Chak De! India

''Chak De! India'' (transl. ''Let’s go! India'') is a 2007 Indian sports drama film directed by Shimit Amin and produced by Aditya Chopra under the Yash Raj Films banner. The film stars Shah Rukh Khan as Kabir Khan, a former captain of the Indian men's national field hockey team who, after being ostracised following a controversial defeat, returns years later to coach the Indian women's national field hockey team. The narrative follows Khan’s efforts to unite a team of sixteen disparate players from across India and lead them to international success.

The film was inspired by the Indian women’s national hockey team’s victory at the 2002 Commonwealth Games, which screenwriter Jaideep Sahni came across in a newspaper. While the characters were fictional, elements of Kabir Khan's arc were perceived to resemble those of former player Mir Ranjan Negi, who later joined the film’s production as a consultant alongside then-coach Maharaj Krishan Kaushik. A mix of actors and real-life hockey players were cast in the team roles, and underwent several months of joint training in both acting and sport. Choreographed by Rob Miller, the film’s hockey sequences were paired with a score composed by Salim–Sulaiman, with lyrics by Sahni.

''Chak De! India'' was released theatrically on 10 August 2007 in both Hindi and English, coinciding with the 60th anniversary of India's independence. The film received widespread critical acclaim, with particular praise for its direction, screenplay, feminist themes, and Khan’s performance. A commercial success, it grossed ₹1.09 billion (US$26.36 million) against a budget of ₹200 million, making it the third-highest grossing Hindi film of the year.

At the 55th National Film Awards, the film won Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. It led the 53rd Filmfare Awards with ten nominations, including Best Film and Best Director (Amin), and won five—including Best Film (Critics) and Best Actor (Khan). Over time, ''Chak De! India'' has come to be regarded as one of Khan’s defining performances and a landmark in Indian sports cinema. Chak De! India is also one of the greatest sports films of Indian cinema. The film’s title song remains a patriotic anthem frequently played at sporting events, and its popularity has been credited with influencing public discourse on gender equity in sport and prompting reforms within the Indian Hockey Federation.

Plot

During the final minutes of a Hockey World Cup match between India and Pakistan, India trails 0–1. Team captain Kabir Khan takes a crucial penalty stroke that narrowly misses, resulting in a loss. A photograph of Khan embracing the Pakistani captain circulates and is misinterpreted as a sign of disloyalty. Accusations of treachery follow, and Khan, facing religious prejudice, leaves his home with his mother.

Seven years later, the Indian women's national field hockey team struggles for relevance. Kabir is appointed as coach by the hockey association, which remains sceptical of the team’s future. He is tasked with uniting sixteen players from diverse regions, each burdened by internal rivalries and societal challenges. Komal Chautala and Preeti Sabarwal frequently clash, Balbir Kaur bullies less assertive teammates, and Mary Ralte and Molly Zimik face racial discrimination. Team captain Vidya Sharma is torn between her sporting ambitions and her in-laws' expectations, while Preeti’s fiancé, India national cricket team captain Abhimanyu Singh, undermines her dedication to hockey.

Khan imposes a disciplined training regime, benching players who refuse to cooperate, including the experienced but defiant Bindiya Naik. After Bindiya encourages rebellion and Khan resigns, a confrontation with local men unites the team. Recognising their newfound cohesion, the players urge Khan to stay, and he resumes his role as coach.

To secure the team's participation in the Hockey World Cup in Australia, Khan arranges a match against the Indian men's team. Despite losing, the women’s performance impresses officials, and the team travels to the tournament. Internal discord continues, and Bindiya’s resentment leads to a heavy defeat against Australia. Confronted by Khan, she attempts to manipulate him but is rebuffed. Later, she agrees to rejoin the team and helps dismantle South Korea's defensive strategy, leading to a crucial win.

India advances to the final against Australia. Komal and Preeti set aside their rivalry, contributing to a comeback that forces a penalty shootout. Trailing early in the shootout, the team recovers and wins 3–2. Upon returning to India, the players are welcomed with respect and recognition. Khan, his reputation restored, returns with his mother to their home.

