IPL 2022 Season Review: KKR fail to hit purple patch in a season marred with too many changes

2021 runners-up Kolkata Knight Riders hoped to go one better in IPL 2022 after a strong mega auction saw them invest heavily in finding a new leader in Shreyas Iyer for a big sum of Rs 12.25 crore. He was almost immediately announced the captain of the two-time IPL champions.

Close to three months later, the side didn't just fail to make the play-off stages but also revealed a paucity of harmony among the top brass of the KKR management.

Finishing seventh in the points table with just 12 points and eight losses was in stark contrast to their last year's performance that saw the Eoin Morgan-led side win five of their last six matches to set up a final against eventual winners Chennai Super Kings. Therefore raises the question if the KKR think tank made a mistake by not retaining Morgan at the auction.

Shreyas's captaincy troubles with many decision-makers

Whether it's Iyer venting out his anger in public at head coach Brandon McCullum and his assistant Abhishek Nayar over an alleged change in batting line-up or mentioning CEO Venky Mysore's alleged involvement in picking the playing XI amid regular slashing and chopping of the line-up, the middle-order batter it seemed had troubled times at the helm of the side.

It only pointed towards the lack of control or freedom Shreyas had over the selection while not being in sync with coach McCullum's ideas, who left the franchise for England's coaching role at the end of the season. All this reflected badly on Shreyas's leadership ability despite being a proven captain who took Delhi Capitals to 2020 final.

Shreyas, crucially, excelled with the bat as he finished the team's top scorer at an average of 30.85. This was still a downgrade in comparison to his 2020 campaign where he amassed 519 runs while leading the Capitals.

His KKR predecessor Morgan, on the other hand, was miserable with the bat last year with 133 runs in 17 games at an average of mere 11. But being more at comfort with 'great man-manager' McCullum's horses for courses approach, the 35-year-old Englishman found KKR's winning combination after initial hiccups in the campaign. Of course, his poor batting display cost him his spot at the franchise but his captaincy calls in crunch situations and way of handling youngsters like Venkatesh Iyer and Varun Chakravarthy were exemplary.

Venkatesh and Varun fade after a strong season

In fact, Venkatesh and Varun were the two decisive factors last year as they changed the fortune of KKR in the second phase in the UAE. Averaging 41-plus over 10 games last year, Venkatesh brought stability to the side's top order by forging a formidable partnership with Shubman Gill at the top.

His flamboyance didn't just earn him KKR retention but also a Team India call-up.  However, less than a year later, the 27-year-old southpaw's batting was a far cry with a lamentable 182 runs over 12 games.

The same was true for mystery spinner Chakravarthy, who could only claim six wickets over 11 games in stark comparison to his 18 wickets in 17 games last season. His economy during the same period inflated from 6.58 to 8.51, rendering him ineffective as KKR's strike bowler over the last two seasons.

Lack of match-winning bowlers

Varun's downfall had a direct impact on KKR's wicket-taking ability as the side took 76 of the 140 wickets  — excluding run-outs — up for grab during the league stages of the tournament; the lowest among all the franchises competing. Sunil Narine was the team's most economical bowler at a brilliant 5.57 but couldn't convert his tight spells into wickets with just nine scalps in 14 games; his second-lowest in a full IPL season since 2012.

Among the pacers, Umesh Yadav (16 wickets in 12 games) started off things well with some match-winning efforts earlier in the season and was touted to have returned with a new avatar with the objective to find a spot in India's T20 World Cup. However, that soon faded away as after taking eight wickets in three matches, it took him a further nine games to emulate the figures.

The franchise's highest-wicket taker Andre Russell (17 wickets in 14 games) also blew hot and cold in the season. Given his economy rate of 10-plus, The Trinidadian failed to earn the trust of the captain, who used him sparely for just 28 overs in the league stages.

However, it was Pat Cummins, who disappointed the most with his alarming 11.57 economy rate couldn't hold his place in the playing XI for long despite his pyrotechnics with the bat that saw him score runs at a strike rate of 262.50 in five appearances couldn't be of much help for struggling batting order, barring his 15-ball 56 against Mumbai Indians.

Inconsistent batting order

Needless to say, the talks of including Cummins as a batter in the team wouldn't have stirred up if not for the dismal batting performance by the KKR top-order. Reeling to find their opening combination with a failing Iyer and Ajinkya Rahane, the KKR think tank tried changing the opening pair eight times during the league stages. Much to the dismay of the fans, none of the opening combinations crossed the 50-mark while losing wickets during powerplay became a norm.

The onus always fell on the likes of Nitish Rana (361 runs) and Shreyas to bail them out of trouble. The duo did a fair job by scoring 750-plus runs together and were regular features at No. 3 and 4 respectively.

Russell often did the job as he scored one half-century and four 40-plus innings but more often than not his innings turned match winners.

Things did fall into place at the fag end of the season when Rinku Singh finally made his opportunities count with a late burst. The diminutive figure scored 174 runs over seven innings to make a case for himself but it was too little too late for the purple-gold-clad outfit, who are yet to find their winning combination.

