Iqbal (film)

Iqbal is a 2005 Indian Hindi-language coming-of-age sports drama film directed and co-written by Nagesh Kukunoor. Produced by Subhash Ghai, under "Mukta Searchlight Films", the story follows a cricket-obsessed deaf and mute boy from a remote Indian village as he aims to overcomes difficulties to become a cricketer and fulfill his dream of playing for the Indian national cricket team. The film received the National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues.

The film was screened retrospective on 18 August 2016 at the Independence Day Film Festival jointly presented by the Indian Directorate of Film Festivals and Ministry of Defense, commemorating 70th Indian Independence Day.

Plot
Iqbal is a deaf and mute boy, who dreams of playing cricket for India. However, he is discouraged by his father who thinks that Iqbal's daydreams are a waste of time. Instead, he wants Iqbal to help him tend to the crops and become a farmer like him, which would be a stable profession.

Iqbal's sister, Khadija, however, helps him try out for a nearby academy run by Guruji, an influential former India captain, who accepts him for his talent. However, when Iqbal competes with a rich boy, Kamal, who is also the star of the academy, he is thrown out by Guruji out of fear of Kamal's father, who bankrolls the academy. Iqbal seeks help from the local drunkard, Mohit, who was once a great cricketer and persuades him to be his coach. They are able to train in a nearby field, using Iqbal's buffaloes (named after actual members of the Indian cricket team) as fielders.

Mohit trains Iqbal and gets him a place on the Andhra Pradesh Ranji Trophy team, despite Iqbal not having any previous cricketing experience. Iqbal plays marvelously for the team, which was a weak team before he joined, and is soon noticed by the press and cricket selectors alike. However, when the final match of the season pits Iqbal against his rival, Kamal, Guruji tries to bribe Iqbal to bowl badly so that the national team scouts at the game would select Kamal for the national cricket team.

Iqbal succumbs to his offer, out of concern for his father, who is facing financial difficulties and may lose his lands. Luckily, a sports agent is able to offer him a better deal, and Iqbal bowls with his usual fiery pace and wins the match for his team. Surprisingly he also impresses the onlooking national team selector Kapil Dev (in a special guest role), and wins a place in the Indian national cricket team.

In the end Iqbal is shown donning the Indian Cricket Team's Blue Jersey and walking in the ground to make his international debut.

Cast

 * Naseeruddin Shah as Mohit Mishra
 * Girish Karnad as "Guruji"
 * Shreyas Talpade as Iqbal Saeed Khan
 * Shweta Basu Prasad as Khadija Saeed Khan
 * Yatin Karyekar as Anwar Saeed Khan
 * Prateeksha Lonkar as Saida Saeed Khan
 * Dilip Salgaonkar as Bipin
 * Jyoti Joshi as Farida
 * Adarsh Balakrishna as Kamal
 * Gururaj Manepalli as Akash
 * D. Santosh as Satish Bhatawdekar
 * Kapil Dev as himself (Special Appearance)

Reception
Vinayak Chakraborty of Hindustan Times found the movie to be Kukunoor's best work, and was favorable of Talpade and Shah's performances, noting that the former "achieves what many seasoned actors often fail to do — he makes you forget it’s actually an act." The success of the film ensured its director Nagesh Kukunoor the commercial recognition. The film was voted amongst the Ten Hindi Films that is ideal for Training and Motivational material.

Awards

 * 51st Filmfare Awards :

Nominated


 * Best Director – Nagesh Kukunoor
 * Best Supporting Actor – Naseeruddin Shah
 * Best Supporting Actress – Shweta Basu Prasad

Other awards
 * National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues – Nagesh Kukunoor & Subhash Ghai
 * National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor – Naseeruddin Shah
 * Zee Cine Award for Best Actor (Critics) – Male – Shreyas Talpade
 * Zee Cine Award for Best Actor (Critics) - Female – Shweta Prasad
 * Screen Award for Best Supporting Actress – Shweta Prasad

Music
The music for the soundtrack was composed by Himesh Reshammiya, Salim–Sulaiman, Sukhwinder Singh, Om The Fusion Band and Kedar–Sarosh and was released under the Tips Industries label.