Cast

Shortly after the release of ''Chak De! India'', the media began referring to the sixteen actresses who portrayed the members of the women's hockey team as the "''Chak De!'' Girls". The ensemble received widespread recognition for their performances, and the term became synonymous with the film’s cultural impact. At the 14th Screen Awards in 2008, the jury collectively honoured the group with the Best Supporting Actress award, marking an unusual instance of the accolade being shared among multiple performers.

Team

Supporting cast

* Anjan Srivastav as Mr. Vishal Tripathi, the head Indian hockey official
* Vibha Chibber as Krishnaji, assistant coach for the Indian women's field hockey team
* Javed Khan as Sukhlal
* Mohit Chauhan as Uttam Singh, Kabir's former hockey teammate and friend
* Vivan Bhatena as Abhimanyu Singh, Vice captain of the Indian national cricket team and Preeti's fiancé
* Nakul Vaid as Rakesh Sharma, Vidya's husband
* Joyshree Arora as Kabir's mother

Production

Development

''Chak De! India'' was produced by Aditya Chopra under the banner of Yash Raj Films and marked director Shimit Amin's second collaboration with the studio following ''Ab Tak Chhappan'' (2004). The film's screenplay was written by Jaideep Sahni, who was inspired by a brief news article on the Indian women's national field hockey team’s victory at the 2002 Commonwealth Games. Sahni developed the story as a tribute to women athletes and initially modeled the protagonist Kabir Khan on coach Maharaj Krishan Kaushik, who later recommended Sahni meet former hockey player Mir Ranjan Negi.

Although parallels were drawn between Khan’s character and Negi’s real-life experience—Negi was accused of match-fixing after a loss to Pakistan in the 1982 Asian Games—Sahni stated that the script was written before he became aware of Negi’s story. Negi later joined the film’s production as a technical advisor. In interviews, both Sahni and Negi clarified that ''Chak De! India'' was not a biopic, but a fictional narrative focused on a women’s team overcoming systemic and social challenges. The film’s title was derived from an old Sikh martial slogan, which Shah Rukh Khan explained meant “the will to get up and get on with it.”

Casting

Shah Rukh Khan was cast in the lead role of Kabir Khan, a disgraced former hockey player seeking redemption as the coach of the Indian women’s national team. Khan, who had played hockey during his college years, initially declined the role due to scheduling conflicts with ''Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna'' and '' Don'' (both 2006), but later accepted it, describing the part as one of the most personal and meaningful of his career. His portrayal was considered a significant departure from his established romantic hero image, as the role lacked both a female lead and musical numbers typically associated with his films.

Salman Khan was originally approached for the role but exited the project due to creative differences with director Shimit Amin. Khan’s eventual casting was widely seen as unconventional and received critical acclaim following the film’s release.

Casting the sixteen players who composed the women's hockey team involved a six-month process. Amin sought individuals who could convincingly portray both athletes and characters. Several actors—including Chitrashi Rawat, Sandia Furtado, and Raynia Masceranhas—were selected for their real-life experience as hockey players and subsequently trained in acting. Others with acting backgrounds underwent rigorous sports training. The final cast participated in a four-month boot camp that included hockey drills, acting workshops, physical conditioning, and nutrition supervision. Amin described the casting process as particularly challenging due to the dual skill set required for the roles.

Filming

Principal photography began in early 2007 and took place across multiple locations in India and Australia. Training montages and interior scenes were filmed at Film City, Mumbai, while match sequences were shot at international stadiums, including the Sydney Olympic Park Hockey Centre in New South Wales, which stood in for World Cup venues depicted in the film.

Rob Miller, a specialist in staging athletic sequences for film, served as the sports action director. He collaborated with former player Mir Ranjan Negi and national coach Maharaj Krishan Kaushik to choreograph realistic gameplay. The production emphasized long takes and handheld camera work to preserve the energy and flow of the matches. Sudeep Chatterjee, the film’s cinematographer, employed a naturalistic style to visually distinguish between the personal and sporting aspects of the narrative.

Cast members performed most of their own stunts, with matches rehearsed extensively to ensure continuity and realism. Background actors and extras were used to simulate live stadium audiences. Notably, the opening sequence involving Khan’s missed penalty stroke took more than 20 hours to film, with multiple retakes under Negi’s supervision to achieve the desired authenticity.

