Match Fixing: The Nation At Stake Movie Review: Political intrigue undermined by uneven execution
Match Fixing: The Nation At Stake Movie Review: Critics Rating: 2.5 stars, click to give your rating/review,Match Fixing had all the ingredients for a gripping political thriller—an intriguing premise and nua
Critic's Rating: 2.5/5
Story: Based on Kanwar Khatana’s fictional book The Game Behind Saffron Terror, the Match Fixing follows a decorated army officer who finds himself embroiled in a political conspiracy, and how it affects his life.
Review: Directed by Kedaar Gaekwad and written by Anuj S Mehta, this political drama waves a fictionalised tale drawn from real events. The film delves into the dynamics of how powerful entities—including politicians and intelligence agencies—collaborated to craft the narrative of saffron terrorism in India, leading to widespread unrest. At the story’s heart is Colonel Avinash Patwardhan (Vineet Kumar), a decorated officer who uncovers connections between various terrorist attacks and bombings across India. However, his investigation takes a grim turn when he becomes a pawn in a larger conspiracy involving India’s ruling party and Pakistan.
The story is conceptually strong as it seeks to link various terrorist events into a grand conspiracy, exposing how power can manipulate narratives to suit political agendas. It effectively sets up the intrigue of connecting dots, but its execution is where the film falters. Since the film is inspired by true events, characters and incidents are recognisable and have been recreated well. However, the excessive length drags the pace, leaving the audience disengaged in many parts. While the Kashmir undercover sequence brings moments of tension and engagement, much of the narrative feels uneven.
Avinash’s victimisation loses steam, and his skill and intelligence are confined to brief montages rather than being integral to the storytelling. The screenplay juggles a multitude of elements—political intrigue, the machinations of Pakistani politics and the army, the workings of intelligence agencies, and the nexus between terrorists and politicians. However, it struggles to hold these multilayered elements cohesively. Subplots, such as Avinash’s family life, while intended to add emotional depth, feel misplaced and detract from the central narrative, disrupting its flow.
Vineet Kumar convincingly portrays the brave army officer, excelling in emotional moments, though his portrayal feels somewhat superficial. Anuja Sathe, despite a brief role as his wife, delivers a decent performance. Manoj Joshi deserves credit for pulling off General Parvesh Musharraf’s look with finesse, while Shataf Figar provides commendable support.
Match Fixing had all the ingredients for a gripping political thriller—an intriguing premise and nuanced themes, but the lack of narrative cohesion and inconsistent execution prevent it from rising to its potential.
Review: Directed by Kedaar Gaekwad and written by Anuj S Mehta, this political drama waves a fictionalised tale drawn from real events. The film delves into the dynamics of how powerful entities—including politicians and intelligence agencies—collaborated to craft the narrative of saffron terrorism in India, leading to widespread unrest. At the story’s heart is Colonel Avinash Patwardhan (Vineet Kumar), a decorated officer who uncovers connections between various terrorist attacks and bombings across India. However, his investigation takes a grim turn when he becomes a pawn in a larger conspiracy involving India’s ruling party and Pakistan.
The story is conceptually strong as it seeks to link various terrorist events into a grand conspiracy, exposing how power can manipulate narratives to suit political agendas. It effectively sets up the intrigue of connecting dots, but its execution is where the film falters. Since the film is inspired by true events, characters and incidents are recognisable and have been recreated well. However, the excessive length drags the pace, leaving the audience disengaged in many parts. While the Kashmir undercover sequence brings moments of tension and engagement, much of the narrative feels uneven.
Avinash’s victimisation loses steam, and his skill and intelligence are confined to brief montages rather than being integral to the storytelling. The screenplay juggles a multitude of elements—political intrigue, the machinations of Pakistani politics and the army, the workings of intelligence agencies, and the nexus between terrorists and politicians. However, it struggles to hold these multilayered elements cohesively. Subplots, such as Avinash’s family life, while intended to add emotional depth, feel misplaced and detract from the central narrative, disrupting its flow.
Vineet Kumar convincingly portrays the brave army officer, excelling in emotional moments, though his portrayal feels somewhat superficial. Anuja Sathe, despite a brief role as his wife, delivers a decent performance. Manoj Joshi deserves credit for pulling off General Parvesh Musharraf’s look with finesse, while Shataf Figar provides commendable support.
Match Fixing had all the ingredients for a gripping political thriller—an intriguing premise and nuanced themes, but the lack of narrative cohesion and inconsistent execution prevent it from rising to its potential.
