Chalaang - School Daze

Chhalaang

(Leap)

2020, Hindi

Directed by Hansal Mehta

Stars Rajkummar Rao, Nushrat Bharucha, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Saurabh Shukla, Satish Kaushik

Mohan's Measure ✳ ✳

Predictable but charming, the only thing we find out of the ordinary in Chhalaang are the small glasses of scotch the lead characters drink while waxing profound.

The rest of the film is like all other sports films in making us root for the underdogs and watching the heartwarming of a bumbling coach learn about life in the process.

Mr. Rao maintains the sense of comedic innocence he has presented in all his movies, playing opposite Mr. Shukla's brash cynicism. A host of kids join the gang, creating a Bad News Bears feel to the plot.

The problem is the kids aren't given the chance to develop or even present what could have added some depth to this predictable tale.