"Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal" happens to be in the league of sports-based films made in India and visuals of "Lagaan" and "Chak De India". In this sense, from the beginning there was a strong expectation regarding the success rate of "Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal". It is to be said, that this film is not merely about sports, but much more than that. It makes the best experiment with sensitive and highly controversial issues like racism and fanaticism associated with this sport. Truly speaking, there are issues that the Westerners relate to more than Indians, especially racial discrimination. Besides, the film has its share of highs and lows. While the first hour of the film can be called as merely okay the pendulum swings in its favour in the second hour, to be very precise in the last 20 minutes. Definitely the apt presentation of the sports does succeed in arousing patriotic feelings, besides involving the viewer in the fight-to-finish finale. However, there are also moments when you do feel that the film falls back on the predictable. To sum up, "Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal" is indeed a simple story and well told. In spite of some bits of brooding silence in the mean time, this film hits a goal, certainly in respect of its brilliantly executed finale.
Director Vivek Agnihotri excels in his combination of the style and substance in his second outing "Goal". Take the sequence at the very start, when an English woman and her frontman [Dalip Tahil] reveal their plans of coming up with a shopping complex on the ground. The director opens the cards at the very outset. But the narrative dips, rises, hits a low and ascends unfailingly till the first hour ends. The sequence prior to the intermission -- at the Manchester United Stadium -- leaves you awe-struck and makes you look forward to a powerful second hour.
Keep in mind, "Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal" has an ordinary first hour, but the post-interval portions, especially the exhilarating climax, makes up for everything. At the box-office, the producers [UTV] have already recovered the cost of production from various sales and in-film advertising. The theatrical business will only add to the booty, considering the film has the merits to work with moviegoers. Another factor that goes in its favour -- and it's an important one -- is the fact that the moviegoers haven't seen a new release post-Diwali.
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Thriller