Even as you wondered if Parineeti Chopra was the apt choice to have replaced the original Shraddha Kapoor, the talented actress proves you wrong in every frame and in every sense of the term.
Admittedly, Parineeti's shape was just not what the producer could have ordered to slip into Saina Nehwal's well-respected shoes. But then, the long homework where she stayed put in the Hyderabad house of the former world number one has paid handsome dividends.
A player of varied moods, Saina was the best bet in women's badminton till another Hyderabadi PV Sindhu arrived to disturb that composure. The bitter rivalry of the two should be good material for another director to bring on the other facets of the badminton world. That should be another time and dwelling on that will only shift the focus away from the immediate job.
The director has done to bring in the emotional side of Saina and importantly, the drills she took to keep away from the injuries. A tough sport by any standard, the level of fitness and the energy level has to be on the high quotient for the aspirant to reach the pinnacle.
The audience is showcased on the amount of load the ace player subjects herself to. She has a coach but the preparation has to begin from her even on the night before. There are the distractors but like any teenage girl getting orchestrated support from the parents, Saina's story is no different. As a teenage girl having smelled success, it takes a lot to keep that momentum and the status in place. The drills are on the higher side but she relishes the challenge at every count and keeps her a step ahead of her rivals.
Not since Damayanti Thambe (nee Subedhar) in the 70s, Indian badminton had seen a phenomenal talent in the form of Saina. By her own admission, Parineeti had unlearned everything she knew about the game and got to the intricacies of what it takes to be a professional. Getting skin deep into the character, the actress has brought about the varied emotions, embracing champion material. There are the inevitable highs and lows of a champion and the so-called back-breaking process is what separates the talent bank.
Parineeti is in her home ground, armed with the inputs she had painstakingly gathered from the time she came on board. Much like the ‘Three Idiots’ syndrome, there is no place for a second in life as in sports. Saina was to get a dose of it early in her innings when she got a slap from her mother for embracing a runner-up medal in an under-12 event. There is the familiar sight of her father comforting her, knowing the equation and love in the father-daughter affection. These segments are well brought out with the director doing well to build on the tempo for the rise of a champion not blessed with a perfect background to have the luxury of a coach early on.
True to her toughness, Saina takes it in her stride, working on her shortcomings and piling on her strong points. A lethal forehand is all it takes her to improvise on the backhand clear and coverage of the court. At the highest level, a player just cannot afford to have a chink in her armour is the hardcore lesson she learns the hardest way in the courts.
Giving a good leeway, Gupte marginally delves into the psyche of his characters, and the conversations veering around the parents. Every parent desires the best for the child but then, brings in the unwanted pressure too is the refrain one can draw.
The director has brought out the romantic angle where Saina gets the much-needed prop from her friend with whom she ties the knot. Saina is a huge fan of the revered Shah Rukh Khan, which too gets a place in the plot.
To say that Parineeti has lived her role will be saying the obvious. Unlike MS Dhoni where the cricketer had his share of love stories, the plot does not allow such luxury. Saina's tale is a simple girl rising to stardom against all odds. Keeping it simple must have been the mantra of the production house. It scores heavily on that count alone.