Known for starring in films with immense patriotism, Akshay Kumar's independence day gift to the nation is Gold. The film is directed by Reema Kagti and produced by Excel Entertainment. It also stars Mouni Roy, Kunal Kapoor, Vineet Kumar Singh and many others.
Simply put, Gold is only and all about independent India's first Olympic Gold medal. How Tapan Das (Akshay Kumar) works his way through to form a formidable team and manage it to victory.
With a predictable climax, what can be done to make it interesting? Well, Reema Kagti does a praise-worthy job with the construction of a decent screenplay. This happens by bringing in matters ranging from patriotism to the fight for independence, to the partition to the differences between people of different states.
There are many high points in this film, but that is brought by the sequences and dialogues that are woven with elements of patriotism. There are enough factors that allow us to clap and scream. However, the screenplay would have been tighter if a couple of force-fitted songs were avoided. Some time is taken to establish the characters and the engagement is inconsistent. The scenes involving the hockey matches keep us hooked!
The production design is creditable and the cinematography is admirable. The colour tone sets the perfect mood while complementing the time period the film is set in. Nonetheless, the technical aspect that deserves most praise is the background score by Sachin-Jigar. The intensity carried by the duo is brilliant and the value added to the screenplay is impeccable.
Coming to the performances, Akshay Kumar is effortlessly good as the 'pagal Bangali' (as he calls himself). He plays an irresponsible drunkard with a strong sense of love for the sport and the nation. His scenes with Mouni Roy (who plays his wife) are super.
They crack comedy and emotion with ease. The film shows off a good supporting cast where Kunal Kapoor, Vineet Kumar Singh, and Amit Sadh rock their performances. They provide solid support to Akshay Kumar and the script.
On the whole, Gold is a must watch. Not only because it speaks highly of India and it's dominance in the sport, but also because it subtly, yet engagingly talks about the reality around the time of independence. At the end of the day, it is India all the way!