Think about a tough sports coach in cinema and the first name that comes to mind is Kabir Khan (Shah Rukh Khan) from Chak De! India (2007). Some movies rule your heart and mind even years later and the Shimit Amin-directed film is clearly one such.
Hence, you think about the same character when you see Subodh Bhave playing a tough coach in Amol Shetge’s Vijeta. But as the trailer progresses, you are also reminded of Upendra Limaye’s tough-coach act in the highly acclaimed Yellow (2014). By the end of the trailer, you are certain Bhave’s Saumitra Deshmukh is tougher than both those characters.
Vijeta revolves around a national tournament involving various sports like boxing, the marathon, long jump, javelin throw, cycling, wrestling, swimming and weightlifting. Deshmukh is given the task of preparing athletes in each discipline. In the role of the players we see the likes of Pooja Sawant and Pritam Kagne.
Deshmukh is considered crazy by the players for almost harassing them to prepare them. But the coach wants a gold medal for Maharashtra in each discipline, come what may. Deshmukh also has an emotional back story about which we get a glimpse.
There have been quite a few sports films in Hindi and a few in Marathi as well. It remains to be seen how Vijeta stands apart. The bigger challenge for the film is the inclusion of so many sports in a single film.
Bhave gets into the skin of a crazily tough coach. The serious, no-nonsense attitude comes naturally to him.
Presented by Subhash Ghai’s Mukta Arts and produced by Rahul Puri, Vijeta will be released on 12 March. Watch the trailer below and let us know if you would be watching the film.