Director Chandan Arora has a knack for telling unusual stories, an attempt that he's made before with his debut: 'Main Madhuri Dixit Banna Chahti Hoon'. He followed it up with yet another novel subject: 'Main, Meri Patni Aur Woh.' And now he has come up with a film based on a carrom player in 'Striker'.

What is good about the movie is the warmth with which Arora treats his subject and the manner in which he manages to set his story in a time of crisis. The story dates back to that fateful December in 1992, when the Babri 'masjid' fell and parts of Mumbai were engulfed by communal war. The story is set in the Malwani slums of the city which also catches the communal fire. 'Striker', therefore, does not remain a story about a carrom player alone, but becomes one man's fight to save his area from the communal frenzy. Yes, the film does seem to falter in places as Arora shifts his attention from the angst of his protagonist to the one of the darkest phases in Mumbai's history. What mars the film in place is the inability of the director to keep the film from meandering in places. Otherwise, it remains an interesting tale, inhabited by its many loveable characters. Most of all, the milieu, the Malwani locality where the film is based, also plays an important role in film as a character by itself.

The film's protagonist Surya (Siddharth) grows up in this Malwani slum, along with his friend Zaid (Ankur Vikal), trying hard to keep aside communal differences and live a life of easy camaraderie. Surya is introduced to carrom by his elder brother Chandrakant (Anoop Soni) and he develops a passion for it, and goes on to become an expert.

But as he grows up,he dreams of going to Dubai and earning big money. The urge lures him to a bogus employment agency, which fleeces him and many others of their money. Now left with no money to pursue his dream, he is reintroduced to carrom by Zaid and life moves him towards Jaleel (Aditya Panscholi), the local thug and he takes to playing at his carrom club for money. He finally takes on Jaleel on his own turf, who is out to take advantage of the communal fires raging in the city to fan his own personal ambitions. It is in a sense, a coming-of-age journey for Surya as he takes on Jaleel.

The acting honours in this movie definitely belong to Siddharth. Last seen in Rakesh Mehra's 'Rang De Basanti', the actor is just marvellous in this movie. He is a natural and a sheer delight to watch on screen. This is one actor you definitely want to see more of. Matching him scene for scene is Aditya Panscholi, also seen after a long time in a role of significance. He is aptly cast as Jaleel and does a wonderful job, as well. The other actors in the movie, Ankur Vikal, Anoop Soni, Seema Biswas, Anupam Kher and Padmapriya all enact their roles with full sincerity. In fact, the accomplished performances really go a long way in lifting this movie.

In the technical side, PS Vinod excels behind the camera and never has Malwani been so lovingly shot. In fact, full credit to him for bestowing the locality with a distinctive character of its own. The music of the film too is quite appropriate. Finally, the only thing which mars the film in places is its screenplay, which seems to meander as Arora tries to tell many tales along with the story of Surya.

But the endearing quality of 'Striker' is its many characters and the fact that Arora brings up an issue which is surely a part of the lives of all Mumbaikars: as to who this city belongs to! Do we give in to the Jaleels who are growing in number all around us, or do we stand up and fight them like Surya, on their own turf?