Saying that, KKR carry the reputation of unpredictability in the competition and often blooms to life after a bad season or two. And with an experienced IPL captain at the helm, they could turn things around, given they inject some stability in the thought process.

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Explained: Why remake of Rajesh Khanna's cult-classic Anand is not a great idea?

The news that Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s most beloved film Anand, and the one that proves that there will never be a star actor like Rajesh Khanna, was going to be remade by the film’s original producer N C Sippy’s grandson, sent shivers up my spine.

The first image that came to my mind was Ittefaq, that other Rajesh Khanna classic that was remade by the original producer B R Chopra’s grandson. In the hands of the uncontrollable kin (are there no laws preventing the progenies and successors of artistes from vandalizing a work of art?) Ittefaq become What The…never mind!

Sidharth Malhotra, who played Rajesh Khanna’s role in the remake, had me weeping in my seat. I also felt tears pouring down on my head from heaven. It was Rajesh Khanna crying for the act unpardonable act of discretion.

Now, Anand? Seriously? Errrrr…who will play the title role of the sunshine man who spreads happiness even as he faces death? Ranveer Singh, perhaps? Or perhaps Shah Rukh Khan? Oh, I am sorry SRK has already played Anand: in Kal Ho Naa Ho, an unofficial Anand ripoff.

The mind boggles, the heart freezes at the thought of Anand being desecrated. I never met Rajesh Khanna. But I once spoke to him on the phone. And I asked him what it felt like to be such an influential superstar,

He had laughed that trademark laugh and said, “They copy me. But they can’t be me.”

This may sound arrogant. But coming from the greatest star actor of Hindi cinema, it was a statement of fact. There can never be another Rajesh Khanna. There cannot be another Anand with one of the current actors playing the eponymous role. It is like Mona Lisa being re-painted. Or Lata Mangeshkar’s Ae mere watan ke logon re-mixed. Scary.

Some works of art, you can’t touch. What Ram Gopal Varma did to Ramesh Sippy’s Sholay remains the single biggest illustration of artistic defilement.

Sippy watched his film being vandalized.

“What can I do if the laws don’t favour me? Why don’t the generations who grew up on Sholay go out on the roads and protest?” Sippy had wondered.

Why, indeed. I remember speaking to dear Hrishida(Hrishikesh Mukerjee for those who came in late) about why Anand stands out in his dazzling oeuvre.

“Beta, ho jata hai. Such a film just happens. I worked just as hard on Sabse Bada Sukh. Have you even heard of the film? Satyakam is my favourite film from my oeuvre. But it is Anand that people love the most. A film like that just happens,” Hrishida said.

I know it’s a free world out there. If someone wants to do a club mix of Mozart’s Sixth Symphony, so be it. But decency and just plain and simple fear of God demands that we leave some works of art alone.

When that wonder man of God, Dev Anand was hurt and angry with what Rohan Sippy (Ramesh ‘Sholay’ Sippy’s son) had done to Dum maro dum from Dev’s Hare Rama Hare Krishna by re-mixing it under Pritam’s watchful gaze, Dev Anand had thrown his hand in the air and said, “Why why why? They could have come to me and asked me for the original. I would have happily given it to them,”

Anand belongs to its producers the kin of N .C Sippy. They don’t even need to ask.

Subhash K Jha is a Patna-based film critic who has been writing about Bollywood for long enough to know the industry inside out. He tweets at @SubhashK_Jha.

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IPL 2022 Season Review: Not all doom and gloom for SRH despite another disappointing finish

Sunrisers Hyderabad’s (SRH) run in IPL 2022 could be described as topsy-turvy — where they were world beaters one moment with five wins in a row, and the whipping boys in the other by losing as many on the bounce.

And in Kane Williamson’s second full season as captain, the ‘Orange Army’ did put up a much better display compared to their horrid run the previous season, in which they lost 11 out of 14 games and finished at the bottom of the eight-team table.

There were areas where they had vastly improved, especially in their middle order as well as in the seam-bowling department, and the team did click as a unit more than once — and when they did, they looked unstoppable.

And unlike the off-field drama surrounding ex-skipper David Warner and his removal from captaincy last year, there wasn’t really any such issue in the dressing room or between the management and the players this time around as the squad appeared a lot more settled with Williamson now the undisputed leader.

In the end however, an eighth-place finish in a 10-team table simply wasn’t going to be enough, neither for captain Williamson and his men nor for the franchise owners and its legion of fans, who had grown accustomed to watching their side make it to the playoffs on a consistent basis over the years.

As we look back at the 15th edition of the league, which came to a conclusion on Sunday with Gujarat Titans lifting their maiden title in front of their home crowd, we analyse the performances of all ten teams involved in this year’s expanded tournament.

Here’s a detailed look at SRH’s run in IPL 2022:

Malik and the pace cartel

The first of the two meetings between the Sunrisers and the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) was expected to be a fiercely-fought contest, with RCB’s star-studded batting line-up expected to provide the perfect challenge to the SRH’s pace battery.

What we got instead was the shortest match of the season, with Hyderabad putting up a bowling masterclass as they shot Bangalore out for a paltry 68, with the match itself lasting just 24 overs as they chased the target down with nine wickets and 12 overs to spare.

