Most recently I happened to watch a 2014 successful Malayalam movie -1983. Film’s title looks quite strange. I just read that the movie is based on India’s glorious win at 1983 world cup and some nostalgic moments associated with some Malayalam cricket fans of the time. Only after watching the movie it proved it right. Yes, no other title can best suit this movie more apt than ‘1983’. The movie is a brilliant effort by debutant director, Abrid Shine and also the lead actor Nivin Pauly who plays Rameshan and wonderful and outstanding support by its supporting star cast, though their roles were only small.  

It is the first movie made in Malayalam, fully dedicated to the game of cricket. No doubt, it’s a tribute to world’s best cricketer who just retired from pavilion last November, none other the great Sachin Tendulkar. Along with that, it’s an honest attempt and tribute to the youth throughout 1980s and 1990s who dedicated everything, their dreams and their careers for the sole game of cricket.  Also it’s a journey through India, its sports spirit and social life from 1983 World Cup win to 2011 World Cup win. The movie is definitely worth a watch for all those who love cricket and all those whose minds was deeply hurt with the retirement of Master Blaster.

The film starts with Sachin Tendulkar’s retirement and then it goes to 30 years back with 1983 world cup. Sachin Tendulkar was 10 year old when Kapil Dev lifted India’s maiden world cup. Same is the case of our hero Ramesh too, who is at the age of 10 during 1983 World cup. After that cricket becomes a part of his life. Though a brilliant student, he bunks classes and plays cricket, for which he is always blamed by his father who dreams to see him as a mechanical engineer. He excelled in the game of cricket, though he was not supported by the family. Even at the age of 40 - a father of a 10 year old boy, the passion of cricket has not left him.

As he doesn’t get support from family, he never dreams a world of cricket outside his small village and no one is there to guide him too. For the same reason, he losses studies, a good career and even his first love. Yet he gains nothing and runs an old mechanic shop of his father. It’s easy to identify 1000s of cricket fans across India who have lost both their dreams as well as career in the name of cricket, through the central character played by Nivin Pauly. Through the movie director also gives his good response to critics who have always blamed of Sachin’s bad performance. Through Anoop Menon’s character, who plays a wonderful coach in the movie, the director says – Critics are many who blame the master blaster for his bad performance. But none of them can play even a single shot now, which Sachin plays when he reaches 70 after 30 years.

Though we watch the movie with a heavy heart after the interval the movie ends with some happy moments to cheer when the central character fulfills his dreams through his 10 year old son and when he gets support from the family, who once had ridiculed and discouraged him a lot. Navin Pauly is one among the most promising young actors at present and no doubt, 1983 is his outstanding performance till now. Though he is below 30, he beautifully portrays a lost man of 40+, with a spark of a young cricketer in his eyes.  

Article Posted By : Sandhya Rani  On June 22, 2014lView All Articles

One of the best movies I watched in the recent times

Article Source :

http://www.veethi.com/articles/1983---a-luminous-tribute-by-malayalam-cinema-to-the-god-of-cricket-article-3149.htm

Keywords :
1983 , 1983 world cup , 1983 malayalam movie