83 releases in theatres on December 24.After long delays and a pandemic, Kabir Khan’s labour of love, 83 is releasing in theatres today. The film that dramatizes India’s iconic win at the 1983 World Cup has been getting positive reviews ahead of its release as the film’s beats as well as Ranveer Singh’s pitch perfect portrayal as the then Team India captain, Kapil Dev is getting a lot of love. Ranveer’s real-life spouse, actor Deepika Padukone, who has also produced the film, essays the role of his on-screen spouse, Romi Dev, in 83.
Kabir Khan had earlier revealed Deepika’s first reaction after watching 83. Kabir had shared that Deepika was overwhelmed, “She was not being able to speak, she was choking up,” he said.
Not just critics and their Bollywood colleagues, members of 83 team were effusive in their praise of the film. Batting maestro Sunil Gavaskar told Indian Express, “Saw the movie for the first time at the Premiere last night and was blown away by the film. It’s simply brilliant and the way every actor has got the mannerisms, the walk, the look, the style of every player was unbelievably uncanny. Full marks to Kabir Khan and his team for their efforts.”
The Indian Express film critic Shubhra Gupta gave the film a 3.5-star rating. In her review, she wrote, “Kabir Khan’s ‘83 recreates that day with fidelity, and, yes, let it be said, in full Bollywood style, suffused with song, dance, drama, colour. Ranveer Singh disappears into his Kapil Dev even as each of Kapil’s Devils is given their own moment in this faithful recreation of India’s 1983 World Cup win.”
Ranveer Singh shared the letter of the coach who trained him for 83.
Music composer S Thaman tweeted, "#83 is jus a NUMBER. THIS FILM WILL RUN FOR #100DAYS FOR NO LOSS. #83TheFilm IS GEM HIDDEN INSIDE A CRICKET STADIUM. WELL PLAYED WELL MADE. @RanveerOfficial UR OUR #RUN VEER SINGH NOW . A lovely team effort."
The music of 83 is getting a lot of love.
This cosy romance between two of India’s most lucrative vocations is nothing new. Bollywood has always been in awe of cricket. And cricket has paid back the compliment by revealing a time-tested crush on cinema.
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At The Indian Express eAdda on Thursday, Ravi Shastri said, "The cast, the efforts they put in… Ranveer (Singh) as Kapil Dev. Kabir and all the cast there; they worked their backsides off to try and look like the characters they were playing. To put real life into reel life is not that easy. And I thought they did a fabulous job. Memories came flooding in again, when certain scenes were shown and that got tears to your eyes. This is must-watch for everyone. Get to the theatres."
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Saqib Saleem told indianexpress.cim, "It is not just about holding a bat and a ball. It is about understanding the man’s mindset. Mohinder Amarnath comes from a cricketing family. Of course I knew about cricket, but first I had to read about him a lot. I was fortunate enough to get to spend about a month with him in person. With such legends around me, I was like a cricket fan on set."
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In an interview with Pinkvilla, director Kabir Khan said that in one of his first meetings with Kapil Dev, the former cricketer requested that the film be about the whole team. "When I met Kapil Dev and one of the first things he told me was ‘I hope it’s a team story and you are not making the film on me'," he said.
Actor Saqib Saleem was visibly moved after Mohinder Amarnath gifted him a special red handkerchief after being impressed by his performance. Sharing a video of the moment on Instagram, Saqib wrote, "The biggest validation I could have asked for. To get the red handkerchief from the legend himself after he saw the film."
Early box office reports suggest that 83 opened to 40-45% occupancy in five metros--Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Pune, Kolkata and Bangalore. But in smaller cities, it could only muster between 10-30% occupancy, Box Office India reported.
"Feeling massively fatigued after watching #83TheFilm. There’s such a thing as too much cricket, it turns out," screenwriter Anirrudha Guha wrote on Twitter after watching 83.