Read: Empty cabinet but plenty of positives for RCB

That performance perhaps highlighted Hyderabad’s biggest positive this season — their bowling unit led by the fiery Umran Malik — who had been the fastest bowler this season until Gujarat Titans’ Lockie Ferguson broke the all-time record in the final.

The Sunrisers management showed immense faith in Malik by including him in their retentions despite the J&K speedster playing just three games last season. And though the extra pace on offer meant that the ball travelled to the fence that much quicker, and he did cost the team valuable runs on certain days, there’s no doubt about the fact that Malik is perhaps the most exciting fast-bowling prospect in Indian cricket at the moment, especially in the manner in which he unsettled the opposition batters with his raw pace when on song.

Sunrisers were also benefited by the revival of Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s form this season with the senior seamer effective both in the powerplay as well as a death option, besides chipping in with the bat every now and then and also handling captaincy duties in Williamson’s absence. T Natarajan was also in good rhythm in phases, and former Mumbai Indians seamer Marco Jansen has been a decent addition to the squad as an overseas seam option.

Sharma, Tripathi and the middle order

Besides Malik, Bhuvi and the bowling unit, Sunrisers also greatly benefitted from Abhishek Sharma and Rahul Tripathi’s run as their opener and No 3 option respectively, especially when the skipper himself failed to get going more often than not.

Sharma (426) and Tripathi (413) finished as the highest run-scorers for the Sunrisers this season, though Tripathi ended with the more impressive average (37.55) and strike rate (158.23) of the two, and had three half-centuries to his name this season.

One of the cleanest hitters of the ball this season, Tripathi was especially impressive in his 37-ball 71 against his former franchise KKR, making a cakewalk of the 176-run chase. He also produced a 37-ball 58 in SRH’s second meeting with RCB this season, albeit in a losing cause with the second highest score being 21 and only two others entering double digits.

Also impressive this season were the overseas middle-order pairing of Aiden Markram and Nicholas Pooran, who collected 381 and 306 runs respectively with impressive averages (47.63 and 37.25 respectively).

Aggression and intent personified, throughout the season. @tripathirahul52 | #OrangeArmy #ReadyToRise #TATAIPL pic.twitter.com/AZV5B2CG4T

— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) May 26, 2022

Pooran stood out with his back-to-back 60s earlier this month with the West Indian keeper-batter fighting on even when the situation had become bleak, and keeping his team’s chances alive till the very end even if they would ultimately end up short.

Big question mark over Williamson

As far the biggest let down for the Sunrisers this season, look no further than the leader himself. And no, it wasn’t the burden of captaincy that did a number on him; Williamson in fact thrives as a batter even when tasked with leadership, both in international cricket as well as in the IPL. Williamson had led from the front in the 2018 season in David Warner’s absence, winning the Orange Cap with 735 runs to his name as SRH reached the final for a second time in three seasons.

Williamson, though, a shade of his 2018 self this time around after being elevated to captaincy once again, in a full-time capacity this time around with the franchise having parted ways with Davey Warner. The franchise desperately needed a solid replacement for Warner, who enjoyed a solid run with the Delhi Capitals this season, and Williamson decided to raise his hand for the same.

While RCB superstar Virat Kohli copped a fair amount of flak for a poor run for a majority of the season, one could argue that Williamson was perhaps an even bigger let down even if the Sunrisers captain did not have the spotlight on him as much as Kohli did.

Regardless, scoring just 216 runs in 13 outings at an average less than 20 (19.64) and a strike rate below the 100-mark (93.50) will hurt the team’s fortunes big time, especially when you’re walking out to open the innings. Williamson simply wasn’t able to take the attack to the opposition more often than not, and his uncertainty at the crease did impede the Sunrisers’ scoring rate.

Worse, the team management did not even try to make amends by getting the in-form Tripathi to open and pushing Williamson down a slot or two instead. And by the time Williamson was done with the opener’s role, it was already too late for the franchise.

Lack of a quality spinner

Rashid Khan is one of the world’s most exciting cricketers in the white-ball formats at the moment, and the Afghan spin-bowling all-rounder is very much at the peak of his powers right now, as was evident in his performances for Gujarat Titans this season.

One would therefore wonder the logic behind releasing an asset such as Khan, who would bowl a quality spell in the grand finale on Sunday and eventually win his maiden title with the Hardik Pandya-led side. That Sunrisers missed Rashid’s services dearly would be an understatement.

There’s no doubt Washington Sundar is a talented off-spinner who can offer value to franchises with his ability to bowl in the powerplay and also chip in with valuable contributions with the bat, as was evident in his performances for RCB in past seasons.

But with the Tamil Nadu all-rounder ultimately could not make much of an impact this season as he struggled with fitness issues and injuries, leaving the Sunrisers without an effective frontline spin option and leading to an over-reliance on their pace department.

The path ahead

Disappointing as it may have been for SRH fans this season, it is by no means all doom and gloom for the Orange Army heading into the next season.

