Chak De India fever has gripped the country like never before. The movie has opened to packed screens in ironically a cricket crazy nation, which has forgotten everything about but the name of it’s national game, hockey. The reviews are packed with all praise for not just SRK but the director Shimit Amin as well who has managed to hit the bull’s eye in this movie, which is also because this is probably the first time that SRK and YRF have come together minus chiffon saris, family values, and romantic songs.

The movie is based on the defeat of Indian hockey team in 1982 on the hands of Pakistan, 1-7, and the irreparable damage which it caused to the goalkeeper M.R. Negi. Negi later went on to be the coach of Indian girls hockey team, and his guidance was of such an impact that the team went to become from a weak one, to one which won many matches and loads of glory. Negi himself had assisted the film’s crew to get the story right and the film’s premier in London seems to pale in comparison with the fervour with which it was welcomed in the city of Bhopal, which is the hockey capital of India, having given the country’s national game a lot of big players. On being asked in London, how he felt like while acting with an all girls team, SRK replied by saying that anyone could say nothing but smile. Mr. Negi told NDTV that the defeat of 1982 was one thing that he always tried to forget but couldn’t.

The film has managed to tackle the other subjects bang-on too, like the unity in diversity as well as the poor state of affairs of games in India, other than cricket, which barely survive on the meagre sponsorship that they get. In fact, one audience member leaving a cinema hall after watching the movie in Bhopal, said that if there is anyone who should be forced to watch the movie, it is the Indian Olympics Association so that they get their brains in the right position and get to know what they really need to do, not just for hockey but for the other games as well. And lastly, here is the meaning of the phrase which seems on the path to create some box office record in Indian cinema’s history, as well as the psyche of India which completes its 60 years of independence this August 15. ‘Chak de’ comes from the Punjabi hinterlands where farmers use the more complete phrase ‘Chak de phatte‘ which is in connection with the motors in farms which used to be covered with wooden planks (’phattaa’s) which had to be raised (’chak’ means to raise) and then followed by the action where a nail (killi) was used in order to let the water gush in and flow into the farm for irrigation. Thus completing the line : ‘chak de phatte, napp de killi’.

Chak de went on to symbolise the encouragement with which one puts in his best efforts to achieve a big feat. Ans seems like the entire crew of Chak De India took the phrase in all seriousness. Indian patriotism is back in a way like never before. So what are you waiting for? Go and watch the movie right away. And chak de!!