"Being a die-hard Cricket fan I was born 12 years late but I am fortunate enough to watch #83TheMovie #83TheFilm #83TheFilmReview. An emotional goosebumping experience I will never forget. Thank you @kabirkhankk @RanveerOfficial and entire team for this experience of a lifetime," @AnandHR_Odia wrote on Twitter.
Huma Qureshi shared a picture of her brother Saqib Saleem with their mother from the screening of 83. Sharing the photo, she wrote, "83 is not a film .. it’s a feeling .. to me last night felt beautiful.. like my mummy’s hug .. thank you @kabirkhankk sir for giving @saqibsaleem Jimmy Amarnath & for making this lovely film … Thank you to all the boys who are like his brothers now!! Thank you @ranveersingh for not just being the supernova of talent that you are But also being the generous superstar who let the film shine above all!! Thank you to the OG players for giving us hope as a nation where there was none. 83 is just so special.. Thank you all for letting me witness this ❤️ #grateful #blessed #pyaar #proud Above all, thank you my baby brother for showing me that despite everything the world may throw at you … Hard work always shines .. you keep working at your craft and your passion and one day the world will see it too … You deserve this my jaan and much more … ❤️"
During the music launch event of his upcoming film Jersey, Shahid Kapoor said, “The promos of 83 are looking very nice, and I’d love to see the film. It is about India’s World Cup win in 1983 and it is a story that everybody would want to see. Everything about the film is looking so good.” Read more
A Twitter user who watched 83 called the Ranveer Singh starrer 'brilliant'. "Couldn't convert my emotion in to words. I'm speechless! Such a brilliant movie.! Definitely will watch again next weekend," @Anji25238 tweeted.
On December 16, Ranveer and Deepika watched with pride as the trailer of 83 was played on the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa.
Rhea Chakraborty shared her review of 83 as she wrote on Instagram, "Absolutely loved the film Kabir Khan sir you have given us a masterpiece. Ranveer Singh, I have no word for you, you are so good Osaoib Saleem, you rockstar. Loved your performance hats off to the whole cast and crew. Thankyou. Please go watch the film. It's brilliant."
Suniel Shetty was stunned by 83 as he shared on Twitter, "Went to watch @RanveerOfficial in #83. Couldn’t spot him. There was only #KapilDev on screen. Incredible transformation. I am stunned beyond. A team cast that could’ve walked off Lords. Got gooseflesh like I was reliving ‘83. Still shaken & teary-eyed at the artistry & emotions."
Jatin Sarna, who plays Yashpal Sharma in 83, is sad that the batsman passed away earlier this year. Sharing that he was heartbroken when he heard the news of Yashpal’s demise, Jatin said, “I was shattered in every sense and not because I was playing him. I have seen the team and the unity that they possess. I felt hurt that one among them was gone. Then of course the world lost an ace cricketer. And in the end, I was also upset that I wanted him to see the film with me. Till now, I am yet to come to terms with his death. I recently met his family and we were all in tears while talking about him. It was so emotional for all of us. We are missing him a lot and I am glad people will watch the film to know about his contribution to Indian cricket.” Read more
Darshan Yewalekar, the celebrity hair designer who created Ranveer’s look for 83, said it was challenging to recreate Kapil Dev's look. He told indianexpress.com, "It was a once in a lifetime opportunity to be a part of such a mammoth and historic project. Kabir sir gave me a very straightforward brief during our first meeting — to replicate ‘the’ hair. We had to go through volumes of Kapil sir’s pictures to get every curl and wave right. We went through almost four to five look tests to achieve the precise ‘Kapil Dev look’. Then there was his classic moustache. I had to be very precise about how much to trim it, and that literally came down to slowly removing a single hair strand to make sure we got the look just right." Read more
Ranveer Singh’s ‘dear father-in-law’ Prakash Padukone had shared his memories of the 1983 cricket world cup when the Kapil Dev-led Indian cricket team created history by winning against the West Indies.