 "Match Fixing movie review: Vineet Kumar Singh shines in this slow, complicated & verbose political thriller")
Cast: Vineet Kumar Singh, Shataf Figar, Manoj Joshi, Raj Arjun, Anuja Sathe, Lalit Parimoo, Elena Tuteja, Kishore Kadam
Director: Kedaar Gaekwad
The attacks of 26/11 or the Taj attacks are one of the most tragic incidents of mankind, which affected not only the financial capital Mumbai but the whole country of India.
Based on the book The Game Behind Saffron Terror written by Retired Col. Kanwar Khatana, Match Fixing narrates how the corrupt ruling government between 2007 and 2008 (named Indian Secular Party in the movie) is setting the saffron terror narrative among the people by showcasing that it’s not always Muslim community behind terror attacks and there has been involvement of Hindus as well. This anti-Hindu campaign and narrative is planned by the government to get all Muslim votes during the elections.
Some of the ministers from the ruling party take help from Pakistan’s minister to set the narrative against Hindus in return for favours.
Avinash Patwardhan (Vineet Kumar Singh), a loyal and honest patriotic Indian army man and agent responsible for several successful covert operations, is now being trapped and accused of planning and helping in attacks with terrorists under the name of his program and wing Abhinav Bharat including blasts in Delhi and Malegaon.
Through his intel, groundwork and research, he found out that Pakistan was planning a massive attack on Mumbai but due to the corrupt government that file went to drain. How this attack would have been stopped and planned an execution if the government avoided the dirty politics of religion tells the story of Match Fixing.
In the past, we have seen movies like The Kashmir Files and _The Kerala Story_ using the soft power of cinema to narrate apparently real stories. While it is shocking and sheer heartbreaking to see the actions of politicians (if the story is real in the movie), it questions the dignity of the government.
It is quite surprising that the names of all Indian politicians are avoided while names and characters of Pakistan ministers like Parvez Musharraf and Benazir Bhutto are used freely.
While the lead actor Vineet Kumar Singh has performed exceptionally well, Match Fixing is led down by below-average direction, complicated narrative and editing alongside a snail-paced screenplay.
Talking about other cast members, Shataf Figar, Manoj Joshi, Raj Arjun, Anuja Sathe, Lalit Parimoo, Elena Tuteja and Kishore Kadam have landed their support pretty well. Honestly, Match Fixing is a waste of an opportunity. While the premise promised to be an engaging affair, the execution faltered because of its execution.
Rating: 2 (out of 5 stars)
Match Fixing is playing in cinemas
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
