Aashaayen - Hopes

IQBAL
-NIMISH INAMDAR
26/09/05



There used to be a commercial where a cosmetic cream acts as a catalyst to make a talented girl reach to the commentary box right besides K. Srikanth. The same product in another commercial used by a girl helps her make it to the film world after bumping Rakesh Roshan on a roadside. The marketing team of that product had a clear idea about the Indian market, that Cricket and films are two things that entertain the country and in a way, run the country.

These two distinctly different fields have often made attempts of collaboration in order to drift public attention on a larger scale. Many a times we have seen film stars playing on the field along with the cricketers for some or the other charity match, this is how cricket involves the film industry within itself. We have also seen the film industry-involving cricket in its own way of making stories on the game.

It’s always been a thrill for the audience to see these two national crazes coincide at some or the other point. We have seen Dev Anand’s ‘Awwal number’, Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Chamatkar’, Amir Khan’s ‘Lagaan’ and many more that framed stories within cricket and a nail-biting climax. In the same theme we saw Subhash Ghai producing ‘Iqbal’ under the direction of his genius Nagesh Kukknoor. Iqbal, as the punch line rightly says isn’t a story about cricket, but it’s a story above cricket.




Iqbal, is a 18 year old boy, born in a family where his mother a cricket crazy, has aspirations and hopes to fulfill her son’s dreams of becoming a player for the Indian cricket team. But the patriarch family has unfortunately a father that may love anything but cricket, and has aspirations to make his son follow his trait of becoming a farmer. Ask Iqbal and he is already a cricketer. In his own privately constructed room, that mute and deaf can already hear the noise of the crowd echoing from the stadium out of his imagination. His dreams and hopes are tied with the support of his mother and his sister Khaleeja. Iqbal finds a new coach in form of Mohith, who now becomes his third support, thus enabling Iqbal raise his platform for the selection of Ranji Trophy.

Incidently Iqbal stands out to be the only person to get selected in the Andhra team of Ranji Trophy, despite of the fact that he had never played cricket anywhere else other than his own gully. This advent of success invites fame, glory, media, and politics. Iqbal in the lure of the much-needed money falls prey to match fixing, but finally tears apart the cheque of the opponent team’s coach who once due to influential reasons had thrown out Iqbal out of his academy. Iqbal stands out and is finally selected in the Indian cricket team.

We enter the theatre thinking big names like Nagesh Kukknoor and Naseeruddin Shah. But surprisingly we find the other cast highly convincing. Shreyas Talpade, the new comer in form of Iqbal has given a highly talented performance. Prathiksha Lonkar, Yatin Karekar and Swetha have also given brilliant performances. Naseer stands out in the movie, as one would expect him to be. Nagesh has once again proved to be an ace director.

Thinking of Iqbal, makes me think of Jonathan Livingston Seagull, a story of a seagull who finally attains his bliss despite of innumerable difficulties. Although the story may seem a bit common, Iqbal scores with casting, cinematography, script, and most importantly the direction.

There is a flaw morally unacceptable in the movie in the plot when Iqbal enters the stadium representing the Indian team for the first time. Right behind him we can see a crumpled tricolour, lying on the floor. I don’t see any reason to display this type of disrespect to the flag, and that too from a perfectionist like Nagesh Kukknoor.

On the whole the movie is brilliantly made, and I would grade it as a must see for everyone whether or not you like cricket.

Rating ****