Rarely, you come across movies that spin your mind at an RPM of 1000 or more. Jersey, the newly released Telugu movie, is one such type that takes you on a roller-coaster ride. Sometimes the feelings are so hysterically good and at other times, so hysterically sad; it’s like you are shedding tears one moment and laughing aloud the next.
Arjun (Nani) may not be blessed in
the looks department, but certainly makes it up in the acting one. Gowtham
Tinnanuri, the director, caught the pulse of the 1990’s, the movie’s background,
and portrays it flawlessly with HeroHonda CD 100s, auto rickshaws and Ambassador
cars crisscrossing the not-so-crowded roads. The feeling is distinctly palpable.
If you are a 90’s person you can’t but help feel nostalgic.
Shraddha Srinath, the heroine, has staged
a fabulous job as the nonchalant wife, who is frustrated at Arjun's laziness and
indifference. The presence of Arjun's coach, coach Murthy (Sathyaraj) is a constant hope and
reminder that Arjun would resume cricketing. His role hugely supports in building the movie’s
plot through occasional and unexpected interventions and reveting performance. His
friends, who are constantly egging him, spice up the moments while staying
empathetic, adding that pinch of salt!
All in all, Jersey basically is a
cricket themed movie, but goes beyond cricketing, stirring emotions like no
other.
The story is a narrative in the past,
giving inside dope as to what threw Arjun away from the game and away from the
arms of his love life. The plot: Arjun, who is an ace cricket player, falls in love
with the Christian girl, Sarah. Initially, the bond is strong as Sarah deserts
her family and marries Arjun. But things start falling apart, when Arjun quits
playing cricket and loses his job as a result of wrongly placed corruption
charges. The family goes through a thick turmoil, leaving Sarah no choice but to take up work to support the family. This seems like the breaking point as she
feels Arjun is avoiding shouldering the family’s responsibility and she is the
only one pulling the family’s cart.
On the flipside, what constantly
plaques the audience’s minds is why is Arjun reluctant to take up a job as an
Associate Coach, which is offered by his coach, or for that matter why he left
playing cricket suddenly. Ten years passed, he hasn’t touched his cricket bat.
Not once. For what reason? Is a question
that keeps bobbing up in the audience’s minds!
The story moves into action when Arjun’s
son asks for a Jersey. And Arjun doesn't have Rs. 500 to buy it. Arjun sees an
opportunity when his coach Murthy asks him to play a charity match between
Indian and England. Thinking it could net him Rs 1,000, he agrees to play only
to discover whatever is earned would be given away in charity, including his Rs.1000.
Ironically, his performance in the
charity match is greatly appreciated. His son becomes a huge fan seeing him in this
new avatar. Bearing in mind his son’s joy, and his wife’s constant worry that
she is the cause for him to leave cricket, Arjun plans to stage a comeback to
cricket.
Armed with a renewed aggression, he
decides to play cricket for India at age 37. His coach disagrees; his wife
disagrees; and the selectors disagree; but his steely resolve won’t give in to
pressures.
His performance on the training pitch
proves his detractors wrong as selectors pick him up for the Hyderabad team to
play the Ranji Trophy.
Thereon, in every match, Arjun puts
on an envious performance. But with the earlier sudden twists and turns in the
plot, one is doubtful whether Arjun would deliver the goods or not towards the
conclusion;
However, beating the odds, the
Hyderabad team slowly pulls into the semi-finals aided with Arjun’s brilliant
knocks. Will the final match be a death-knell or life saviour for Arjun?
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