Jersey is a 2022 Indian Hindi language drama film written and directed by Gowtam Tinnanuri, his first Hindi directing and re-enactment of his 2019 Telugu film of the same title. Unable to buy his son, Arjun, an Indian Team jersey, he embarks on a journey to gain and become famous as a cricketer.
“Jersey,” the film, begins by introducing a book with the same name. The book is already popular and ends up in many stores. We see a young man buying the last copy of the “Jersey” bookstore, handing it to a woman who desperately wanted the book.
He added that he was the son of Arjun Talwar, the man on whom the book was based. And thus, we are brought back to Ketan’s childhood years spent with her loving father, who was once a promising actor.
Jersey (2022): Synopsis
Arjun was a devoted father; every morning, he would take Ketan to a cricket school. On the way to college, Ketan discusses that his team-mate has a real Team India jersey, and that is probably why he was chosen to be their team captain. Arjun did not pay much attention to his son’s argument, but after arriving at school, he reminded his son that a jersey could not make a difference.
However, knowing how much his son wanted the jersey, he agreed to give it to him on his birthday. When they returned home, Arjun took his son to the store to buy a jersey. He found out that Team India’s first jersey cost 500, which he could not afford. He left the store with Ketan, hoping to find a solution before his son’s birthday.
He asked for money from his wife, Vidya, but she too refused. Vidya worked in the reception area and had to support her entire family financially. She wanted her to pay her electricity bill, repair a water leak, and talk to a lawyer to get her job back. Arjun was a Grade III officer; was suspended after allegations of food fraud. He had been unemployed for two years. Arjun was devastated by the way his life had turned out. The fact that he could not even afford to buy his son a jersey for his birthday made him hate his status.
A few of his friends came with him to his house the next morning. Arjun agreed to play a round of cards for the 100 rupees left by his wife to pay for electricity. But luck was not on his side, and he lost that. Vidya began to despair of Arjun. She felt overwhelmed by all the responsibilities, and her husband did very little to make it better.
Vidya was in love with Arjun at a young age and was confident. He was one of the leading scorers at the time, and she always supported her. She left her home after her father refused to accept their relationship since they were from different places. The two got married at a young age, and since Ketan was born, Arjun had a family to support. He has won the Indian party twice, but for internal political reasons, his name was eventually left out.
At the age of 26, when Arjun learned that he had not succeeded in the Indian team, he abandoned his dreams. He refused to play cricket and accepted a government offer. What he thought would be a good sacrifice turned out to be a terrible tragedy. His lawyer asked him to arrange 50,000 rupees, and he would give him back his job, but Arjun did not wish to take a corrupt approach. Refusing to pay for a cheap copy of the jersey, Arjun traveled from place to place in a hopeless attempt to buy his son his birthday present.
Jersey Ending, Explained: What Happened At The End?
Arjun was laughed at by his players. He waited for his turn, but he was not called to practice. While the Punjab cricket board selected Ranji Trophy players, the coach reassured Arjun after watching him play at a charity event. Although he was initially dismissed because of his age, they later considered him. Jasleen Shergill, a journalist, and her teammate wrote an article about Arjun.
She saw Arjun’s ingenuity and wrote that age was just a number for him. This played an important role in changing the mindset of the board, and he was selected to attend a training session one month before the final selection. After a month of hard work, Arjun was selected to play for the Punjab team in the Ranji Trophy tournament.
Arjun was very happy; he was close to his dream, and he felt proud after a long time. Although he began to distance himself from his family, his son continued to be his great artist. Vidya was not happy with Arjun’s decision to join cricket. However, Arjun proved himself in one game after another. He was not only a reliable player but also a very good player. He emerged as the most prominent face in the entire tournament.
The final match against Karnataka was not easy, but it was Arjun’s patience that helped the Punjab team emerge victoriously. As Arjun shone on the stage, he experienced a slight setback in his life. Although the doctor asked them not to worry, Vidya wanted Arjun to choose between his family and cricket. Faced with a difficult decision, Arjun asked Ketan what he wanted his father to do. Ketan asked his father to continue playing with all his heart.
He regarded his father as a hero, and for Arjun, that was his greatest achievement. Arjun has announced to Vidya that he will continue to play. After asking Arjun to make a choice, Vidya always felt guilty. When Arjun said he had chosen cricket, he gave him the plane tickets he had booked for him, expressing his support. When Arjun and his team won the Ranji trophy, his wife and son watched him on television proudly.
Finally, we learn that it was Jasleen Shergill who wrote the book on Arjun’s life and named it “Jersey.” India cricket board hosted an Arjun Talwar congratulatory event. Ketan and Vidya attended the event, but before that, Arjun’s doctor had a voice with Ketan. It was only then that Ketan learned that his father had a heart condition called arrhythmia. The doctor advised him to stop playing cricket and to try to avoid stressful situations. That is why Arjun has left cricket not because he has given up hope.
Ketan in his last speech at the event said people thought his father had passed away trying to make it bigger, but the truth is he knew he might lose his life, but he chose to keep trying. The Indian cricket board announced that after a search of the old documents, it was found that Arjun Talwar had won the Indian team after the Ranji tournament. His name was on the list of players selected to play for England. He was given the jersey of an Indian cricket team that his father would have worn if he had been alive. Arjun’s dream of giving his son a jersey was fulfilled 25 years later.
“Jersey” is a heartwarming, romantic film that sounds very stretchy. Especially with the final revelation, the drama is over. I thought it was interesting to look at the accuracy of the little details from the late 80s and the popular traditions of the 90s. All in all, a fun clock with the usual tropes, the predicted story, and the usual performances.
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