Iqbal

I wish there was a way to make sport-centered movies less predictable. That is probably the only flaw in this simple, rural, heart warming tale of a deaf & dumb boy who dreams of making it to the Indian cricket team.

Nagesh Kukonoor, (he later on made Dor), once again weaves his magic and transports us to a small village in south india, where Iqbal spends his time amongst his buffaloes, all named after his favourite bowlers, practising cricket and trying to find his guruji. Girish Karnad takes him under his wing for a while but later caves in to star-power / deal making / richer students and throws him out. Iqbal now turns to the village drunk, Naseerudin Shah, an ex-cricketeer and finally persuades him to become his coach. What happens next ? Will he make it, will he fulfil his dreams ? What do you think ?

There are only two sports movies I can recall which gripped me from start to end – one was Tara Rum Pum and the other was Chain Kulli ki.

No…just kidding of course, they’re both disasters….one was Lagaan and the other was Remember the Titans (starring Denzel Washington, I seriously recommend this relatively unknown film). Both revolved around sport (cricket and American Football respectively) but dealt with much bigger issues (the British Rule and the Black-White racial relations respectively). The sport, while important and central, becomes a means and not an end – it therefore keeps the suspense going as there is a plot bigger than the sport itself.

Iqbal features two brilliant performances – one by Shreyas Talpade in the lead role. He has a blank face that becomes the perfect canvas for the array of emotions and feelings that pass through his character’s mind. He is endearing, spontaneous, persistent, frustrated, kiddish, mature all almost at once. The other is by Shweta Joshi, who plays his sister and main source of communication to the outside world. She doesn’t have that much screen time but is outstanding in her matter–of–fact, yet emotive delivery. Prateeksha Lonkar and Yatin Karyekar deliver very solid, real performances as the parents, often at war amongst themsleves, Naseeruddin Shah plays a nice cameo as the drunk/coach, while Girish Karnad makes us hate him as the wheeling dealing coach – proof of his good performance.

There is a beauty in the movie, there is a lesson, there is emotion and simplicity. In some ways, I think this is more inspiring than Guru – you can see the effort that goes into making his dreams a reality, the disappointments, the frustrations that have to be taken in one’s stride. I only wish there was a way to make it less predictable – I have no ideas, no suggestions to offer, but that would have truly been the icing on this otherwise very lovely cake !