Stuck at home during these testing times without much to do? While the cricket fan in us is definitely missing the live-action & it seems something major is missing from our lives. But don’t worry we have got you covered. Our team has put together what we think are some interesting cricket movies to come out of Bollywood. So let’s get on the couch, grab some popcorn & experience the game through the celluloid
1.Lagaan
Written & Directed by Ashutosh Gowarikar, this Aamir Khan production definitely takes the cake as the best Cricket movie ever. It’s an inspirational tale of how villagers during the pre-independence India beat the Englishmen at their own game. In drought-affected Champaner, the poor villagers struggle to pay the taxes set forth by the rulers. A daunting challenge is set by the British Captain in which the victors get the spoils. If the English win, the villagers pay double the taxes (Lagaan). But if the villagers win, the taxes will be waived off for a period of 3 years. It’s a classic tale of David vs. Goliath where the skilful favourites are defeated by the seemingly weaker opposition who cross the victory line through sheer grit & determination. The movie won several accolades domestically & was also India’s official entry to the Oscars. Need we say more?
2.Iqbal
This beautifully directed movie focuses on the importance of chasing your dreams. Directed by Nagesh Kukunoor & produced by Subhash Ghai, it launched the career of Shreyas Talpade in Bollywood. He plays the role of a deaf & mute cricketer who wants to play for India but find an unsupportive father who thinks he should be a farmer instead. The plot of the movie encompasses the struggles of this unusual cricketer who finds a tough yet encouraging coach in Naseeruddin Shah. Iqbal’s talent coupled with the coaches’ guidance helps him secure a place in the Andhra Pradesh Ranji Trophy team and eventually, in Team India. This tale of inspiration is a must-watch for any cricket fan.
3.Sachin – A Billion Dreams
It’s a 2017 documentary sports film that was directed by James Erskine and produced under the banners 200 NotOut Productions and Carnival Motion Pictures. The film is a documentary on the life of our nation’s heartthrob – Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. It captures Tendulkar’s cricket and personal life in substantial detail, as well as reveals a few aspects of his life which have never been heard of or seen before. The movie has everything to make its audience nostalgic. Any Indian cricket fan that followed the sport through the ’90s & ’00s will be taken back to those times. The film won the trophy for the Best Director of a Long Documentary, the Special Award for the Best Film in the Long Documentary section and an honorary diploma at the 11th Tehran International FICTS Festival 2018.
4.Dhoni – The Untold Story
This 2016 Neeraj Pandey directorial provides us glimpses into the life of Captain Cool MS Dhoni. It stars Sushant Singh Rajput in the leading role with Disha Patani, Kiara Advani & Anupam Kher in supporting roles. The film chronicles the life of Dhoni from a young age through a series of life events. The film was released on 30th September 2016 by Fox Star Studios and received the widest release ever for a Bollywood film across 61 countries. Upon release, the film became a critical and commercial success. However, there was also criticism from some quarters about the omission about some controversies of his life. “Absolutely magnificent, Dhoni finishes off in-style, a magnificent stroke into the crowd! India lifts the world cup, After 28 years, the party started in the dressing room. And, it’s an Indian captain who’s been absolutely magnificent in the night of the final.” That is pretty much one of the best moments of the movie.
5.Azhar
This 2016 film is inspired by the life of Indian cricketer and former national team captain Mohammad Azharuddin. Directed by Tony D’Souza it stars Emraan Hashmi in a leading role with Lara Dutta, Nargis Fakhri & Kunaal Roy Kapoor in supporting roles. It traces Azhar’s rise and subsequently his fall followed by charges of match-fixing along with Manoj Prabhakar. On the other hand, his personal relationships are showcased including his first marriage. Some applauded Hashmi’s portrayal of the troubled cricketer however the film was mostly panned by the critics. It was a moderate success at the box office as it collected only 56.8 crores gross against the budget of 35 crores. The film also drew critics for its fictionalized interpretation of events.
Apart from these, there are also many other movies on Cricket if you’d like to check them out – Patiala House, Ferrari Ki Sawari, Chain Kulii Ki Main Kulii, Awwal Number, Jannat, Kai Po Che & Dil Bole Hadippa. Tell us in the comments section which ones are your favourite!
