Here’s an interesting thought - most Indians are obsessed with cricket, yet only a handful of Bollywood films include our national sport as the central theme. Iqbal is one such film. This is the story of an underdog who wishes to play cricket at the national level. It is a chronicle of a deaf-mute boy who dares to dream of being a bowler in the Indian Cricket team.
Nagesh Kukunoor’s latest venture takes a close looks at the nationalized sport and the politics that accompany it. Realistically scripted, Iqbal succeeds in touching your heart, thanks to its sensitive story.
An 18-year-old deaf and mute village boy struggles to make his dream a reality, tackles difficulties at various stages and is victorious in the end. Iqbal lives in a small village somewhere in Andhra Pradesh, and is born into a farmer’s family. Cricket is his passion, and he dreams of joining the Indian cricket team one day.
However, fate seems to work against Iqbal’s love for the game, for not only does Iqbal’s father despise cricket, but also, given their critical financial situation, there is no way that Iqbal can ask for money to undertake formal training in the game.
But Iqbal’s mother and his younger sister support him in his pursuits, constantly egging him on to do what it takes.
At first, we see Iqbal practicing all alone in a field, until one day, just by fluke, he solves a little ’’identity’’ mystery and subsequently begins his journey of convincing a village drunkard, Mohit, to coach him in the game. They face some trouble from the rival coach and his star player, but all gets sorted out in the end. Obviously, Iqbal overcomes all obstacles and gets what he deserves.
The best part of the movie is that the viewer can identify with Iqbal at most points in the movie, despite his inability to communicate. It doesn’t really matter that he doesn’t speak through the film, simply because his expressions and gesticulations are just perfect. They convey everything he feels - from his triumphs to his failures.
One thing that must be mentioned is the use of the buffaloes in the film. Being an animal lover myself, I am usually the first to raise a hue and cry when animals are used derogatorily. This movie, however, has made brilliant use of the buffaloes – I’d rather not say how. Go watch the film and make your own judgment!
It also helps that the relationships in the movie are realistically scripted – be it the squabbles Iqbal has with his father, or his self-righteous nature (when he refuses to accept a present from his aunt), to his mother’s unyielding love, and the admiration his younger sister has for him. Plus, the cricket politics that he faces couldn’t be more apt – whether it is the rivalry he finds in another budding cricketer, or the situation where he is told to lose the game.
However, there are a few things I want to point out that could have been tackled better in the film – starting with the floaters (sandals) Naseer wears in many of the scenes – they just don’t go with his character. And at the cost of sounding snooty, you don’t feel an ounce of euphoria in the movie’s final cricket match, as compared to the ultimate match in Lagaan! Maybe that’s an unfair comparison, but it has to be pointed out. Sorry, Nagesh Kukunoor!
Moving on to the other shortcomings, too much time was spent on the training scenes with Naseer and Shreyas. They start to get to you after a while. Lastly, the second half could have been edited better. Many people complain that the film drags post-interval.
Now let’s talk about the performances by the actors. When you have a name like Naseeruddin Shah in your movie, you don’t expect to really notice or appreciate any of the other actors in the film. This film could well invalidate that belief.
Iqbal belongs to Shreyas Talpade entirely. He does a great job of conveying different emotions through facial expressions and gestures – you don’t for a minute think that he is ’’acting.’’ The role comes naturally to him, and the best part is that his character is comfortable with his handicap.
Next we come Iqbal’s little sister in the film - the extremely artistic, Shweta Prasad. Viewers might remember her for her superlative debut in Makdee, but with Iqbal, she has left that last triumph way behind. She is natural all the way, and in some of the scenes with Naseer, her acting talent shines through obviously.
Then we have Yateen Karyekar playing Iqbal’s vulnerable father. He is one of those actors who has been seen in countless movies before, but not really noticed. In Iqbal, Karyekar has definitely done justice to his role, and deserves recognition. He emotes a mixture of pride, resentment, frustration, tenderness, and love with great ease. Pratiksha Lonkar, as Iqbal’s mother, is spontaneous. Naseeruddin is superb as always, while Girish Karnad, another talented actor, is unparalleled in his role filled with negative traits.
On the whole, Iqbal is an ingenious film that caters to a well-informed audience with an appetite for realistic films. The film’s direction is one of Kukunoor’s best, for with this film, he has captured emotions like never before.