Malik, who was adjudged the ‘Emerging Player of the Season’, certainly can have an impact on the Sunrisers as Jasprit Bumrah did for the Mumbai Indians since breaking into the side in 2013. Malik was impressive enough in his first full season with the Sunrisers to earn a spot in the India squad for the upcoming South Africa T20Is, and could be even more destructive next year provided he stays focussed under Dale Steyn’s able mentorship.

And one wonders how far the Sunrisers could’ve gone had Williamson found his old touch, and the team management will certainly hope their captain regains his form in the 2023 edition. That said, his days as an opening batter appear done, with Priyam Garg filling in as Sharma’s opening partner towards the fag end of the season, and the franchise will have to rethink about his batting position going forward.

And last, but not the least, getting a quality spinner, preferably an Indian, should be their top priority in next year’s auction. The 2022 season belonged to the spinners with Yuzvendra Chahal and Wanindu Hasaranga occupying the top two slots in the bowling charts and the likes of Rashid and Ravichandran Ashwin also making an impact, and the Sunrisers will be eager to plug that particular gap.

There sure was an improvement for the Sunrisers this time around, with the side appearing favourites for the playoffs at one stage with five wins in seven outings before the eventual implosion.

There sure is enough quality in the ranks for them to add another trophy to their cabinet in the coming year. A couple of personnel changes, coupled with getting the belief back in the side could be the path to achieving that dream.

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Ranbir Kapoor, Ayan Mukherji and SS Rajamouli receive crane garland and rose petals from fans in Vizag

The period of big-budget movies arriving and causing a stir in theatres is now the finest conceivable scenario. Following the success of RRR and KGF Chapter 2, this week will see two more big-budget films, Vikram and Samrat Prithviraj, go head-to-head. And, in the midst of all of this, Brahmastra is rumoured to be the most expensive Bollywood film ever made. As we all know, the film has been in the works for a long time, and after numerous delays, it will finally see the light of day in the coming months.

As a result, the film's creators and performers are leaving no stone unturned in their efforts to ensure that the film's buzz and excitement are genuine. At that point, Ranbir Kapoor, Ayan Mukerji, the film's director, and SS Rajamouli, the film's backer and legend were recently seen arriving in Vishakapatnam to promote the film.

They were greeted with open arms, and a big crane garland with rose petals was made for them. The fans were clearly enthralled, and they couldn't stop cheering as the headliners entered.

In addition to Kapoor, the film features Alia Bhatt, Amitabh Bachchan, Mouni Roy, and Nagarjuna. The film is claimed to be part of a trilogy, with Brahmastra - Part One: Shiva being the first instalment. It will be released on September 9th, 2022.

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Explained: Why Hindi films should avoid battling out with pan-India biggies at the box office for some time

After a rough patch of more than 2 months, Bollywood witnessed its first box office hit in the form of Kartik Aaryan, Tabu and Kiara Advani starrer Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, which has collected over Rs 125 crore and is still going strong at the box office. However, Bollywood's latest release Anek featuring Ayushmann Khurrana has failed to impress the audience and again we saw a Hindi movie turning out to be a disappointing affair.

While experts are hoping that upcoming Bollywood films will deliver some good content, looking at the current scenario, it would be great if Hindi movies avoid clashes will pan-India biggies for some time.

Audience's inclination toward south content

Post Baahubali phase, we witnessed moviegoers, especially from the north-India circuit inclining towards Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada content. While films Saaho, KGF, KGF 2, Pushpa: The Rise and RRR did wonders at the box office with their dubbed Hindi versions, Jai Bhim, Soorarai Pottru and others garnered great views on streaming platforms.

In the upcoming days, south films like Vikram, Salaar, Pushpa: The Rule, RC 15 and others are expected to be money-spinners across the country.

Dismal performances of Hindi films

In the past few months, we witnessed movies featuring biggies like Akshay Kumar's Bachchhan Paandey, Ajay Devgn and Amitabh Bachchan's Runway 34, John Abraham's Attack, Tiger Shroff's Heropanti 2, Shahid Kapoor's Jersey, Kangana Ranaut's Dhaakad and Ranveer Singh's Jayeshbhai Jordaar failing miserably at the box office. Hence, it will be great for Hindi movies if they play safe and avoid clashes with south biggies at the ticket windows.

सत्य और सम्मान के लिए महा युद्ध | Dekhiye Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan – #AakhriHinduSamrat abhi! Releasing in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. Celebrate #SamratPrithviraj Chauhan only at a theatre near you on 3rd June. pic.twitter.com/T4xp1vPafw

— Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) May 30, 2022

Interestingly, Akshay Kumar and Sanjay Dutt's Samrat Prithviraj is locking horns with Kamal Haasan, Vijay Sethupathi and Fahadh Faasil's Vikram and Sesh Adivi's Major at the box office. Since all three films will be available in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu languages, it will be interesting to see how they compete with each other at the ticket windows.

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IPL 2022 Final: Fans slam Devdutt Padikkal for poor show in RR vs GT match

A clinical performance by Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans helped them clinch their maiden Indian Premier League trophy at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday. Sanju Samson’s Rajasthan Royals were no match for the Gujarat-based franchise and failed to make an impact with both the ball and bat.

