Wat a film . Review on Iqbal

Word of mouth does work and how!!

Everybody who sees this film and walks out of the theatre has only good things to say about this film.

I however had planned on seeing this film earlier but since didn't get the opportunity had dropped it.

Then again after hearing great things about the film had to go watch it for myself.

Nagesh Kukunoor has a knack of story telling like no other director. He is completely honest to his subject and leaves no stone unturned.

If you've watched Hyderabad Blues, Rockford and Teen Deewarien (earlier films of the director) you know exactly what I am talking about.

Iqbal is the story of a deaf and mute guy who lives in a village and has only one ambition to be a part of the Indian cricket team.

His mother is the one who is a fanatic where the game is concerned and the film actually begins with a pregnant her watching the game on television and the roar of the team winning stays with her and her unborn child.

Which is fabulously used later in the film.

Iqbal's father however wants him to become a farmer like him and keeps cursing him for being lazy and useless.

Iqbal goes everyday to the ground where the boys learn cricket and are coached by Girish Karnad and tries to pick up a pointers or two with the help of his sister.

The story progresses and it gives a detailed description of Iqbal's turmoils to fulfill his dream.

The strongest point of the film is Kukunoor's sense of story telling and the screenplay.

The performances needless to say by all principal characters is great.

Like Naseer said in one of his interviews, we've all played cricket at one point or the other but to act as a deaf and mute guy was the biggest challenges for the lead actor.

The only thing that bugged me while watching the film was that the fact it is a Mukta Arts Production does not show in the film at all.

The production quality of the film is still that of a low budget, independent film.

If Mukta Arts is supporting innovative filmmakers to make different cinema there is no need why they shouldn't be given lavish budgets as well.

Inspite of that, hats off to Nagesh Kukunoor to pick a subject as cricket (no one would've dared after Lagaan) and make a success out of it.