With 83, Ranveer Singh is back in full form with another winner!

He’ll bowl you over with his terrific performance as Kapil Dev, the captain who led the Indian team to its historic victory in the 1983 Cricket World Cup.

Director: Kabir Khan

Cast: Ranveer Singh, Jatin Sarna, Deepika Padukone, Pankaj Tripathi,  Tahir Raj Bhasin, Saqib Saleem, Harrdy Sandhu, Ammy Virk, Nishant Dahiya, Sahil Khattar, Jiiva

Runtime: 2 Hours 41 minutes

Rating: 3.5/5

Storyline: 

Famous English cricket journalist David Frith had declared that he’d ‘eat his words’ if India won the 1983 World Cup. And oh boy, India’s memorable defeat of the West Indies (who were almost invincible as the two-time defending World Cup champions) made sure that the English critic followed through quite literally. That is, he actually ate his report!

83 dives right into the action with Kapil Dev (Ranveer Singh) as the spunky, determined captain of the Indian team, who is there to win. And he ain’t going to let anyone believe otherwise. 

India starts out as the underdog but gradually beats the odds towards their victory. Everyone seems to undermine the Indian team initially and some of the players themselves don’t believe they can pull the feat off. Even the haughty English cricket authorities write off the Indian team and snub them by withholding the Lord’s Cricket Ground passes….right till they manage to make it to the semi-finals.

Our beloved ‘Kapsi’ doesn’t let the constant nasty digs take his eyes off the prize at any cost. But instead, boosts the team’s morale and helps them reach their full potential!

“Like people says, taste the success once… tongue want more,” is Kapil’s motto. 

Cricket in itself is a love language here – uniting people across all barriers. It is a sight to behold indeed when small-town people affected by the communal riots, forget their differences and get glued to the TV to witness the legendary match. Or when Pakistan decides to stop being a nuisance and ceases fire to let the Indian Army enjoy the finals!

What Do We Think?

83 runs high on nostalgia and nail-biting cricket action that makes the lengthy run time zoom right by.

Ranveer Singh is the spitting image of Kapil Dev – from his toothy grin and adorably clumsy English to his earnest, never-say-die spirit! Truly another impressive feather to his ‘Kap’…

His warm camaraderie with the teammates, the funny locker room talk and off-field shenanigans make sure there’s never a dull moment. Though all eyes are on Ranveer, Jatin Sarna as Yashpal Sharma, Tahir Raj Bhasin as Sunil Gavaskar, Jiiva as Krishnamachari Srikkanth, Saqib Saleem as Mohinder Amarnath, Ammy Virk as Balwinder Sandhu, and Harrdy Sandhu as Madan Lal give a solid performance, making the 83 team strong.

The director Kabir Khan has made a wise decision by not making this Kapil Dev’s biopic but instead dividing the focus over each member’s troubles and strengths. 

He explores multiple conflicts to raise the stakes and the drama – A player has to deal with a broken engagement before getting onto the pitch, while another has a serious injury that drops him from the tournament. But the game must go on!

Pankaj Tripathi has a limited role as PR Man Singh, the Manager of the Indian team but he provides some comic relief. Deepika Padukone makes a brief cameo appearance to cheer on the players as Kapil’s wife Romi Bhatia.

Overall, Kabir Khan has faithfully recreated India’s journey in the World Cup – from being the underdogs facing brutally strong opposition by West Indies to bagging the coveted trophy.

Hit Or Miss?

Hit for sure! Witness India’s euphoric 1983 Cricket World Cup win come to life on the big screen. 

Where To Watch 83?

The movie is currently out in the theatres near you. Merry Christmas and happy watching!