Coming soon ... parody on IPL, ICL

Mumbai, March 23 (IANS) The India Premier League (IPL) is not far away, but this season audiences will also get to see a parody on the different cricket leagues on the silver screen as well. "Kirkit" that stars Jackie Shroff, Sanjay Kapoor, Gulshan Grover and Sayali Bhagat along with a bunch of youngsters is almost ready.

Apparently, the film is a satire on the business of cricket and doesn't mince words during its reference to IPL and India Cricket League (ICL).

"I have finished shooting for this film, which is a comedy. It's a fun movie ... it's a parody on IPL and ICL," said Sanjay Kapoor, who reinvented himself as an actor in Zoya Akhtar's debut "Luck By Chance".

What's the film exactly about other than the referential element of cricket?

" 'Kirkit' talks about how advantage is being taken of a common man by making everything so commercial, especially the game of cricket," said Sanjay, who plays a crucial role in "Kirkit".

"It narrates how street kids have taken on to playing cricket due to exposure to IPL and other leagues, which involve quick cricket day in and night out. It clearly states that now even cricket has turned into business," the actor added.

Though there have been quite a few films made on the theme of cricket, the most recent being Hurman Baweja-starrer "Victory", this is the first time a parody has been made on this subject.

"Cricket-based movies are mostly about the win of the underdog. Pick up any movie, whether it is 'Lagaan', 'Say Salaam India' or Aamir Khan's old film 'Awwal Number', each of the films has culminated in a predictable way," says an industry follower.

There have been small-time films like Raveena Tandon's "Stumped" or Mandira Bedi's "Meerabai Not Out" that had cricket as a backdrop, but they weren't exactly about the underdogs. However, both the films were disasters at the box office.

The horrific box office performance of "Victory" has made both filmmakers and audiences even more wary about films based on cricket. Won't it be a deterrent on the prospects of "Kirkit"?

"No, a good film is a good film that will always work," quipped Sanjay. "Moreover, the subject and timing of 'Kirkit' couldn't have been better. It will release during the peak of the IPL season, which will only add on it's visibility."

A point worth considering is that the Emraan Hashmi-starrer "Jannat", the only cricket-based film other than "Lagaan" that succeeded at the box office, had released in May last year when IPL fever had gripped the entire nation. However, it had explored the world of betting and match-fixing in the game.

Coming back to 'Kirkit', the film has quite a few debutant actors playing wannabe cricketers. The film is produced and directed by Hyderabad-based Shashi Pritam, a musician who has created more than 350 jingles and has also dabbled in composing music for Bollywood and south Indian films.

Another film with cricket as its theme is "Hook Ya Crook", which is directed by David Dhawan. A UTV Motion Pictures productions, the film stars John Abraham, Genelia D'Souza, Kay Kay Menon and Shreyas Talpade and is likely to be released by September.

Sayali Bhagat Pictures