Post-production was completed at Yash Raj Studios, where minimal digital enhancements were used in the match scenes. Sound design emphasized crowd noise and field ambience to support the immersive tone of the tournament sequences.

Soundtrack

The soundtrack album of ''Chak De! India'' was composed by Salim–Sulaiman, marking their first collaboration with actor Shah Rukh Khan. All lyrics were written by Jaideep Sahni. The album consists of seven tracks, including one remix and a dialogue excerpt performed by Khan. The music blends elements of traditional Indian instrumentation with contemporary arrangements, reflecting the film's themes of unity and national pride.

The album was released on 11 July 2007 under the YRF Music label. Upon release, it received a positive response from listeners and critics alike. According to ''Box Office India'', approximately 1.1 million units were sold, making it the eleventh highest-selling Bollywood soundtrack album of the year. The title track, “Chak De! India,” in particular, gained widespread popularity and became an unofficial anthem at sporting events in India.

Release

''Chak De! India'' was released theatrically worldwide on 10 August 2007. In India, the film opened on approximately 400 screens, a limited rollout by industry standards, attributed to the lukewarm box office performance of Yash Raj Films' preceding releases, ''Ta Ra Rum Pum'' and '' Jhoom Barabar Jhoom''.

The film had its international premiere on 13 August 2007 at Somerset House in London, as part of the Film4 Summer Screen and India Now festivals. The outdoor screening attracted an audience of over 2,000 attendees and served as a prominent showcase for Indian cinema abroad.

On 17 August 2016, ''Chak De! India'' was screened in New Delhi during the Independence Day Film Festival. The event was jointly organised by the Directorate of Film Festivals and the Ministry of Defense to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Indian independence.

Reception

Box office

''Chak De! India'' opened to strong box office response, driven by positive word-of-mouth and critical acclaim. Indian cinema halls reported occupancy of approximately 80% during its opening weekend. The film topped the domestic box office during its first two weeks and continued to play to full houses across major urban centres for several weeks thereafter. It emerged as the third-highest-grossing Hindi film of 2007 in India, earning a domestic net total of ₹66.54 crore, and was classified as a "Blockbuster" by ''Box Office India''. By the end of its theatrical run, the film had grossed approximately ₹102 crore (US$27.05 million) worldwide, including ₹85.86 crore in India and ₹15.76 crore (US$3.94 million) from international markets.

Critical response

''Chak De! India'' received widespread critical acclaim in India and internationally. On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, 89% of 19 critics gave the film a positive review, with an average rating of 7.3/10. On Metacritic, it holds a score of 68 out of 100 based on 4 reviews, indicating “generally favorable” feedback.

Indian critics lauded the film’s narrative structure, feminist themes, and performances. Nikhat Kazmi of ''The Times of India'' awarded it 4 out of 5 stars, describing it as a film of “great performances by a bunch of unknowns.” ''India Today'' called it “the most feisty girl power movie to have come out of Bollywood ever.” Sudhish Kamath of ''The Hindu'' described it as “one of the best feminist films of our times,” while ''The Indian Express'' critic Shubhra Gupta termed it “the most authentic, meticulously researched sports movie India has made.”

Rajeev Masand of ''CNN-IBN'' also gave the film 4 out of 5 stars, calling it “a winner all the way.” Bharathi S. Pradhan of ''The Telegraph'' praised the screenplay and ensemble cast, writing that “sixteen unknown, and not even glamorous, girls simply carried you with them.” In an ''NPR'' interview, journalist Aseem Chhabra remarked that the film "changed the mood in India" and appreciated how each supporting character was given narrative space.

International critics responded positively as well. Jaspreet Pandohar of the ''BBC'' rated the film 4 out of 5 stars, noting that it provided “a rare look at a popular Indian sport often overshadowed by cricket.” Andy Webster of ''The New York Times'' compared the film’s underdog narrative to the U.S. women’s soccer team’s 1991 FIFA World Cup victory, stating it gave “a fresh look to a conventional sports template.” Derek Elley of ''Variety'' called the film “a patriotic heartwarmer that scores some old-fashioned entertainment goals,” while ''The Hollywood Reporter''’s Kirk Honeycutt highlighted the film’s “first-rate technical credits,” including its cinematography and use of location.

