Soorma

Shaad Ali's 'Soorma' brings to screen one of the greatest comeback stories of a sportsman. It depicts the ups and downs in hockey player - Sandeep Singh's life. A young Sandeep Singh (AgamVir Singh) is one of the many children in Shahabad - the hockey capital of India, who have grown up with the sole dream of becoming a part of the Indian hockey team. They are all sent to Kartar Singh's (Danish Hussain) coaching centre to learn the sport. And, while Sandeep's elder brother Bikramjeet (Angad Bedi) excels through the excruciating training, Sandeep's determination soon wears off because of the unreasonably stern behaviour of his coach. He spends most of his childhood scaring the birds off his uncle's agricultural field with his hockey stick. But three things bring him back to the sport - one, Bikram's failure to qualify for the national hockey team, second, the family's dream of seeing one of the boys in Indian colours and third, Sandeep Singh(Diljit Dosanjh) dreamy love for hockey player Harpreet (Taapsee Pannu). It's the third that makes him tolerate Kartar Singh's obnoxious bullying. The sport, thus, becomes the purpose of his life. But, his affair with Kartar Singh's niece, Harpreet, soon lands him into trouble as the heartless coach expels him from his centre. Her brother's ultimatum about getting a job through hockey, reignites Sandeep's passion for the sport. His drag-flick, first noticed by his brother, earns him a place in national hockey team coach Harry's (Vijay Raaz) academy. Shaad Ali invests the rest of the first half in the making of 'Flicker Singh'. But, the film of course takes a serious turn right before the interval. A bullet accidentally fired by a police officer during a train journey paralyses Sandeep waist-down. Harpreet ensures that he stands back on his foot by taking the tough-love approach. Her strong belief of her presence making him weak, makes her completely abandon him. And, Sandeep does rise from the ashes like a phoenix after a year of therapy in Holland, but only to realise his true passion for the sport. He plays his final match, for India and not Harpreet and that's the beauty of this film. The final goal against Pakistan in which he sets the fastest drag flick record was not done by Harpreet's Sandeep but was done by India's Sandeep Singh. That's the true spirit of nationalism

The director seems very clear about telling the story of an ordinary man who goes on to achieve extraordinary feats.

Another strong point of the film is it's very setting. It has been shot at real locations. Singh's house, Kartar Singh's hockey stadium all become characters in themselves after a certain point of time

Shaad Ali won half the battle by casting the immensely like able Punjabi actor and singer, Diljit Doasnjh, in the lead role. He just nailed it. Taapsee Pannu is impressive in the role of Harpreet (Sandeep's wife) Angad Bedi is endearing as the protective and caring elder brother and so is Satish Kaushik in the role of Sandeep's father Among other is Vijay Raaz as Sandeep's quirky coach. He evokes maximum whistles and laughs from the audience. Mahavir Bhullar as Sandeep's Taya Ji(Uncle) has done justice to the character. Seema Kaushal as mother was also good Kulbhushan Kharbanda as the chairman of the hockey federation gives you positive feel. Gulzar and Shankar Mahadevan come together to weave magic with the music Child actor Agamvir who played as Young Sandeep has also done justice to the character and gets noticed for his expressions.