RR fans were extremely disappointed with the poor show of their team and slammed players for their under-par performance. One of RR’s members to bear the brunt of the criticism was Devdutt Paddikal.

The Royals star batter scored just 2 off 10 deliveries before he was dismissed by Rashid Khan. Khan bowled a shorter delivery outside off, which was slashed by the left-handed batter towards Mohammad Shami at third man. Shami took the catch comfortably and sent Padikkal back to the dugout.

Fans were disappointed by Padikkal’s poor show and took to social media to express their opinion. Many felt Ravichandran Ashwin should have been sent ahead of him, while others felt that the southpaw should have been used as an opener instead of coming in at number 4. Here are some reactions:

 

   

 

 

 

In this IPL season, Padikkal smashed 376 runs in 17 fixtures, at a strike rate of 122.87. After Padikkal’s departure, Rajasthan continued to fumble their innings. They lost Joss Buttler the very next over and Shimron Hetmyer was also dismissed soon after. As wickets fell quickly, Rajasthan Royals could only manage to put up a total of 130 runs.
As for Gujarat, the team managed to achieve a comprehensive 7-wicket victory after some superb batting by skipper Hardik Pandya, Shubman Gill and David Miller. Pandya was the star of the encounter, scoring 34 off 30. He also scalped 3 wickets, giving away just 17 runs.
Gujarat became the only team after Rajasthan Royals to win the tournament trophy in its debut season. The team managed to reach the target with 11 balls to spare.

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Adivi Sesh opens up on playing Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan in Major

When the Mumbai attack occurred in November 2008, many civilians, policemen and army men lost their lives and hundreds were wounded. And one of the braves was Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan. Major Sandeep, Team Commander of 51 Special Action Group, was deployed to rescue hostages from the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel and while he rescued them, he unfortunately was killed in action. His sacrifice and bravery and the life he lived has been brought to life on screen in Major with Telugu actor Adivi Sesh essaying Major Sandeep’s role. Produced by G Mahesh Babu Entertainment (GMB Ent) and A+S Movies, the film is set to hit theatres on June 3 and will be released in Telugu and Hindi. In this candid conversation, Adivi Sesh talks about Major Sandeep, making the film and more. Excerpts from the interview:

How did you land the role of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan in Major? 

Well, I roped everyone else into the project. This is a passion project of mine and more personal than my other films. I was a fan of Major Sandeep then I became an admirer. People talk about the final moments of his life and what ensued but not many know about how beautiful a life he led. Therein started the quest to make a film on him because that is the most influential idea of the zeitgeist if you will.

Was it easy to get Major Sandeep’s family on board with this idea?

There was no ‘on board’ per se, it was very organic. We needed to find out more about his life so it began with me calling Major Sandeep’s parents repeatedly and after them hanging up several times, we finally got a girl to call and I snatched the phone and started talking. It took about seven meetings before Major Sandeep’s father said to me, “I trust that you would make a film on my son 10%.”

As we were leaving their home in Whitefield, Bangalore, that day, Major Sandeep’s mother said to me, “Door se bilkul era beta lag raha hai.” (From a distance, you look exactly like my son) I think at that moment - though we were disheartened by what Major Sandeep’s father had said about the 10% - we truly knew that they were both emotionally connected to what we were trying to do. That moment we knew we had their blessing. That’s how the film came to be.

One has to be very responsible while portraying an Indian army brave heart’s life on screen. How challenging was it for you?

Major Sandeep was such a fun man and very cosmopolitan. He was called Shandy because he loved Arnold Schwarzenegger’s films. He loved English music, animals and dancing. We tend to perceive someone in these situations as upright and stiff but on the contrary, he was the opposite. In real life, I am a bit reserved.

The most elite army men go into the National Security Guard and in that the only army unit was the 51 Special Action Group which Major Sandeep was a part of. In that, he was a training officer so he was the best of the best. For me to go from being an action hero to being a super soldier - to make it look legit and natural - all the while trying to find the emotional core of a man who can joke even in the most serious of times was quite a feat.

Did the army have any say as to what you could depict on screen?

The film is cleared with the ADGPI(Additional Directorate General of Public Information), New Delhi. We haven’t really tried to make critical of anything as much as trying to find the true spirit of what could have happened during each moment. So, there was really never any issue. I think everyone clearly sees what we are trying to do - it is only pure love and pure spirit when it comes to this film.

How did Mahesh Babu come on board as a producer?

My friends, Anurag and Sharath (A+S Movies), own a marketing firm Hyderabad and they are also one of the producers. At the time, Namrata Shirodkar and Mahesh Babu were thinking of producing films other than their own with GMB Entertainment. I think it’s beautiful and an honour that I am the first outside actor and my film is the first that Mahesh Babu’s ever produced. I think they trusted us with the project and what we set out to do because they said yes to the project without the whole script. We told Namrata the idea and I think they could see it in our eyes - I genuinely mean this.

Have Major Sandeep’s family seen the film?

