The cup is empty

Film: World Cupp 2011 (U/A)
Director: Ravi Kapoor
Cast: Ravi Kapoor, Manisha Chatterjee, Prem Chopra, Suresh Oberoi, Zakir Hussain
Rating: *

Indians are passionate about cricket. Most film-makers dread releasing their films during crucial matches, fearing that a sizeable chunk of moviegoers would prefer to watch the match instead.

This year, we have had Victory, Dil Bole Hadippa! and now World Cupp 2011 focusing on this popular sport. Unfortunately, World Cupp... neither excites you as a cinematic experience nor does it whip up those passions.

Ravi Kapoor essays the role of an India captain who tanks a match with the help of his team-mates against arch-rivals Pakistan in the World Cup. They are banned for four years when exposed by the media. His girlfriend Soha (Chatterjee) dumps him and his family disowns him.

Cut to 2011. Ravi is given one chance to prove his patriotism by the coach (Oberoi), and is approached by the same bookie (Hussain). But this time he turns down the offer. This results in his love interest being abducted. Ravi goes through a crisis before he wins the World Cup.

World Cupp 2011 falls flat due to a weak script. The film tries to explore the unholy nexus among cricketers, bookies, and the underworld and the rise-fall-rise of a cricketer. But the writing is so amateurish that it doesn’t hold your attention. Perhaps the intentions were right, but not the final output.

Debutant writer-director Kapoor may have borrowed from real life, but several portions, like the ease with which the captain of the Indian team and even the umpire interact with gangsters while the final is in progress, seem bizarre.

Kapoor has screen presence but needs to work on his acting. Prem Chopra, Oberoi, and
Hussain are passable.

On the whole, World Cupp 2011 is weak fare.