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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline SEPTEMBER 23, 2022 | The Indian Eye 30

TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Kacchey Limbu – a memorable film

about Gully Cricket

RENU MEHTA
Toronto
acchey Limbu by Shubham
Yogi is a film for cricket lov-
Kers, those who know the
game and for the very few who don’t
in India, and especially for those who
have grown up playing the sport in
neighbourhood courtyards, impro-
vised pitches and cricket grounds.

“It was my love for cricket that
inspired me to make the film,”

Director Shubham Yogi sid at
the Toronto International Film and start her own team, assembling They don’t have the luxury to figure laughs Mehra who plays a prominent
Festival (TIFF). “And the love a motley crew of players who might it out for themselves, find their voice role in the film.
The ending scene of the film is
not look like cricket stars but just may and be assertive. I found it very rel-
affair Mumbai has with cricket.” have what it takes. evant and what I liked most was that memorable, well edited and propelled
“We had to learn cricket for two the film story has not preached this by high energy music to highlight
The film, that had its world pre- months every day for 2 to 3 hours,” thing. It’s very subtle which I loved.” the sequence “Music helps really,”
miere at TIFF, is set in Mumbai and said Barmecha and Madan and “I got some random message on said Yogi. “I love that last hit of the
follows a pair of siblings who find Ayush Mehra, the stars of the film at Instagram when I was backpacking game. It was an incredible shot. We
themselves on competing cricket the Scotiabank theatre where the film and till today I have no idea who that did around 25/30 takes of that last se-
teams as they struggle to balance fa- was presented and described how person is,” said Barmecha. “Then quence till we got it right.”
milial loyalty with the pursuit of their they were approached for the film. Neha (Pranjal Khandhdiya), our pro- Cricket is the second most popu-
passions. “I think I read the script in one go ducer, gave me a call and said I’m lar sport in the world, played or fol-
Aditi (Radhika Madan) dreams and said I want to do the film,” said making a film and tell me how you lowed by 2.5 billion people. The film is
about being a fashion designer, Radhika Madan at the TIFF presen- feel. I read the script and said I would all about playing an old sport in a new
though her father insists she study tation at Scotiabank Theatre. “I felt love to meet the director. Then I met way, challenging sexist traditions, and
medicine. Her big brother Akash the story was very relevant and very Yogi and then I said ya perfect.” playing not to win, but for the pure
(Rajat Barmecha) drags himself to relatable. I have an older brother and “I was told that there is this char- pleasure of the game.
corporate job interviews though his I hate him (laughs). In our country, acter of Kabir in the film who’s very “I want to thank Shubham for
first and only love is cricket. When he more than 90 per cent of women spe- charming and who’s very nice as a taking me back to my childhood – gul-

is accepted into a new league, Aditi cially, they are not allowed to dream. character. I said is he trying to flat- ly cricket that I played after 20 years,”
decides to throw her hat in the ring Their destiny is already pre decided. ter me or is he trying to sell the film,” said Barmecha.

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