They have seen many scenes but I’ll be going to Bangalore and showing them the film soon. I can’t even begin to imagine how it is they feel, I can only guess. I am sure there’s a sense of heartbreak; a sense of Major Sandeep getting the respect he deserves. I also think they fully understand what it is we’re trying to do.

Recently, I found out that many schools in Hyderabad are teaching Major Sandeep as a chapter. When we were kids, we were learning about Gandhi and Bhagat Singh. For our children and grandchildren, people like Major Sandeep are going to be the Bhagat Singhs of today. I think in many ways Uncle and Aunty see that this film helps cement that idea and for people to understand the valour of people like Major Sandeep.

Are you nervous as the film is set to release on June 3?

I was. (Laughs) In the five days leading up to the release of the trailer, we did some secret rough screenings with rough sound of the film to 1650 people across the country. When you see people screaming ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ in the middle of a screening, you truly believe you have something pure on your hands. That really changed my perspective. At this point, it’s more about sheer exhaustion.

What was Mahesh Babu and Namrata’s reaction to Major?

At the trailer launch, Mahesh Babu spoke about the film. He didn’t speak for a few minutes after the film ended. We were in the preview theatre when he left as soon as the credits started rolling. We were wondering what was happening and if he was angry. Namrata Shirodkar told us it was a good film and we walked out nervously. Mahesh Babu was sitting in the lounge and he looked shaken up. He had nothing but the kindest, most beautiful things to say about what he saw in the film. He also gave us some technical advice.

What do you want the audience to take away from Major?

If you walk away truly knowing what Major Sandeep’s spirit was or maybe even is - I think his spirit is watching us and blessing us - that would be everything. In the midst of so much division, screaming (behind the computer screen), I think it’s important to remember heroes whose light shone so much brighter. When I spoke to the final hostage that Major Sandeep saved, he requested that his identity be kept private. He told me when he saw Major Sandeep walk into that room, it was like Lord Vishnu had walked in. He felt there was a glow of light and a burst of positivity when he walked in. I think that’s what I want the audiences to feel.

Watch trailer here:

Latha Srinivasan is a senior journalist based in Chennai. Her passion is entertainment, travel, and dogs.

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IPL 2022 Final: Proud of my team, this season was really special for us, says RR's Sanju Samson

The result of the IPL 2022 final may not have gone his way, but Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson hailed his team for the brand of cricket they played.

Samson said IPL 2022 was a special season for Rajasthan Royals as they made it to the finals after a long wait of 14 years.

Speaking at the post-match presentation ceremony, Samson said,  “This season is really special for us. We have been able to play good cricket and give fans some happy moments. All the youngsters, seniors played well as a team, I am proud of my team."

He said the management believed that if they were to lay their hands on the title, it was important for the team have a bunch of influential fast bowlers.

"That's why they invested a lot in bowlers like Trent Boult, Prasidh Krishna and Obed McCoy. We believe quality bowlers win you the tournament. So we invested in them," he added.

Speaking about his role in the team, he said, "With Jos playing throughout 20 overs, my role was a bit different. It was a decent season for me, nice 30s and 40s and 20s. But there is a lot to learn. And huge congratulations to Gujarat Titans."

After opting to bat first, Rajasthan Royals failed to put up a good total against the Gujarat Titans in the finals at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. Royals never quite got going as they lost Yashaswi Jaiswal after a good start. Then triple strikes from Hardik Pandya rattled the side and eventually, they were restricted to 130, which did not turn out to be a match-winning total.

Click here to check all the match results from IPL 2022

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Kuttavum Shikshayum movie review: Tension-ridden, unconventional police procedural cum travelogue

Language: Malayalam  

In most popular police dramas across the world, glamorous-looking uniformed personnel dash about town in their smart attire, looking cool as they pose around with guns, solving crimes at lightning speed while also finding time for cracking repartee. Malayalam cinema in particular has for decades now been pre-occupied with police sagas in which a male protagonist’s shiny shoes, branded sunglasses and swag have starring roles, as do speed and over-the-top dialogues.

Kuttavum Shikshayum (Crime and Punishment) is not glamorous, and firearms are confined to cameos in the plot. It is about the drudgery of police work, the painstaking probes, the laborious pursuit of tiny clues that sometimes lead somewhere but often nowhere, mistakes missed by a hair’s breadth and some that are not, and the psychological burdens borne. 

Written by Sibi Thomas and Sreejith Divakaran, director Rajeev Ravi’s Kuttavum Shikshayum is, we are told, based on true events. 

If you are looking for contrived melodrama, you won’t find it here. But in the second half, as I watched Kuttavum Shikshayum stride unrelentingly towards its climax – stride, not run – I swear the tension was a tangible, pulsating living being. “Please don’t, please don’t, please don’t,” I found myself muttering under my breath at one point, for fear that Circle Inspector Sajan Philip (Asif Ali) would repeat a grievous error he had committed in the past. If a film can get you to care so much about a character, you know it has done its job well. 

Kuttavum Shikshayum begins with a flashback to Sajan’s error, then fast forwards to the CI investigating a jewellery store theft. Among his team members are a veteran named Basheer (Alencier Ley Lopez), Rajesh (Sunny Wayne) and Abin (Sharafudheen). 

