Psst - This section will contain some inside trivia about the film.
Quotes - Good one liners from the movie.
Oops - Goofs From the movie.
The Psst contains a spoiler so please read this at your own risk
Director – Nagesh Kukunoor
Screenplay – Nagesh Kukunoor
Iqbal(Shreyas Talpade) is a 18 year old deaf-mute boy whose only ambition in life is to become Indian Cricket Team’s lead and best fast bowler. He is born to a lower middle class farmer (Yateen Karyekar) the only people who support him are Mom(Pratiksha Lonkar) and sister (Shweta Prasad). After being thrown out of the local cricket community by Guruji(Girish Karnard), he is trained by Mohit(Naseerudin Shah in a sure shot content for the best supporting actor) who is a failed fast bowler and the local drunkard. Mohit finally manages to convince the Ranji Selection Committee (For those who do not know, it is the state level cricket committee ) to choose Iqbal as a fast bowler and he gets selected for a low range team, Andhra Pradesh. Now Iqbal’s aim gets clearer, he has to prove himself worthy of being selected for the national team. But every target has its obstacles and Iqbal is really nothing short of a modern day fairy tale about the travails and tribulations of a village simpleton to achieve what many would feel is impossible. Fabulous direction for a script which is so clichéd by Nagesh kuknoor. Good effort by Subhash Ghai to fund such heart made films. Naseerudin Shah and Girish Karnard are seasoned actors who have done what they are supposed to do, acted brilliantly. But a standing ovation for Shreyas Talpade who has delivered a fantastic and almost an award winning performance (Unless Amitabh Bachchan gets it for Black or Sarkar Or Virrudh) in his debut film and without delivering a single line of dialogue.
Psst –
1) The Climax cricket match is based on the Haryana Vs Mumbai – Ranji Trophy final of 1991 played in Mumbai. Mumbai had previously won the Ranji Trophy almost 30 times. This was the first time that Haryana, who had never even come in a ranji final, let alone win it, came in the final and were facing the Lions in their own den. Haryana had narrowly won the thriller finale by 2 runs and beat the all time favorites Mumbai Team. Kapil Dev, who makes a cameo in the film towards the end, was the captain of Haryana Team and had made a very important contribution towards the win. This is so far the narrowest win in the history of Ranji Trophy Finals.
2) Kapil Dev agreed for the cameo for no fees. He was very happy to hear a film made on an aspiring fast bowler. Some parts of the films were inspired from Kapil’s own struggle to become India’s lead and first genuine fast bowler. The scene where Guruji says that India does not require a bowler is in reference to a statement made by One of Kapil Dev’s early coach who said that India has never produced a fast bowler and it was this statement that ignited the fire in The Haryana Hurricane.
3) The Buffaloes being named after lead bowlers serves as an in joke to Kapil Dev’s statement that he would have been milking buffaloes in Haryana had he not played cricket.
4) The only film where Nagesh Kuknoor has not got any role.
5) Naseerudin Shah is an avid cricket fan and is the only actor in The Indian Film Industry to have acted in movies starring Cricketing Icons in cameo. His early film Malamaal in 1987 starred Sunil Gavaskar in a cameo and also featured a cricket match towards the climax.
6) Original Tittle of the film was Iqbal – The Rampur Express.
7) Nagesh Kukunoor wanted Kapil Dev to make a cameo in the film as he felt that no film which deals with the story of a fast bowler will be complete without mentioning of Kapil Dev.
Quotes –
1) “Main Aap se, apney baap se aur un sub se ek hi baat kehna chahta hu, jo meri bhalai chahte the, Go To Hell.”
2) “Indian team ko ek Batsman ki zaroorat hai.”
3) “Iqbal ki taqdeer main ek cricketer banna likha hai.”
Oops –
Please email me if you have noticed any goofs.