听 From the makers of Taxi No. 9211, Hat Trick is clearly timed to cash in on world cup fever. Paresh Rawal, Nana Patekar and Kunal Kapoor star in the film, which is not so much about the game, as the passions it evokes in its most ardent followers. Well shot, with defined characters and an interesting premise, the film is cinematically, all there. It's just a matter of whether the cricket-led narratives are captivating enough to keep you entertained throughout.
When newlywed Kash (Rimi Sen) discovers that husband Saby's (Kunal Kapoor) passion for cricket outweighs his passion for her, she finds a reason to love the game, namely wicket-keeping legend, Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Dr. Satyajeet Chavan (Nana Patekar), is so inured to the sound of death that he has no time for life, till ailing cricket fanatic Madhav Anna (Danny Dezongpa) arrives in his ward. Meanwhile, eager to gain British citizenship, Hemu Patel (Paresh Rawal), proves his devotion to queen and country by supporting England over his beloved Indian team.
"A HARMLESS FROLIC"
Of the three stories, Sen and Kapoor's is the most pertinent. The scorching chemistry between the two gives way to a humorous scenario that cricket widows everywhere will recognise. The remaining storylines by comparison, appear far too contrived. Nana Patekar plays to type as the sober patriarch, and while the reference to Tebbit's notorious cricket test in Rawal's thread is relevant, they go a little overboard with the race issue, rendering Hemu Patel rather pitiable.
Nevertheless, Hat Trick is a harmless frolic on the cricketing "maidaan" that doesn't require a love of the sport to join in.
