For first time while I've been writing for last 10 odd years, absolutely stranded at my thoughts on what and how much to write about this movie. In fact struggling at where to start. But considering this is a movie on Sachin, couldn't resist myself to write in the form of a longish Blog, instead of just a quick review.
My initial views about the movie weren't that great. Last 1+ years after announcement of the movie and the teaser released a year ago was not enough exciting to match the stature of career and persona that Sachin has carved for himself. Even the trailer a month back was not appealing at all. Honestly very odd feeling, that the legend that I adored from 1987-88 (clearly remembered I started following him from his jaw dropping unbeaten partnership of 664 with Vinod Kambli); I'm somehow not sold on to watch the biopic on him. We'll talk about the reasons later. But then Zinnia (my younger one) wishing to watch the movie, was the trigger. Also by then the 1st weekend was over, a lot of positive reviews have started pouring in from all around the media (Print, TV, Radio). The theater had @70-75% occupancy for a Monday morning show and that itself was giving a lot of cheer in the air as we entered the movie hall.
I have to give just one spoiler and you will actually thank me for that. If you have not cried for a long time, this sure is the remedy to vent all those emotions that you must have hold on to for a while.
And believe me there is not a hint of melodrama, neither any emotional blackmail nor any outbursts, no it wont have the sensational elements that you usually get to see to accentuate the greatness of the 'Greatest' - It solely doesn’t do any of these. It’s a story of a middle class boy reaching the heights, and in the journey gets almost what he 'dreams' of, at various junctures in life - be it the first willow that was gifted to him by his elder sister, to getting to Ranji and the International Cricket at an unbelievable young age of 16, his love-marriage to Anjali, and all the other milestones he achieves during the long 24 years he was in the International Cricketing arena. While he achieves 'What' he dreams, the actual drama and the emotions are loaded in the 'How' and to a certain extent the 'Why' part. And that too me is a lot more authentic and hugely credible aspect of the movie as against situations like, being poor, controversies and politics in the career, failed relations etc. etc. and that touches any sports-loving person to bottom of his / her heart.
And most importantly I believe is the life that my generation (almost of the same age) went through in parallel while he was exceeding on the cricketing field all these years. While most of us must have achieved a lot in our lives and some probably a lot more (than they themselves expected) who have started their careers around or little later than his, seeing him creating this kind of history as a Highest Run Getter, Longest playing and most Successful Cricketer, achieving Highest levels of Brand Endorsements, and most importantly becoming the most beloved athlete in the world, while being utterly humble, underlines the difference between the common man and a Genius / a Legend. During 140 minutes of screening it actually created mixed and uncanny emotions of Nostalgia, Pride, Success, Satisfaction, Hard-work + Passion + Determination, Disappointments, Strong Family Bonding and many more. In your mind you go through the similar life span of yours (last 35-40 years) and inadvertently also re-live the moments of your success, failure, emotions along with his, although yours most likely would be at altogether different level as compared to the Legend's.
It’s a ~140 minute movie, with Sachin in every frame, well almost. It's a docudrama and a biopic. A very different and difficult medium that is launched as mainstream commercial cinema, surrounded by Bahubali 2, Pirates of the Caribbean and other big movies being screened in the movie halls. But the response that 'Sachin…' the movie received is very much credible. And the success of the movie lies in it’s story-telling and editing primarily. But before that also a lot to do with huge amount of research that must have gone in to create a tight and crisp script. The Research team must have gone through reels of footage to capture few seconds of bytes. And it borne a colossal risk as most of these moments / pics / footage / stories have been known to most, as he has been having an enormous fanfare across the globe. But the director (less known James Erskine) has immensely succeeded in capturing a lot but precise moments on and off the field about the legend. In my mind (and not to disrespect the Indian directors) the docudrama demanded someone from the house of BBC (or alike) to give the justice to the movie that it deserves. The style is very eminent of any extravagant BBC documentary. The other key success factor is, Sachin seems to be one of the (hidden) producers. Its apparent as the movie is very well kept to the point, not melodramatic and very authentic to the motive of his life, they were able to use lot of bytes from his personal collection.
Would there be anything better?
1. The bit of initial unwillingness to watch the movie was to do with dull branding & promotions. The teasers and promos could have been made more enticing, revealing a bit of drama to fetch the viewers to theater. For instance, the 1st Saturday after the release of Bahubali, the producers have given just one picture in the front page of most of the Newspapers, showing bunch of grannies outside a theater in Bangalore giving 3 cheers to Bahubali 2. By doing this the producers have appealed to the entire strata of the society.
2. I strongly believe there has to be at least 1 super-hit anchor song in the movie, and considering AR Rahman's magic, something on the lines of 'Jai Ho' could have been huge crowd puller.
3. Stalwart Distribution houses like 'Disney' and/or 'Dharma' could be an icing
4. I would dub this in Spanish and Chinese for a true blue global reach
5. And no I'm not talking from the Trade Analyst and Commercial Success point of view, it's more to do with the reach and viewership this movie deserves - And to me it actually has a vast global appeal. I would have included a few bytes from his close friends 'Roger Federer', 'Michael Schumacher (unfortunately is in Coma)', 'Mark Knopfler' (Dire Straits Lead Guitarist, by the way incidentally I've been huge fan of 'Dire Straits' and in the movie Sachin is shown listening to a popular number from the album 'On Every Steet'), and His and Her Highness from Royal Families and many more. I am sure the movie would have gotten a wider global appeal.
There's loads that can be written on the brilliant movie. And thanks a zillion to both Sachin for the happiness he spread in billions - and made us see and realize the dream of winning the world cup (Well, that was just one of the many dreams), but more importantly for instilling the respect within / for ourselves and also for pulling in the millions of dollars and pounds in this country through not just the sports itself, but also through the endorsements and contracts never heard before, boosting the already thriving Indian economy to a large extent.
The highest rating I usually provide to movies, is to keep the DVD / Blue Ray in the personal collection. For this one I guess it can not be a mere personal collection, but also has to be worshipped, especially for the hypnotic roar of Sachin….Sachin! that would reverberate in your ears forever - At least that’s what we mortals can offer to a Demigod.
