Field hockey, once India's national sport and one in which the country ruled the world for a large part of the last century, has lost its appeal along with a decline in the national team's fortunes.
"Chak De" was a winner not only because it has managed to make hockey a topic of conversation but also because it peddles patriotism, fights gender bias, rips apart class distinctions and makes a valid criticism of regional chauvinism and minority bashing, critics said.
While Khan, the reigning star of Bollywood, has been praised for his uncharacteristically understated acting -- with some critics saying he may not be able to better this performance -- his team of unknown actors has also drawn widespread appreciation.
Some of the biggest applause in cinema halls showing "Chak De" comes when the women go around breaking Indian stereotypes -- walking out of homes, beating up men who harass them in public and declining marriage proposals -- all for hockey.
"Director Shimit Amin not only manages to make the impossible possible, he does it with a delicate sensitivity and sensibly steers clear of all cliches," critic Nikhat Kazmi wrote in the Times of India.
The opening of the film was timed to coincide with the 60th anniversary of India's independence from British colonial rule and "Chak De" has the inevitable hint of jingoism so popular with Indian audiences.
One of the players in the film asks Khan's character what he was doing outside in the dead of the night as flags are bein
