Movie: Iqbal

Actors: Naseerudhin Shah, Girish Karnad,Shreyas Talpade,Shwetha Prasad
Director: Nagesh Kukunoor, Producer: Subash Ghai

I went to watch the movie “Iqbal” thinking, well OK, so Nagesh Kukunoor + Naseeruddin Shah + Girish Karnad should be quite a cocktail even if masala-master Subash Ghai is the guy that wields the shaker (definitely shaken and not stirred!). Certainly, the aforesaid veteran actors were part of a heady mix but the younger lot with Shreyas Talpade as Iqbal and Shwetha Prasad as his kid sister almost ran away with the show.

The young son of a struggling farmer, Iqbal surreptitiously nurtures astronomical seeming hopes to become a bowler in the national cricket team. His mother and kid sister completely believe in his talent. They find amusing and daring ways to provide unflagging support. Even the family buffaloes end up as part of the rural cricket scene! Iqbal’s first hurdle is his father’s visceral hatred for the game. Like many fathers, he wants his son to become another version of himself. The boy’s mother Sayeeda (Pratheeksha Lonkar) is torn between her husband and son. Yet she understands Iqbal, and encourages him to follow his destiny despite grinding poverty and therefore having to disobey her husband.

As Iqbal, Shreyas Talpade’s expressive face pumps rare power and honesty into a role that could have deteriorated to maudlin and saccharine with a lesser actor. Shwetha Prasad’s portrayal of kid sister Khadeeja is delightful, with particularly fine timing in comedy. No simpering movie-brat this, but an honest to goodness and natural portrayal.
Enter the suave “guruji” (Girish Karnad) who is impressed by Iqbal’s talent and things start getting complicated. That polished actor’s actor Naseerudin Shah pulls off yet another masterly performance. As Mohith, the village drunk he turns out to be just what Iqbal needs to forge ahead. The further twists and turns are never contrived, building up quite plausibly to a climax with a very cricketing surprise thrown in at the end. By then, even the most sedate senior citizens in the audience were clapping and whistling all over the place.

Granted, the cricket theme added a certain fillip, but this movie is not just about cricket. Kukunoor has used the realities of the game to show that following a dream may be “difficult but not impossible.” His genius lies in creating emotions, excitement and entertainment around this cliche without reducing the film to a boring and crassly dialogue-ridden sermon. Inspired cinematography from Sudeep Chaterjee unfolds the right backdrop for each scene, rustic or otherwise. Music by Salim-Suleiman is in keeping with the mood and swing of events. As a committed Dravid fan, I thought the Dravid look-alike as a favored rich boy was a bit jarring, but what the heck, it fitted right in there with the scheme of things. This talented team is a winner and Kukunoor is definitely the Man of the Match. A humorous, sensitive movie about ordinary folk daring to follow extraordinary aspirations. A must-see, even if one is not cricket-crazy.