Match Fixing (film)
{{Short description|Indian Hindi language political thriller film directed by Kedaar Gaekwad}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Match Fixing: The Nation At Stake
| image = Match Fixing (film).jpg
| alt =
| caption = Theatrical Poster
| director = Kedar Gaekwad
| producer = Pallavi Gurjar
| based_on = The Game Behind Saffron Terror by Col. Kanwar Khatana (Retd.)
| writer = Anuj S Mehta
Sameer Garud
| starring = Vineet Kumar Singh
Anuja Sathe
Manoj Joshi
| music = Hrishi Giridhar
Rimi Dhar
| studio = Artarena Creations
| distributor =
| editing = Ashish Mhatre
| cinematography = Kedar Prabhakar Gaekwad
Ninad Gosavi
| runtime = 146 minutes{{Cite web |title=Match Fixing (film) |url=https://cbfcindia.gov.in/cbfcAdmin/search-result.php?recid=Q0EwMTE2MDcyMDI0MDAxODM= |website=Central Board of Film Certification}}
| released = {{Film date|df=yes|2025|01|10}}
| country = India
| language = Hindi
| budget =
| gross = {{INR|5}} crore{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}
}}
Match Fixing: The Nation At Stake is an Indian Hindi-language political thriller film directed by Kedar Gaekwad{{cite news |last1=Gulati |first1=Triya |title=My film is against the 2008 govt's narrative of 'Hindu terror': Director Kedar Gaekwad |url=https://theprint.in/feature/my-film-against-2008-govts-hindu-terror-narrative-kedar-gaekwad/2358241/ |access-date=8 December 2024 |work=ThePrint |date=15 November 2024}} and produced by Pallavi Gurjar under ArtArena Creations Pvt. Ltd. Film is based on the book The Game Behind Saffron Terror written by Retired Col. Kanwar Khatana.{{cite news |last1=Singh |first1=Simran |title=Match Fixing: Vineet Kumar Singh leads political thriller based on controversial book The Game Behind Saffron Terror |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/bollywood/report-match-fixing-vineet-kumar-singh-leads-political-thriller-based-on-controversial-book-the-game-behind-saffron-3113647 |access-date=8 December 2024 |work=DNA India |language=en |archive-date=8 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241208132131/https://www.dnaindia.com/bollywood/report-match-fixing-vineet-kumar-singh-leads-political-thriller-based-on-controversial-book-the-game-behind-saffron-3113647 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=What's real, what's not: Unpacking the 'Match Fixing' movie real story and controversy |url=https://www.lifestyleasia.com/ind/entertainment/movies/match-fixing-movie-true-story/ |access-date=8 December 2024 |work=Lifestyle Asia India |date=15 November 2024 |language=en-IN}} Vineet Kumar Singh, Anuja Sathe and Manoj Joshi will play lead roles.{{cite news |last1=Pande |first1=Shreyas |title=Vineet Kumar Singh plays a cop in upcoming film Match Fixing, motion poster unveiled |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/hindi/news/2024/Oct/16/vineet-kumar-singh-plays-a-cop-in-upcoming-film-match-fixing-motion-poster-unveiled |access-date=8 December 2024 |work=Cinema Express |date=16 October 2024 |language=en}}
The film is slated for a theatrical release on January 10, 2025.{{cite news |last1=Features |first1=C. E. |title=Vineet Kumar Singh-starrer Match Fixing gets new release date |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/hindi/news/2024/Dec/27/vineet-kumar-singh-starrer-match-fixing-gets-new-release-date |work=Cinema Express |date=1 December 2024 |language=en}}{{cite news |title=Political-thriller #MatchFixing is set for *theatrical release* on 10 Jan 2025 |url=https://x.com/taran_adarsh/status/1875052164466307313 |access-date=5 January 2025 |work=Twitter}}
Plot
The Nation At Stake sheds light on a boiling conspiracy operating on two fronts: the internal politics within India, centered on the divisive narrative of 'Saffron Terror,' and the calculated strategies of Pakistan’s high command and intelligence networks to destabilize India, resulting in the 26/11 attacks. The movie offers a stark revelation of power games and their far-reaching consequences.
