Maidaan Review: Ajay Devgn And Gajraj Rao Shine Bright in This Brilliant Sports Biopic

Maidaan Film Overview: I used to be in class when Shah Rukh Khan’s Chak De! India had arrived in theatres. I vividly bear in mind becoming a member of fellow film lovers chanting ‘India, India’, celebrating every win as if it was a dwell match and even sobbing on the finish of the movie. Nearly 17 years because the movie was launched, it continues to be a benchmark for sports activities movies in Bollywood. As I walked into the theatre to look at Maidaan, I admit I used to be ready to attract comparisons with Chak De! India. The Ajay Devgn movie took a special path from the SRK starrer however one factor is frequent: each the movies offer you a terrific cinematic expertise.

Directed by Amit Sharma, Maidaan stars Ajay Devgn within the lead. The movie is predicated on the lifetime of soccer coach Syed Abdul Rahim and the occasions that lead as much as India’s win on the 1962 Asia Video games. Apart from Ajay, the movie additionally stars Gajraj Rao as a journalist and Priya Mani as Ajay’s spouse. The workforce additionally options a number of recent faces, together with Chaitnya Sharma aka SlowCheeta, Madhur Mittal of the Slumdog Millionaire fame and extra.

The movie encompasses the goals, struggles and the achievements of coach Syed Abdul Rahim, higher often called SA Rahim. The coach not solely struggles to type an iron-clad workforce but additionally finds himself combating the corrupted soccer federation, a vindictiv journalist and even protesters. All this to place India on the world map with the assistance of soccer.

If I’ve to explain Maidaan in a single phrase, I’d name the movie exhilarating however in components. Let’s first tackle the elephant within the room: the three-hour-long runtime. Is it price sitting by way of all of it? I’d say sure. Director Amit Sharma has not compromised with the runtime to make sure he delivers a meaty movie. A movie like Maidaan, the place there are a number of incidents being coated — the non-public battle of coach Rahim, the workforce’s points, the political local weather that impacts the game and the matches, the extreme matches — require time. Amit takes full liberty of time to make you spend money on each twist and switch.

This helps the occasions main as much as the climax and the climax land brilliantly. Maidaan learns loads from the errors of previous sports activities dramas in Bollywood. Take ’83 for instance. The movie lacked the depth, regardless of the characters touchdown so properly. Amit rectifies it, taking a holistic method.

Though the movie is positioned like a well-played area, Maidaan has a couple of flaws. An enormous challenge is the movie spends further time on dramatic scenes. There are a handful of scenes that might have been crisper, making the movie tighter. One other challenge I had with the movie is that it was predictable. Just a few are additionally going to complain that Maidaan has plenty of low moments earlier than it sees the highs. The best way I see it, Maidaan has been approached like a match of soccer. No two matches are the identical and never all matches may have excessive moments in each twist and switch. Regardless of the writing points, Maidaan holds your consideration all through the movie.

The most important striker of this soccer match is Ajay Devgn. Whereas we had an expressive coach within the type of Shah Rukh Khan in Chak De! India, Ajay’s Rahim is totally reverse, reminding us that his eyes do many of the speaking.

Whereas Ajay retains you invested in him and his character, Gajraj Rao will get you riled up along with his efficiency as a vindictive journalist. It’s in all probability the primary time in his profession, since Black Friday, that Gajraj Rao goes to make individuals offended along with his character on display. He really deserves the applause.

The actors enjoying the components of the soccer workforce are phenomenal as properly. Priya Mani is simply magic on the massive display. She will have chemistry with any actor and may maintain the digicam’s consideration whatever the famous person she is paired with and Maidaan is simply one other instance of it.

On the cinematography entrance, cinematographers Tushar Kanti Ray and Fyodor Lyass (sports activities), together with the assistance of CGI and VFX, convey the game to life. Nevertheless, there are a number of pictures, particularly within the second half, that convey again reminiscences of Chak De! India. In the meantime, it’s no secret that AR Rahman is a legend, particularly with regards to patriotic movies. Whereas the BGM rating was spectacular, the songs didn’t land like I hoped it might. Maidaan can also be a welcomed departure from the loud, patriotic motion pictures whereas conserving the spirit of nationalism intact with properly written dialogues. Kudos to Ritesh Shah and Siddhant Mago.

Bottomline: Maidaan deserves to be watched. The movie brings again feelings that we as soon as felt whereas watching Chak De! India. I guarantee you, you gained’t depart the theatre with out at the very least hooting as soon as.