Sajan & Co follow several leads before one leads them out of their home state, Kerala, to a village in a remote north Indian location where they face cultural differences, language barriers, skeletal facilities, an enigmatic colleague and criminals who enjoy their community’s support.

Lijo Jose Pellissery’s Churuli (2021) featured policemen making a similar journey from home to hostile territory, but it was allegorical and fantastical. This film is matter of fact. 

Police procedurals are not a highly frequented genre in Malayalam cinema, but the few films that have ventured in that direction have by and large been commendable. One of the best from recent years is Abrid Shine’s Action Hero Biju (2016) starring Nivin Pauly. Shine’s film followed one policeman through a number of his cases over a certain period. Kuttavum Shikshayum maintains a singular focus on one case and in that sense is more akin to the recent Salute starring Dulquer Salmaan as a policeman in pursuit of a serial killer over a considerable stretch of time. Salute was more about the protagonist than Rajeev Ravi’s film is though.  

Part of the enjoyment of Kuttavum Shikshayum comes from its business-like treatment of police work and the primary characters. We are told little about Sajan & Co’s personal lives, apart from a trauma that Sajan is struggling with and a glimpse of Rajesh’s wife who creates funny Tik Tok videos. With limited information, the skilful writing ensures that these men come alive as flesh-and-blood creatures through their functioning on the job, inviting us into their world. (Aside: Basheer makes a passing remark about his name that is inexplicable since Islamophobia is on the rise in north India whereas his words imply the opposite.) 

As long as the script focuses on the tedium and stress involved in Sajan’s case, it is impeccable. Rajeev Ravi is known for a low-on-frills approach to direction, but with Kuttavum Shikshayum, he and editor Ajithkumar B. redefine minimalism. Their narrative style accompanied by Dawn Vincent’s discreet yet stress-inducing background score and the on-point acting builds up more suspense than noise and extravagance ever could. 

Although the film might have benefited from giving at least some of the villagers in north India the life and breath that the writing gives the policemen, at least they are not tarred as evil sans qualifiers. Sajan and his colleagues are pointedly informed that the community is antagonistic to outsiders because they deeply resent the utter neglect of their area by the authorities.

Where Kuttavum Shikshayum blunders is in appearing to advocate for the police as a whole. No doubt there are honest folk who are frustrated with the indifferent system they operate in, but police corruption and prejudice are widespread enough for it to be questionable when a film leaves us with needless closing comments by a character that have the effect of shining a gentle light on the Kerala force in general. A lawyer named in that conversation is probably an activist who fights for detainees from oppressed communities wrongly accused by policemen who are not as trustworthy as Sajan and his colleagues – the fleeting mention ends up glossing over the complexities at hand. 

There is only one woman of some significance in the script – a female Superintendent of Police. Given this fact, the writing of the remaining women – all of them satellite characters – is odd. Rajesh’s wife is treated as a distraction, while the rest are intimidating and pose a threat to the good Malayali male police at the centre of this story. Is a point being made here? Or was this aspect of the scripting just not thought through?

Kuttavum Shikshayum is a police procedural cum crime thriller that doubles up as a travelogue. DoP Suresh Rajan effectively contrasts clear bright frames of verdant Kerala with the dusty brown of the region Sajan & Co visit in the Hindi belt. In doing so, he conveys not just the extreme differences in landscapes across India at a literal level, but also the sense of alienness that these Kerala policemen feel in the north, and the reality that India is many nations within one. This brings to mind how out of place Mammootty and his squad felt in Chhattisgarh in the brilliant Unda. In a scene at a police station, Kuttavum Shikshayum also seems to be testing how far viewer bias will dictate viewer expectations by purposely playing on the southern Indian view of northerners as being uncultured and lawless. Introspect in retrospect. Clever.  

Kuttavum Shikshayum is especially accurate with its mix of languages. In recent weeks, I have spoken repeatedly of the embarrassing tendency among Malayalam filmmakers to stick out-of-context, badly constructed Hindi and English lines into their films (read my reviews of 12th Man and Keedam). Here, Rajeev Ravi and the writers place each language in spaces where they are likely to be heard in real life, and each is spoken in the way those characters actually would (note Basheer Ikka’s pronunciation of “alibi”). While Hindi majoritarianism and supremacism are very much the reality in India, there do exist individuals like the Hindi bhaashi policeman in Kuttavum Shikshayum who speaks a couple of Malayalam words to indicate his warmth to the visitors from Kerala, and his gesture makes for an endearing moment in the film. 

Kuttavum Shikshayum is unusual within the universe of police procedurals. Rajeev Ravi is as purposeful in his storytelling as Sajan and his men are in their investigation. Without any sound and fury, the film manages to be a scary, edge-of-the-seat thriller. For those interested in police practices, this is unconventional yet exciting cinema. 