Some critics offered more tempered views. Michael Dequina of ''The Movie Report'' gave it 2.5 out of 4 stars, calling it a “familiar, formula underdog sports movie.” Maitland McDonagh of ''TV Guide'' rated it 2 out of 4 stars, stating that while the film relied on sports-movie clichés, it did so with “vigorous conviction.” Subhash K. Jha, writing for ''IANS'', gave the film 3.5 stars, acknowledging its predictability but calling it “an outright winner.” Khalid Mohamed of ''Hindustan Times'' gave the same rating, remarking that the film “compels you to root for a team of losers whom only an earth-angel can save from disastrous defeat.”

''Chak De! India'' was named Best Film of 2007 in a joint ranking with ''Taare Zameen Par'' by a panel of Bollywood directors including Madhur Bhandarkar, David Dhawan, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, Anurag Basu, and Sriram Raghavan.

Accolades

Legacy

''Chak De! India'' has been widely regarded as one of the most influential Hindi films of the 2000s. It was included in film critic and author Shubhra Gupta’s book ''50 Films That Changed Bollywood, 1995–2015'', which highlights landmark films that reshaped the landscape of Hindi cinema. In 2023, ''Time Out'' ranked the film 35th on its list of the "100 Best Bollywood Movies," citing its cultural impact, progressive themes, and enduring popularity.

The film’s title track, “ Chak De! India,” composed by Salim–Sulaiman, has transcended its cinematic origins to become a popular sports anthem in India. It is frequently played at national and international sporting events, particularly cricket and hockey matches. Composer Salim Merchant noted that the song "almost became the sports anthem of the country, especially after India won the Cricket World Cup 2011." Following India’s 2011 World Cup victory, cricketer Virat Kohli led the crowd in singing the song during celebrations. In 2015, after India defeated South Africa at the 2015 Cricket World Cup, ''BBC'' reporter Nitin Srivastava observed that chants of “Vande Mataram” and “Chak De India” echoed through the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Further reading

* Chakraborty, M.N.
Nationalist transactions: Chak De! India and the down-and-out sports coach
" In ''Continuum: Journal of Media & Cultural Studies'', Volume 26, Issue 6, 2012. Special Issue: India/Cinema: An Archive of Politics and Pleasures.
* De, Aparajita.
Sporting with gender: Examining sport and belonging at home and in the diaspora through Patiala House & Chak De! India
" ''South Asian Popular Culture'', Volume 11, Issue 3, 2013:287-300. (Special Issue: Sport and South Asian Diasporas).
* Gaikwad, Vandana, and Dr. Prasanna Joeg.
Chak De India Movie demonstrates the values of Scrum Team & Scrum Master – A Case Study
" ''International Journal of Advanced Research'', Volume 3, Issue 6, June 2015: 613–618.
* Kaushik, Nancy.
Exclusion in Cinematic Space: A Case Study of Chak De India
" ''Innovation: International Journal of Applied Research''. (Volume-1, Issue-1). December 2013.
* Madhav, Tushar, Koshy, Vasundhara Anna, Usmani, Aaquib Shehbaaz, Rajani, Mohita, Ahmed, Mudasser and Samra, Kanika
Terrorists and Patriots: Construction in Popular Hindi Cinema
" Social Science Research Network, 2 May 2008.
* Ransom, Amy J.
Bollywood Goes to the Stadium:Gender, National Identity, and Sport Film in Hindi
" ''Journal of Film and Video'', Volume 66, Number 4, Winter 2014, pp. 34–49.

References

External links

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{{Portal bar, Bollywood, Feminism, Film, India, 2000s

2007 films
2000s sports drama films
Films set in Delhi
Indian feminist films
Films about women in India
Films about women's sports
Films shot in Australia
Films set in Australia
Films shot in Delhi
2000s Hindi-language films
2000s English-language films
Indian-Australian films
Indian sports films
Films about social issues in India
Women's field hockey in India
Yash Raj Films films
Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment National Film Award winners
Films directed by Shimit Amin
Men's Hockey World Cup
Women's Hockey World Cup
2000s sports films
Films about field hockey in India
English-language Indian films
English-language sports drama films
Hindi-language sports films