"Jersey" Review: Beyond Sport Theme, It Conveys Meaningful Messages About Self-Discovery And Family Relationships

Jersey

Cast: Nani, Shraddha Srinath, Rao Ramesh, Sathyaraj
Director: Gowtam Tinnanuri
Rating: 4 out of 5

Sports films are getting more and more attention to the Southern cinema with the release of many successful films like Kanaa, Majili, and Natpe Thunai. Films with sports themes not only inspire but also touch the hearts of the audience. And Jersey is one of them. Despite having familiar content about sports topics such as the failures, the success, the dreams of athletes, Jersey is not only about winning awards and trophy, but also about exploring oneself. It conveys a profound story of victory and the journey of self-discovery.

Jersey is set from 1986 to 1996, telling the story of a former Ranji cricketer named Arjun (played by Nani), one of the most excellent players of his time. He got married to Sarah (played by Shraddha Srinath), who was crazy in love with him and married him despite her father's objections. Reaching the pinnacle of his career, Arjun was about to be chosen for the national team. But he decided to retire after being disappointed by the political principles of the selection committee. Subsequently, he realized a bitter truth that the reality was far from imagination and he also had to feed his family. And after a 10-year break from cricket, he decided to start playing again at the age of 36 because of his son.

Check out the trailer of the film:

Arjun is not described to be a hero. He’s just a dad who didn’t want to let down his son, a husband who wanted to take care of his family and a cricket player who tried to make his coach’s dreams come true. Arjun has encountered many difficulties in life, but he has never chosen to give up.

Jersey is different from other lately released sports film because it was not a story with all the achievements and trophies, victory and glory. Rather than glorifying Arjun like a superstar, director Gowtam Tinnanuri chose to humanize him. Gowtam showed the audience the fact that although Arjun was the best player, his failures still affect everyone around him. Therefore, his way of directing receive numerous positive reviews from critics.

Another factor contributing to the success of Jersey is the incredible acting skills of the cast. Actor Nani did an excellent performance with the role of Arjun. He spent a lot of time training to be able to play the role better. From the way he stands to the way he takes a shot, they all look like the postures of a professional player.

Besides, his scenes together with Shraddha Srinath bring a refresh and lovely vibe for the film. They can express their love for each other without saying a single word. Despite facing many difficulties in marriage and life, Sarah still chooses to believe in Arjun, although she didn’t say anything about it. Meanwhile, actor Sathyaraj, with all his experience through over 200 films, also successfully depicted the role of the coach. He got into the character so well that it seems like it was written just for him.

Besides, the highlight of Jersey is the relationship between Arjun and his son. It helps the story to evolve and makes the film more touching and humane. The audience can see another side of Arjun through his son’s eyes. Some remarkable moments between the father and son also left a strong impression on the audience. After all, Jersey is not only a sports movie, but it also conveys many meaningful messages and gives valuable lessons about self-discovery, family relationships and about not giving up before failures.

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