Are you down with the cricket fever and bored between matches? What better way to entertain yourself than by watching some of the best cricket films ever produced? Bollywood may have produced many films about cricket in the last 30 years but in this list of best cricket films, we have one fantastic entry from Pakistan as well. Let’s hope it brings us luck in the tournament!
Lagaan: Once Upon A Time in India (2001)
No one in their right mind associated the word ‘Lagaan’ with cricket at the turn of the century. No one expected the film to do well either when it was released; cricket, after all, was meant to be played on the ground, not on cinema screens! Lagaan, however, went on to become the first cricket film from India and even made it to the Oscars due to its crisp script and brilliant execution. Who would have thought that long before test cricket came to India, the British were ‘tested’ by simple village folk in a three-day match and lost on the final ball, thanks to Bhuvan who would have created records had India been a test playing nation in those days. The film had everything a successful Bollywood movie has - A. R Rehman’s soulful music, Javed Akhtar’s back-in-time lyrics, Ashutosh Gowariker’s slick direction and Aamir Khan’s perfectionism. Add British actors as well as authentic costumes and you get a period film that doesn’t go out of fashion.
Iqbal (2005)
A deaf and mute boy from a remote village can play for the national team if he is willing to go the distance, tells Nagesh Kukunoor’s Iqbal where Shreyas Talpade makes a stunning debut in the titular role as a fast bowler who can’t speak or talk. With the help of his coach Mohit (Naseeruddin Shah in another memorable role) and despite opposition from all quarters, Iqbal manages to charm his way through to the Indian cricket team. The scene in which buffaloes on the field depict Indian team players or the guest appearance of Indian great Kapil Dev at the climax are enough reasons for any cricket fan to watch this movie.
Kai Po Che! (2013)
Based on Chetan Bhagat’s successful novel 3 Mistakes of My Life, Kai Po Che! is about three friends who try their luck at a Gujarati sports good store, which also doubles as a sports academy. They find a talented young Muslim cricketer and the drama unfolds when Hindu-Muslim riots destroy their lives. Cricket remains integral to the plot as the friends make and break due to the sport, and their lives revolve around Ali (the Muslim prodigy) who might be the next big thing. Sushant Singh Rajput, Rajkummar Rao and Amit Sadh make use of their first major role in this Abhishek Kapoor directed flick and come out in flying colours.
Ferrari Ki Sawaari (2012)
For Kayo (Ritvik Sahore) there is nothing bigger than playing alongside his idol Sachin Tendulkar. In Rajesh Mapuskar’s Ferrari Ki Sawaari, his righteous father Rusy (Sharman Joshi) does his best to fulfill his child’s dream, be it ‘borrowing’ the legendary Ferrari of the Little Master, even for a day! What follows next is a mindless ride throughout Mumbai where the father meets a greedy politician, a sleazy wedding planner and a mechanic who has an eye for stolen cars, especially imported ones. In the process, he manages to evade the caretakers entrusted with the safekeeping of the gleaming red car, meet the adversary of his father (Boman Irani) and fulfill his own son’s dream to play at the home of cricket. All’s well that ends well!
Main Hoon Shahid Afridi (2013)
A disgraced ex cricketer returns to coach an Under 19 cricket team to glory - that’s a tribute to the game Pakistanis love, wherever they are. Syed Ali Raza Usama directed Humayun Saeed’s Main Hoon Shahid Afridi that not only became the first ever sports film from this side of the Wagah but also heralded the return of commercial cinema in the country. Vasay Chaudhry’s script had more ‘cricket culture’ references than all the Bollywood films mentioned above, be it the inadequate glove work of Kamran Akmal, a match fixing saga or the use of steroids (no, Pakistanis don’t cheat!), this film had it all. When you have the evergreen beauty Mahnoor Baloch making her film debut, Mathira dancing in a bar, Javed Sheikh as a menacing villain, Summer Nicks as the other antagonist, Hamza Ali Abbasi playing a conservative and racist moulvi, Gohar Rasheed aptly named Kaali Aandhi, Noman Habib being called Shahid Afridi for his fondness of boundaries and Ismail Tara providing the laughs, nothing can go wrong.Near Misses: Victory, All Rounder, Stumped, Chain Kulii Ki Main Kulii and Dil Bole Hadippa!
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