FILM REVIEW: IQBAL (2005)

Producer: Mukta Arts Ltd.
Director: Nagesh Kukunoor
Cast: Shreyas Talpade, Shweta Prasad, Girish Karnad, Kittu Gidwani, Naseeruddin Shah and Kapil Dev
Music: Sukhwinder Singh

Nagesh Kukunoor who began his career with impressive Hyderabad Blues and followed it with Rockford, Teen Deewarein, Hyderabad Blues 2 etc always likes to present something unique in his movie and focuses on each and every segment of the film from the plot of the film, dialogues, screenplay, the selection of cast, direction to music very carefully. He is one director in Bollywood who makes movies from heart.

The narrative talks about a deaf and mute village boy Iqbal (Shreyas Talpade) from a remote town of Andhra Pradesh. Iqbal has a natural gift, a talent for bowling at great speed, which he hones in his father’s farmland by practicing voraciously. Cricket is his religion and only ambition in life is to become Indian Cricket Team’s lead and best fast bowler.

Born to a lower middle class farmer (Yateen Karyekar) the only people who support Iqbal are Mom (Pratiksha Lonkar) and sister (Shweta Prasad). After Guruji (Girish Karnard) throw him out of the local cricket club he is trained by a failed fast bowler and the local drunkard - Mohit (Naseerudin Shan).

As Iqbal treads the path to his dream, he faces life’s harsh adversities. Mohit manages to convince the Ranji Selection Committee to choose Iqbal as a fast bowler and he gets selected for Andhra Pradesh. Now Iqbal’s aim gets clearer; he has to prove himself worthy of being selected for the national team.

Iqbal and Mohit then fasten the belts to embark on their way to success. Iqbal’s journey from a simpleton to a member of national squad of Indian Cricket Team is nothing short of a modern day fable.

Iqbal greatest flaw is its lack of newness. “Rocky” and “Chariots of Fire” were about rise people who had meteoric rise after starting from coal-pits. Back home ‘Black’ and several other movies revolved around similar themes. You have seen it all before… a doting mother, a cynical father and a damned coach who brings the best out of his protégé.

What’s refreshing about ‘Iqbal’ is its narration. It bears a Nagesh Kukunoor trademark all the way; needless to say it is his most accomplished work till date.

Nagesh gives new dimensions to these simple characters we meet everyday. Look closely; Iqbal, Rockford, Hyderabad Blues were all simple stories. It’s the way Kukunoor mixes-and-matches characters, brings around unknown aspects of there life that makes his stories shines beyond the realm of the familiarity.

Naseerudin Shah and Girish Karnard are seasoned actors who have given brilliant performances as expected.

But a standing ovation for debutant, Shreyas Talpade who has given an award winning performance in Iqbal.

Shweta Prasad, who made her debut in Makdee has delivered a stupendous in Iqbal.

Iqbal is one of the better films to have released this year. A must watch for a Nagesh Kukunoor fan.

Some Interesting Facts:
1. Kapil Dev plays a very significant role towards the end of the film. He did the movie for free. Some parts of the films were inspired from Kapil’s own struggle to become India’s lead and first genuine fast bowler.

2. The climax match is the re-incarnated classic Ranji Trophy Final of 1991 between underdogs Haryana and favorites Mumbai. Kapil Dev played an important role in winning that match for Haryana (Haryana won it by a narrow margin of 2 runs).

3. No, Kukunoor doesn’t appear in the movie.

RS Rating: 5/10

Credit: This review was submitted by Ankit Jain of Footprints.in. They run their own movie Blog at DCECinemas. To submit your own review for posting on radiosargam.com please email.

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