Maidaan Movie Review: Ajay Devgn's film is an essential watch for all sports lovers
Ajay Devgn starrer Maidaan
Maidaan Movie Review: In a cricket-obsessed country like India, a film like Maidaan is important as it retells the glorious era of Indian football. At a time when cricket has almost become an unofficial national sport ofthe country, the story of Syed Abdul Rehman, often known as the architect of modern Indian football, is truly inspiring and one that everyone should know. Directed by Amit Ravindranath Sharma, Maidaan has been in the making for a long time. The arduous labour of work shows as Sharma presents a splendid story of a man who never bowed down and created history for India.
Maidaan Movie Review
The film opens in 1952, when the Indian football team was brutally defeated by France at the Olympics. Rahim (Ajay Devgn) has been accused of the team's dismal performance and the football federation of India is keen to replace him. While most selectors are in favour of Rahim's resignation, the president of the federation still trusts his vision and agrees to his demand of rebuilding and recruiting newer players.
Rahim recruits talent from across the country - much to the dismay of influential sports writer Roy Choudhary (Gajraj Rao) and federation member Shubrata (Rudranil) who want to lobby for a Bengali coach and Bengali players. Rahim's team itself is not devoid of Bengali footballers. It had players like Chuni Goswami (Amartya Ray), PK Banerjee (Chaitanya Sharma), and ArunGhosh - men who became stalwarts in the subsequent years in Indian football. But Rahim also recruits from other states - which the Bengali lobby isn't too happy about.
The newly formed team has a herculean task ahead - and coming fourth in the 1956 Olympics doesn't help their case. How Rahim and his boys chart history at the 1962 Asian Games by winning Gold forms the rest of the story.
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Shot by Tushar Kanti Ray and Fyodor Lyass, the film's camera work enhances the climax well - making it gripping and nail-biting even though you know the outcome.
There is also some predictability and some of the shots often remind you of Chak De! India- a film that remains a textbook example of how to make sports biopics. Maidaan has a similar trope - an underdog who rises above all the odds and delivers along with a team that never gives up on him.
Maidaan has Devgn delivering a restrainedperformance after a long time. He plays Rahim, a man who is sure of his craft but also humble and vulnerable at times. The film rests on his shoulders and he delivers well to his part.
The rest of the actors - Priyamani, Gajraj Rao, Rudranil Ghosh, Amartya Ray, and Chaitanya Sharma have limited screen time but complement the narrative well. Rahman's background score is far superior than the soundtrack that he has composed for the film.
Maidaan works well for its story and a credible screenplay. Sure it resorts to usual sports drama tropes yet, it is effective in alleviating a known story with theatrics and good writing The makers use old archival footage in certain cases, give the context of the political climate at that time and deliver a wholesome story that highlights the contribution of those who may be unknown to the current generation. And for that reason, Maidaan is an important film that everyone should watch.
