Set in a Bombay ghetto in the mid 80’s and based on true life accounts, Striker is a story of triumph of the human spirit over indomitable odds.
Born into a poor family, Surya grows up with few luxuries. Poor health keeps him away him away from school often and that is when he is introduced to Carrom by his elder brother, Chandrakant.
Quite similar to pool in its concept, carrom is common among people from middle and lower income groups all over India. Precision & skill are vital to playing the game well, attitude & confidence are crucial to win. The underground carrom scene has been breeding hustlers and gamblers for many years.
Winning the Junior Carrom Championship at 12 is not enough to keep Surya’s fire for the sport burning through adolescence. Hopes for a job in Dubai, replaces the passion for carrom as Surya grows into a young man.
Duped by a bogus overseas employment agency, Surya loses all his hard earned money he had saved for going to Dubai. Surya is forced to cross paths with Jaleel.
Since the 70’s when the settlements in the ghetto began, Jaleel had acquired a strong hold in the area. He had his hands in every illicit activity since then. Feeding on the weaknesses of people, Jaleel was the self proclaimed king of Malwani.
Reintroduced to carrom by his childhood friend Zaid, this time to the hustling scene, Surya starts playing again. Being gypped of his hard earned money by the same man who had caused misery for many families, Surya decides to take on Jaleel on his turf.
His patience, cool attitude are Surya’s biggest strengths. But life has ways of testing even the strong.
Striker is not a film about good versus evil. It is the story of a friendship, life in the city of dreams in the 80’s, a story of a game that is most common but non-existent. A story of a carrom player who grows up on the fringes of a criminal existence but does not succumb to it.
While Siddharth will be playing the lead role of Surya the cast is filled with many other talented artists such as the dynamic Anupam Kher, the multitalented Aditya Pancholi, Southern belle Padma Priya and the very gorgeous Nicollete Bird!
The movie marks the debut of critically acclaimed director Chandan Arora (Main Meri Patni Aur Woh & Main Madhuri Dixit Bana Chahati Hoon) into the field of production. As well as being an esteemed director Chandan Arora is an award winning editor having won two awards for his work in RGV’s Company.
Striker’s soundtrack perhaps has higher expectations than the film as it will be the first time so many talented leading composers are coming together for an album. Vishal Bhardwaj (Kaminey), Yuvan Shankar Raja (leading Southern composer), Amit Trivedi (Dev D), Blaaze, Swanand Kirkire and Shailendra Bharve are all set to combine their talents to make a winning soundtrack. Actor Siddharth has produced the album himself and will be featuring in two tracks!
This thrilling drama is coming to a screen near you this February the 5th and music will be in stores January the 8th!
We have got your first exclusive look at the trailer! Check it out!
