Biopics on Sportsmen
The tragic death of Sushant Singh Rajput has again brought in to play his portrayal of M S Dhoni in the biopic on Dhoni. The conversation made me think about the various such films made on successful Indian sports persons, and in this sports loving country, such films just can’t go wrong.
Not all of them have been real time biopics, but some have been based on a story centering around a sports person. Years ago, a Bengali film Koni, based on a story by Sports Journalist Moti Nandi won National Awards and actor Soumitro Chatterjee considered his work as a Swimming Coach was one of his best performances. Similarly, Paan Singh Tomar was more than a biopic, it was based on a true story of a champion athlete who was also a soldier turning dacoit.
However, Bhaag Milka Bhaag, Dangal, M S Dhoni: The Untold Story and Mary Kom are some of the recent successes. Sadly, not many have heard of Budhia Singh: Born to run, despite stellar performances by Manoj Bajpayee and Mayur Patole. In fact, it is one of the best films on motivation, as much as the Bengali film, Koni.
From the films we have discussed above, we must also consider that barring Dhoni, a cricketer, the other sports persons were great in their fields, brought honour to the nation, and were legends, but none of them represented a sport which was popular nation wide. Well, certainly not like cricket.
That brings me to the question, why were these chosen? Why we still don’t have a proper biopic on Sachin Tendulkar? Well, we do have a A Billion Dreams, but that is a documentary on Sachin. Currently a film has been made on the 1983 World Cup Winning Team titled ‘83, and the release is expected after the situation eases out. I am sure the film will do well, but again that is more of a tribute.
Many years ago, an Australian TV serial was made on the Bodyline series called Bodyline and there were talks of doing a similar film on the Panch Pandavas, the five big footballers from EastBengal Club who dominated the Indian football scene for five years between 1949- 1953. The football loving city of Kolkata have never got down to making a biopic on the football greats like Chuni or PK or Balaram. However, with Chuni Goswami and PK Bannerjee having just passed away, may be there will films to pay tribute to them. Ideally, like ‘83, we certainly should have one on the Indian Olympic Team of 1956.
In the world of cricket and football, can hockey be far behind? No. In fact one of the highest grossers has been a film based on Indian women’s hockey, Chak De India and rightfully, we have a few Punjabi movies based on hockey, and of course, Gold, based on Indian hockey team’s performance in the 1948 London Olympics.
The latest is Soorma, a biopic on Indian hockey captain Sandeep Singh, it starrs Diljit Dosanji, Tapsee Paanu and Angad Bedi.The film has done very well commercially.
Properly don bio pics, well researched can be great commercial successes. You need to pick the player and the story. Hopefully, we will have more such films in the near future.
Courtesy : Artpickles