The biggest risk while attempting to make a sports film is that unless you make that extra effort to flow against the tide while writing the screenplay, it can get too predictable. And that’s exactly the problem with Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal . (Henceforth let me just call it Goal . Faster to type and less irritating to read).
Southhall United is a football club which is going through a major financial crisis. Unless it can come up with a large amount of money it will be sold and converted into a shopping mall. Shaan (Arshad Warsi), the team captain figures that the only way to get the money is by winning the championship. So he manages to find disgraced former Southhall United player Tony Singh (Boman Irani) and convinces him to coach the team. Coach figures out that there is something missing in the team and approaches Sunny (John Abraham) for a spot in the team. Sunny who is already training for a rival club initially declines but eventually joins when he isn’t selected for the other team due to racial discrimination. Sunny was a miscreant to Shaan and his men and isn’t accepted with open arms into the team. Will they be able to keep their personal problems aside and save the club?
The problem with Goal is that it deals with a number of issues. Saving a club, racism, love, internal conflicts, treachery, sabotage etc. are just a few of them. While the first half is a complete cliché of most sporting films that we have seen over the years in India and abroad, it is the second half where one can witness the energy and spirit that is required in a film like this.
Clearly the twist towards the end is what salvages the film and one can leave the hall with some relief. That is exactly when the spirit of sportsmanship and team bonding comes out to the maximum.
But there are a lot of drawbacks. The chemistry between Bipasha and John just seems forced. One can’t seem to understand why Bipasha falls for a guy who breaks her windows and insults her brother. Their romance should have been more convincing. But then again there are many other unconvincing parts in the film as well. Let’s begins with the cleavage revealing Billo who suddenly appears out of nowhere for an item number. Neither engrossing nor titillating, the number just irritates and is a complete hindrance in the screenplay. When will Indian film-makers learn how to incorporate item songs convincingly in their films? (Not that most of them are ever required). And let’s not forget the in-your-face in-film branding. Another aspect where the director takes the audience for granted.
Arshad Warsi and John Abraham get the most footage for obvious reasons and the two do really well for themselves. The two look completely trained in the sport and are very convincing footballers. Boman too fits the role but one wouldn’t call it his best though you can say the role was tailor made for him. Bipasha Basu should pick up more meaty roles where she isn’t eye candy or sidelined.
Let me set it straight- Goal is not a bad film but at the same time not a unique film either despite the focusing on a sport attempted very few times in India. However, the film isn’t a complete waste. In football terms its something like a midfield. Football is a sport witnessed very few times in Indian cinema and somewhere you can call it a brave attempt. The sports and the setting is unique but the plot however as mentioned before has been witnessed a number of times.
Soccer lovers might prefer to watch the film as well as John Abraham fans. So if you aren’t too keen on watching Madhuri Dixit’s comeback next week then Goal is a safe bet. Or else just pick up the DVD of Chak De India !