Jersey Review: This Nani and Shraddha Srinath film directed by Gowtam Tinnanuri is an endearing sporting drama

When you watch movies week after week, you end up with an impression of déjà vu when you watch some tropes being badped. We've seen a whole range of sports movies – biopics and fictional dramas – and we know that, despite brave performances, many movies follow predictable arcs.

In this sense, it is refreshing to see how author-director Gowtam Tinnanuri narrated Jersey . And that's only his second film as a director. The idea is simple. We celebrate a sports star who becomes a pin-up idol. For each of these players, there could be 99 others who are immensely talented but can not find their place in the sun. Our protagonist, Arjun (Nani), is one of those 99.

From the first episode, we understand that Arjun has proven himself. There is a book written on him. But the director suggests that Arjun is not an ordinary sports hero.

The narrative oscillates between two deadlines: Arjun, 26 years old in 1986, and 36 years old in 1996. Arjun, aged about 20, is in great shape and his arrival on the cricket field is celebrated. . He enters with flamboyance and his bat speaks. He used to run away from the park. He hopes to play in the Indian Eleven and hopes for a life with his darling Sarah (Shraddha Srinath); there is an exhilarating aggression on and off the field.

Arjun in his 30s is in a different scenario. He is asleep with his son on his chest. His house has seen better days. Some containers placed on the ground collect leaking roof water. In the background, a nameplate indicates that he was working for the Food Corporation of India. Cricket and its work are both products of the past.

The romance has also dropped. Sarah badumes the financial responsibilities and you do not blame her for being economical. The relational dynamic of the couple is played out from a space of maturity. The underlying anger and disappointment, but also an understanding of the difficult situation of each. Many communicate through silences. It is a pleasure to watch Nani and Shraddha Srinath in harmony with their accomplished performances.

The child actor Ronit Kamra is also a delight. He illuminates the world of Arjun and for him, his father is always a hero. There is a scene where he smiles proudly after wiping off the compliments when a neighborhood boy once again mentions seeing Arjun's photo in the newspaper. The father-son portions have many moments to cherish. If the sports segments that have been shot with professional finesse shine, it is also because the relationships – father, son, couple, mentor (Sathyaraj) and player – are well managed. Sathyaraj is stoic as a coach who believes in Arjun.

In the early stages, we do not really see Arjun as a player to be reckoned with. It is only when he finds a reason to pursue his dream with renewed vigor that we witness his flair for the sport. Nani pulls the cricket games with panache, as much as he increases his acting prowess in the emotional parts. A scene on the railroad platform where he gives free rein to his feelings, is only one of the many memorable moments of his impressive performance.

players. Director of photography Sanu Varghese and the technical team deserve a special mention. Anirudh Ravichander's score largely corresponds to the narrative, but there are sometimes pbadages where he could have mitigated it. It's a test moment where Arjun plays his first cricket match in 10 years. Instead of letting the suspense weigh, Anirudh's score is a gift of what's coming. He keeps away from the repeated trope of playing to win for the country. It's a deeply personal journey. It is there that lies the difference and its triumph.