The inside buzz on Striker was positive, with Karan Johar and Aamir Khan recommending what looked like a well-made independent film ala Aamir and Slumdog Millionaire. So, my expectations were rather high but sadly, Striker missed the mark!

Residing in the ghetto of Malwani, Surya aka Striker (Siddharth) learns carrom from his his elder brother, played by Anup Soni. Vidya Malvade is his sister and Seema Biswas is his mother. Zaid (Anku Vikal) is his best friend who draws him into gambling through carrom. Jaleel (Aditya Panscholi) is the gangster who controls the ghetto and also tries to control Surya. Anupam Kher is the cop who wants to restore peace in the area. The film tries to show how Surya's life is similar to the game of carrom.

The masses will despise Striker which could find some takers among niche audiences. Striker has an interesting premise and is not a bad film but neither is it a great film. It’s film-festival material because it is not a film you watch and forget but it’s a film you discuss with other cine-goers to figure out the message. The biggest problem with Striker is that it moves at a languid pace when it should have been an edge-of-the-seat thriller, making you anticipate the next turn while rooting for the character. Sadly, that doesn’t happen and the repeated carrom matches become mundane. Also, the non-linear narrative weaving Surya’s past with his present leaves one confused. The scene where Surya where forces his friend into sleeping with him leaves you puzzled and then he justifies his act by marrying her. That’s humbug! The twists and turns are not easy to follow and one needs to pay attention. You are supposed to feel joyous at the end of the character’s journey but that doesn’t happen. Also, you know that he is going to win every match so there is no nail-biting excitement. The film is Mumbai and carrom centric. In case you don’t like or identify with the game, the film will be very boring. You don't feel that you've learned something new at the end of the film.

What pulls Striker through is the stellar acting from the entire cast. Siddharth sinks his teeth into the character. He looks extremely comfortable whether he is playing carrom or traveling by local trains in Mumbai. He is brilliant in the penultimate scene. As his living-on-the-edge, coke-snorting best friend Zaid, Ankur Vikal (of Slumdog Millionaire fame) is brilliant with a likable quality and their (Surya and Zaid’s) camaraderie is very believable and effortless. As the no-nonsense bar owner, Padmapriya is a firecracker. She has a certain innocence and simplicity, reminiscent of Tabu and you wouldn’t think this is her first Hindi movie. Vidya Malvade is seen acting after ages and she should stick to such simple roles. Nicolette Bird (of Rock On!! fame) is aptly cast as the innocent burkha-clad Noorie. Anoop Soni is natural as the older brother. Seema Biswas breathes life into her character. Aditya Pancholi is perfectly cast as the menacing gangster. He is a fearsome scoundrel and you loathe him. Anupam Kher sails through as the incorruptible cop.

Striker is shot very well, capturing life as it is lived in Mumbai and specifically, the ghetto of Malwani in Mumbai. For those not in the know, a ghetto is a portion of the city where a minority community resides (as a majority) due to social, economic or legal pressures. The production design is well-researched. It is refreshing to see actors with little make-up and simple hairdos (read: braids) wearing simple clothes. Some carrom shots are spectacular. The music and background score is beautiful, with Cham cham raatein becoming an instant favourite.

Striker could have been a superior and landmark independent film. It’s a sincere effort that falls short in its execution and fails to strike a chord!

Janhvi Patel/ Hill Road Media