Break Point (2021 TV series)

Break Point is an Indian documentary series from ZEE5 directed by Nitesh Tiwari and Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, produced by Earthsky Pictures. The series is inspired by the successful Indian tennis doubles duo Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes.

Plot
The story follows the professional and personal relationship between former Indian tennis doubles players Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes leading to and following their Wimbledon win in 1999.

Cast
Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi play themselves.

Production
Nitesh Tiwari interviews the Indian tennis doubles duo Paes and Bhupathi and their family members. Tiwari also interviews other Indian tennis players and the duo's international partners. Archive footage and short interviews with Sania Mirza and Amitabh Bachchan are used.

Releases
ZEE5 released the trailer for Break Point on 17 September 2021 and the series launched on 1 October 2021. The web series was presented at the 52nd International Film Festival of India in November 2021.

Reception
Vivek M V of the Deccan Herald gave the show 4/5 stars, stating that it was a compelling and shocking confession with the determination in their love, indifference, and hatred towards each other makes Break Point bingeworthy. He praises the interviews with the duo's friends and family, but criticises the lack of focus during the Davis Cup.

Subhash K Jha of IWMBuzz.com rated it 3/5. Jha noted that Bhupathi's description of their difficulties were more superficial, but Paes expressed more emotions when recounting their split.

LatestLY rated the documentary 3/5 stars, writing that it is a perfectly balanced love story with a dramatised breakup that was fantastically executed. The reviewers remarked that the pacing mirrors a love story. The site found the series was slightly too dramatic and lacked explanations for some sequences. Overall, they praised it as a remarkable attempt to answer what went awry between Paes and Bhupathi.