Iqbal (2005)

Finally was able to see “Iqbal”. After months of searching for the DVD, finally found it. I was waiting to see this movie for a long time now, but our local DVD shop did not have the movie inspite of having flops like “James”, “Shadi No.1” etc.

I liked the movie. It was one of those feel-good, underdog wins at last kind of movies. A lot of such movies are made in Hollywood but remained quite unexplored in the Hindi film industry. I am not so sure about films in other languages.

Directed by Nagesh Kukanoor, “Iqbal” is the story of a deaf and dumb 20 something boy whose only passion is cricket. Cricket is his life and the reason to live. The story follows the rise of an ordinary village boy into the Indian cricket team, his ultimate goal.

He is supported by his mother played by Pratiksha Lonkar and his small sister, Khadija played by Shweta Prasad. Iqbal played by Shreyas Talpade is a bowler and a happy-go-lucky boy who dreams to play for India one day. His father played by Yatin Karyekar is a farmer and thinks Iqbal is wasting his time and wants him to help him with the farming. He directly and indirectly blames him for the losses he faces in his profession.

When he is thrown out of the cricket academy, he convinces a former state player, Mohit played superbly by Naseerudin Shah to teach him the fine nuance of bowling and help him get a berth in Ranji cricket and then Indian cricket team. The rest of the story is how he learns and the final journey to his destination.

“Iqbal” is a simple story well told. The story written by Nagesh Kukunoor avoids the usual melodrama associated with this kind of stories. Neither Iqbal’s handicap of being deaf and dump is cashed nor his being a part of the minority community. If you think about it, the story is not about cricket, its about an individual’s persuasion of his dream. At the same time, it handles subjects like favoritism and corruption in Indian sports.

The supporting cast is good. Naseerudin Shah plays the role of Mohit, the village drunkard and Iqbal’s coach. As always he gives a good performance. Iqbal’s performance and success also gives Mohit the reason to hope and live.

Girish Karnad plays Guruji, the trainer of the powerful academy from where students are sent to the Indian team. Seen after a long time, he plays the balding scheming, manipulative cricket coach to perfection.

Yatin Karyekar plays the father. He is ok with the role of s strict father who does not believe that cricket or any other work except his fields will keep Iqbal from surviving on his own. Some of the scenes with Iqbal’s mother and Iqbal are brilliantly done.

Pratiksha Lonkar playes Iqbal’s mother. A cricket crazy housewife, she is the pushing force behind Iqbal supporting him, protecting him and at times threatening even Mohit for her son. Not long back, Pratiksha Lonkar played “Damini” in the long running soap opera. She plays the role of doting and protective mother to perfection.

The star cast of “Iqbal”

Shweta Prasad plays Khadija, sister of Iqbal and the voice of the deaf and dumb Iqbal. Right from acting as a translator between the coach and Iqbal, to supporting him in all his endeavors, to protecting him from his father. Shweta Prasad is one film old earlier doing Vishal Bharadwaj’s “Makdi”. Here she delivers a splendid performance. The chemistry between the her and Iqbal is too good and the plus point of the movie.

Shreyas Talapde plays the center character of Iqbal. The actor speaks without saying a word. The range of emotion he can display with his face is amazing. He had acted in a number of Marathi serials and plays. The actor is a big revelation and hopefully will appear in many more movies. Nowadays when actors are being introduced by their, fathers, mothers, uncles, aunty, cousins etc, how far can Shreyas go is a point to see. But the way the Indian film industry is changing with big budget movies crashing and small low budget movies with good script and good story are doing good. Nagesh Kukunoor direction and script is almost flawless. The cinematography is excellent with the village life captured as it should be.

The music is good with the “Aashayein” being the best one. All in all a good entertainment and certainly a good humorous feel good movie.

On the downside the movie was predictable but that was expected. The end was abrupt and the climax was not explained properly.

The high point of the film were

• The opening scene before the birth of Iqbal when his mother is watching the 1983 world cup
• Iqbal hiding from his father to learn cricket at the academy
• Iqbal breaking down after being thrown out of the cricket academy
• Iqbal trying to convince Mohit to teach him.
• Iqbal’s training using his cows for help.
• The way Iqbal checkmates Girish Karnad in his own game. This scene actually had me jumping like “Sahi!”

A must-see for good movie fans.

Rating 8/10