After a long time I watched a movie that touched me. It was a movie with no drama, no gimmicks, no ‘bluff’ stories, but with tons of hope wrapped in simplicity. On being asked “How was it?”… I simply replied, “Awesome!”. If Iqbal could say it with no words, I suppose I can do with a few hundred. Bear with this attempt at yet another review as it stands last in a long line of 62.
Keeping my young hero in mind, this is going to be a short piece (he tends to lose interest if you ramble for too long). He is a young village boy from a middle class family and despite an uncooperative father, he has conviction in his dreams. He dreams big and pursues those dreams with a stick. The message of the movie is clear all through – follow your dreams, have faith and don’t give up. Paulo Coelho’s philosophy that if you truly desire something the whole universe will conspire to help you achieve your goal is the crux of the movie (as Shah says this to a disillusioned Iqbal for inspiration). It sounds too clichéd and very beaten to say such things, but Nagesh Kukunoor has written a simple story. He does not ask us to pity the central character (I use the word pity because Iqbal is a deaf-mute 18 year old, but that is not the focus of the script), and nor does he want the audience to sympathize with him. All he wants is to tell a simple tale and he does it with honesty.
The writer and director, Nagesh Kukunoor does a wonderful job of making you live through the movie, and tricks you into thinking that you belong inside the story, rather than amongst the audience as a distant witness. Don’t be surprised if you are transported into Iqbal’s (Shreyas Talpade) world – feeling his excitement at the discovery of a potential coach (a drunk Naseeruddin Shah lying lifelessly on a stack of hay), or his disappointment at being thrown out of the cricket academy for bureaucratic reasons by the coach ‘Guruji’ (played by Girish Karnad), or his affection for his younger sister (Shweta Prasad) who is ever present by his side, supporting her determined “bhai”, as she calls him, or even his nervousness before entering the field.
You could be Iqbal himself, the mother full of unconditional love, the helpless father, the disillusioned bowler who has given up on the cunning/political world, or the proud and protective younger sister, Khadija. It will be automatic for you to relate to any or more of the characters. I was juggling and oscillating under the skins of both Iqbal and Khadija. Like Khadija, I too felt I was by his side and when she cried uncontrollably at his disappointment, I knew how she felt. This is one of the most touching scenes in the movie. Shweta Prasad is a brilliant actor. She fits in her role and performs like a pro. There is resemblance to her look in ‘Makdee’ (starring Shabana Azmi), as she mostly roams the screen in a school uniform with two ribboned braids.
There is never a dull moment in the movie and most of the time you will have a smile on your face. There are many instances that are heart-warming and though not hilarious, they are cute. The script has underlying humor and wit. On many occasions you feel energized and ready-to-go – Iqbal’s rub-off effects! You probably would also want to sing to the background score “Aashayen”, which is conducive to the mood and atmosphere of optimism already created. Sukhwinder Singh and Salim-Suleiman do a good job of the OST and the entire album.
I would like to touch upon the performance of Naseeruddin Shah. His is a lovable character and Shah’s portrayal of the one-time aspiring bowler now drowned in alcohol and oblivion is flawless. There are no misfits as every actor looks and performs his/her part with perfection. Shreyas Talpade shines in his role as Iqbal.
“kuch aisa kar ke dikha
Khud khush ho jaye khuda”
“haasil kar aisa shikhar
Parbat ki bhi nazrein uthe”
This is a beautiful story which will leave you with moist eyes, a warm smile and a rush in your veins. If you want inspiration and hope, watch this film (and if you don’t – watch it still) for someone famous once said “ummeed pe duniya kaayam hai”.