

Striker is directed by Chandan Arora and stars Siddharth Narayan, Padampriya, Anupam Kher, Aditya Panscholi and Vidya Malavade.

LINK

Six Composers for Striker Album including Amit Trivedi, Vishal Bharadwaj.

Song - Aim Lagaa
Singers: Blaaze
Lyricist: Nitin Raikwar, Blaaze
Music Director: Blaaze

Song - Bombay Bombay
Singers: Siddharth
Lyricist: Prashant Ingole
Music Director: Amit Trivedi

Song - Cham Cham
Singers: Sonu Nigam
Lyricist: Jeetendra Joshi
Music Director: Shailendra Barve

Song - Haq Se
Singers: Siddharth, Yuvan Shankar Raja
Lyricist: Nitin Raikwar
Music Director: Yuvan Shankar Raja

Song - Maula
Singers: Swanand Kirkire
Lyricist: Swanand Kirkire
Music Director: Swanand Kirkire

Song - Pia Saanvara
Singers: Sunidhi Chauhan
Lyricist: Jeetendra Joshi
Music Director: Shailendra Barve

Song - Yun Hua
Singers: Vishal Bhardwaj
Lyricist: Gulzar
Music Director: Vishal Bhardwaj

Song - Aim Lagaa - Ricksha Mix
Singers: Blaaze
Lyricist: Nitin Raikwar, Blaaze
Music Director: Blaaze

LINK

Striker Promo Updated with Cham Cham Song

CHAM CHAM SONG -



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