Rating: 3.25 (out of 5 stars) 

Kuttavum Shikshayum is currently in theatres 

Anna M.M. Vetticad is an award-winning journalist and author of The Adventures of an Intrepid Film Critic. She specialises in the intersection of cinema with feminist and other socio-political concerns. Twitter: @annavetticad, Instagram: @annammvetticad, Facebook: AnnaMMVetticadOfficial

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Watch: Lockie Ferguson bowls fastest ball of IPL 2022, clocks 157.3 kmph during GT vs RR final

In the final of the IPL 2022, Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals were up against each other at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. During the high-profile encounter, right-arm fast bowler Lockie Ferguson clocked the fastest ball of this season when he bowled at 157.3 kmph to RR batter Jos Buttler.

In the last ball of the fifth over of RR’s innings, Ferguson bowled a pin-point yorker outside the off stump to Buttler, leaving him stunned with the speed as the ball passed him and settled into Wriddhiman Saha’s hands.

With this thunderbolt, Ferguson not only won the fastest delivery of the match award but also went past Sunrisers Hyderabad speedster Umran Malik, who had earlier clocked a 157 kmph delivery against the Delhi Capitals during a group stage match this IPL. Ferguson even took home Rs 10 lakh for registering the fastest delivery of the entire tournament.

Watch the video here:

Ferguson has a reputation for bowling fast and also crossed the 150 kmph mark on a number of occasions this IPL season. As soon as Ferguson clocked the fastest ball of IPL 2022, memes, comments, and hilarious reactions flooded social media. A look at some of the reactions:

RR won the toss and opted to bat first against GT, but they failed to perform well as the Titans defeated them in a rather one-sided final. GT’s highly-rated bowling attack limited the Royals to put up 130 runs on the scoreboard for nine wickets in the allotted 20 overs.

It was skipper Hardik Pandya, who led from the front with three big wickets to his name including Buttler, Sanju Samson and Shimron Hetmyer. He also scored 34 runs in 30 balls.

GT batters Shubman Gill and David Miller remained unbeaten on 45 and 32 respectively. They stayed unbeaten in an emphatic win for their team in 18.1 overs.

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Virat Kohli's heartfelt note to RCB fans: '12th Man Army, you have been fantastic'

Royal Challengers Bangalore stalwart Virat Kohli penned a heartfelt note to fans and team management after the franchise ended another trophyless season with a loss against Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2022 Qualifier 2.

The former RCB skipper took to Twitter to praise RCB's official fans group '12th Man Army' while sharing a photo collage of himself from the campaign that saw Kohli endure a horrific run of form before a decisive 70-run-odd innings by him took RCB to the playoffs.

"Sometimes you win, and sometimes you don't, but the 12th Man Army, you have been fantastic, always backing us throughout our campaign. You make cricket special. The learning never stops. (1/2)," Kohli wrote on his official social media handles.

He also showed his gratitude towards the RCB management and support staff.

"A big thanks to the management, support staff and all the people who are part of this amazing franchise. See you next season @RCBTweets #PlayBold (2/2)."

Sometimes you win, and sometimes you don't, but the 12th Man Army, you have been fantastic, always backing us throughout our campaign. You make cricket special. The learning never stops. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/mRx4rslWFK

— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) May 28, 2022

On a personal level, it wasn't the best of the season for Kohli, who managed just two half-centuries in 16 games while falling for an unprecedented golden duck thrice in a roller coaster of a season.

In his last outing against Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2, Kohli's technique came into question once again as he was beaten by the bounce of pacer Prasidh Krishna and edged a simple catch after scoring just 7.

Kohli finished IPL 2022 with a below-par 341 runs at an average of 22.73 and a strike rate of 115.78 by his high standards.

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IPL 2022 closing ceremony: Ranveer Singh, AR Rahman to perform at the event

The IPL 2022 is all set to have a grand and star-studded closing ceremony at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on 29th May 2022.

TCM Platform has been appointed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) as the agency that will plan and conceptualize the event.

“It is indeed an honour and a privilege to be given this mandate in this very special year. Cricket is deeply embedded in the fabric of our nation and creatively we bring the celebration of 75 years of India’s independence and the history of our cricketing achievements together. This is also the year that two new teams have joined the league – truly representative of the diversity of the nation with a singular passion for cricket” said Chanda Singh, Director, TCM Platform.

Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh and music maestro AR Rahman will be the highlight of the 30-minute show while the dance sequences will be choreographed by Shiamak Davar.

“We have mapped every second of our thirty minutes event to entertain, enthral, delight and pay tribute to the country, to the game that we are so passionate about and to the legends that define its history.” Said Ria Agnihotri, Project lead of the Ceremony.

“For the first time we will use broadcast Augmented Reality to bring alive the different eras of cricket. Along with AR Rahman, this will be a befitting homage to the 15 years of IPL and to game that has given us so much," said Arati Singh, Content Director of the Ceremony.

TCM Platform MD Lokesh Sharma thanked BCCI for the opportunity. "TCM Platform won the mandate with a strong concept, backed by superb talent choices and a reputation for perfection in execution. We thank The BCCI for this opportunity and we hope to make this a benchmark event in this very special year for our nation," he said.

Debutants Gujarat Titans will take on Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 2022 final. The Hardik Pandya-led GT are aiming to win their first title, while RR are in the final for the first time since 2008 when they won the trophy under Shane Warne's captaincy.

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