Blue Star Review: Cricket, Caste, and Coming-of-Age: Movie Delivers a Winning Mix
In the late 90s, Perumbachai village witnessed clashes between the 'Blue Star' and 'Alpha Boys' cricket teams, representing Oppressed Caste and the rest of the villagers, led by Ranjith (Ashok Selvan) and Rajesh (Shanthanu Bhagyaraj), respectively. Cricket is their life, impacting society and changing perspectives. Director S Jayakumar's 'Blue Star' explores how the teams overcome their differences.
Ashok Selvan delivers a compelling performance as a college boy navigating love, aggression, and guilt, excelling as a sportsman. Shanthanu Bhagyaraj, portraying the parallel lead, embraces his character's responsibility, delivering a strong performance. Prithvirajan, Keerthi Pandian, Lizzy Antony, and Elango Kumaravel contribute significantly to the film.
The screenplay, although rooted in familiar themes, becomes unique and profound with Jayakumar and Tamil Prabha's nuanced writing. The film addresses caste oppression and its reflection in the game, progressing in the right direction. The second half delves into the politics of cricket, a noteworthy aspect.
Tamil A. Azhagan's cinematography skillfully contrasts the village cricket ground's dust with the artificial grass ground's vibrancy. Selva RK's editing adds strength to storytelling, though a tighter edit in love scenes and the second half would enhance pacing. Govind Vasantha's music, along with Umadevi and Arivu's lyrics, is enchanting, with 'Sounds of the Train' as a standout.
The film makes effective use of the cricket ground for mood changes and character development in the second half. However, excess cricket scenes, while informative, may be exhausting. The screenplay incorporates emotional moments related to cricket, such as a player aspiring to join the West Indian team, criticisms of the Indian team's selection committee, and nods to cricket legends of the 90s.
Despite some flaws, 'Blue Star' shines as a rising star, advocating the political idea that unity is crucial when facing common issues between factions.