India is a cricket obsessed country. Winning a match is celebrated like our own victory while losing is mourned like a demise in the family. This Christmas weekend, comes a short film that provides the viewers with a unique and more rational perspective on this otherwise always emotionally charged up game.
Cast –
- Kafeel Jafri (Rajat)
- Nishu Dixit (Pakhi)
- Rahini Goel (Zoey)
Director – AB Chakravorty
Duration – 27 minutes
Genre – Math Fiction
Plot –
Director AB Chakravorty takes us through the twenty-seven minute long tale of Rajat- a doting husband, an would be father and a corporate employee who finds the controversial Duckworth Lewis method flawed and unfair to the chasing team. He dreams of bringing a logical and scientific approach to the game so that both the teams are at an equal advantage. Our man shares his idea of building an algorithm to approach this issue from a mathematical angle. His six months pregnant wife Pakhi understands and support the passion of her husband. Despite a home loan and a baby due in three months, she convinces him to quit his day job to get on with his dream project. Together they figure out that they have savings enough to sustain them for ninety days. Ninety days are what Rajat has to either achieve his dream or get back to the drudgery of corporate life.
What works for the short film –
- The uniqueness of the story – It is a refreshing and fresh perspective on the subject of cricket. In one of the rare and brave firsts, the writer duo have come out with a plot that decides to decode the game through the methodology of logical reasoning and mathematics instead of just being dramatic about it.
- Actors – Kafeel and Nishu ,coming from the background of theater, make an impressive debut. Little Ragini lights up the screen every time she makes an appearance. There are a few scenes where Kafeel expresses conflicting emotions beautifully just through his eyes.
- Pace of the film – Quite efficiently, this film quite has a parallel journey of Rajat running through his personal and self-employed life that intertwines at a point culminating in a convincingly predictable climax the end.
What could have been better –
- Quality of sound – This definitely needs improvement. The impact of few scenes is lost on the audience with the sound of the characters dipping low or getting unclear.
- Duration of the film – The story in quite a few places felt rushed since there was a time limit. Had the director decided to stretch it for fifteen minutes more, it would have resulted in a better unfolding of supporting characters, situations and the ending. Infact, the technicalities of the algorithm might be a little difficult to follow for few due to the speed in which it is introduced and explained.
“90 to win” is a fresh and brave attempt to think out of the box. While it might have its flaws on the department of sound and editing, it is worth appreciating the team for the sincere efforts and the uniqueness of plot and presentation. Do give it a watch over this extended weekend, specially if you love any of cricket or maths.
About the cast and director –
Kafeel Jafri, a Bangalore based theater actor is the founder of the group “Literature . Alive”.He quit his corporate job to pursue his passion of poetry, literature and performing arts.
Nishu Dixit, an actor/director/producer of Bangalore theater quit her lucrative consulting job to follow her dreams of becoming an actor.
AB Chakravorty. a Bangalore based writer/ senior screen writer has also worked as a lyricist with acclaimed musicians worldwide. This is his directorial debut short film.
Link to the film –
soniasmusings 
Nice performance n acting by everyone.. very balanced story. Full marks n best wishes .
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