Cast
Controversy
The film was earlier scheduled to be released in theatres on 15 November 2024{{cite news |title='Match Fixing' to release in theatres on 15 November |url=https://www.indiantelevision.com/movies/hindi/%27match-fixing%27-to-release-in-theatres-on-15-november-241016 |access-date=9 December 2024 |work=Indian Television |date=16 October 2024 |language=en}} but a petition was filed in the Bombay High Court to stop its release.{{cite news |title='Match Fixing' slated for theatrical release on January 17, 2025 |url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/entertainment/match-fixing-slated-for-theatrical-release-on-january-17-2025-article-12867859.html |access-date=9 December 2024 |work=Moneycontrol}} The petition stated that the film promotes negative stereotypes against Muslims.{{cite news |title=High Court to hear plea against release of Hindi film based on 2008 Malegoan blast |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/law-news/story/army-officer-prasad-purohit-plea-release-match-fixing-the-nation-at-stake-hidni-film-2008-malegoan-blast-high-court-2631695-2024-11-11 |access-date=9 December 2024 |work=India Today |date=11 November 2024 |language=en}}
But the Bombay High Court dismissed the petition,{{cite news |title=Bombay High Court Rejects Stay On Film 'Match Fixing-The Nation Is At Stake', Citing It As Fictional Work |url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/entertainment/bombay-high-court-rejects-stay-on-film-match-fixing-the-nation-is-at-stake-citing-it-as-fictional-work |access-date=9 December 2024 |work=Free Press Journal |language=en}} and saying that the film is a work of fiction and gave the green signal for its release.{{cite news |title=HC clears film release, nixes Lt Col Purohit's plea |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/bombay-high-court-approves-release-of-controversial-film-match-fixing-the-nation-at-stake-despite-purohits-plea/articleshow/115308874.cms |access-date=9 December 2024 |work=The Times of India |date=14 November 2024}}{{cite news |title=Vineet Kumar Singh-starrer 'Match Fixing' to now release on Jan 17 |url=https://www.daijiworld.com/index.php/news/newsDisplay?newsID=1244266 |access-date=9 December 2024 |work=Daijiworld Media |language=en}}
Release
The film is scheduled to release in theatres on 10 January 2025.{{cite news |last1=Web |first1=Statesman |title='Match Fixing' set for theatrical release on THIS date after legal delay |url=https://www.thestatesman.com/entertainment/bollywood/match-fixing-set-for-theatrical-release-on-this-date-after-legal-delay-1503364787.html |access-date=8 December 2024 |work=The Statesman |date=14 November 2024 |language=en |archive-date=8 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241208121030/https://www.thestatesman.com/entertainment/bollywood/match-fixing-set-for-theatrical-release-on-this-date-after-legal-delay-1503364787.html |url-status=live }}
Reception
Ganesh Aglave from Firstpost described the film as a "slow, complicated, verbose political thriller" but lauded Vineet Kumar Singh's shining performance, noting his ability to carry the narrative despite the film's convoluted storytelling.{{Cite web |last=Aglave |first=Ganesh |title=Match Fixing Movie Review: Vineet Kumar Singh shines in this slow, complicated, verbose political thriller |url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/match-fixing-movie-review-vineet-kumar-singh-shines-in-this-slow-complicated-verbose-political-thriller-13851350.html |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=Firstpost}} Dhaval Roy of The Times of India gave a balanced review, appreciating the film's intense political drama and Singh's compelling portrayal but pointing out that the slow pacing and dense plot might not appeal to all audiences.{{Cite web |last=Roy |first=Dhaval |title=Match Fixing: The Nation at Stake Movie Review |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-reviews/match-fixing-the-nation-at-stake/movie-review/117087547.cms |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=The Times of India}} A reviewer from Zee News called it a "gripping political thriller that unravels dark truths," highlighting its bold narrative and Singh's nuanced performance as key strengths.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Match Fixing: The Nation at Stake Movie Review - A Gripping Political Thriller That Unravels Dark Truths |url=https://zeenews.india.com/bollywood/match-fixing-the-nation-at-stake-movie-review-a-gripping-political-thriller-that-unravels-dark-truths-2841910.html |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=Zee News}}
Pankaj Shukla of Amar Ujala praised the film's exploration of the Malegaon bomb blast and its political undertones, crediting Singh's intense portrayal and the director's vision, though he noted some narrative inconsistencies.{{Cite web |last=Shukla |first=Pankaj |title=Match Fixing Movie Review: मालेगांव बम ब्लास्ट की कहानी, विनीत कुमार सिंह की दमदार एक्टिंग |url=https://www.amarujala.com/entertainment/movie-review/match-fixing-movie-review-in-hindi-by-pankaj-shukla-vineet-kumar-singh-malegaon-bomb-blast-abhinav-bharat-2025-01-09 |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=Amar Ujala}} A reviewer from Jagran labeled it a "must-watch thrilling ride through politics and terrorism," emphasizing Singh's stellar performance and the film's ability to keep viewers engaged with its suspenseful plot.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Match Fixing Movie Review: Must-Watch Thrilling Ride Through Politics And Terrorism, Vineet Kumar Movie Rating |url=https://english.jagran.com/entertainment/match-fixing-movie-review-must-watch-thrilling-ride-through-politics-and-terrorism-vineet-kumar-movie-rating-10211702 |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=Jagran}} Madhav Sharma of Times Now Hindi stated that the political drama "is going to leave you speechless," commending its bold storytelling, Singh's commanding presence, and the film's ability to tackle sensitive themes effectively.{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=Madhav |title=Match Fixing Review In Hindi: यह पॉलिटिकल ड्रामा आपको स्तब्ध कर देगा |url=https://www.timesnowhindi.com/entertainment/movie-reviews/match-fixing-review-in-hindi-this-political-dram-is-going-to-leave-you-speechless-review-117105416 |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=Times Now Hindi}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|34038181}}
- {{Bollywood Hungama movie|match-fixing}}
Category:2020s Hindi-language films