A peek at a slice of life of a famous Indian sports figure

Rating: 7/10 (1 October 2016)

I went into this movie on the day it was released in North America, watched it on the big screen, with an open mind. Not since "Lagaan" and "Chak De India", have we had a decent sports-oriented Indian movie, which evokes a great deal of joy, pride and satisfaction. Happily this movie does that job and remains true to the title (despite several folks thinking it was incomplete). We get to see how this sports icon of India, grows up as a child in a province which discourages sports as means of making a living, the numerous struggles to gain acceptance, the subtle behind the scenes machinations, political maneuvers, highs and lows, extreme disappointment and despair, the almost drowning like sensation of feeling trapped as a misfit in the stagnant existence and finally summing up the courage to break free.
I also loved the touch of non-cricket/non-sports related history of the main characters, no spoilers here, but the director has done a decent job of capturing the emotional hits taken along the journey of life. Very stoic responses to many of the roller coasters, several of the folks you meet along the way dispensing philosophical metaphors. The women cast in the movie did a very good job, played their roles and made it very believable. The support of the true childhood friends, the small town sights, sounds and smells was well done. If there is a slight flaw it was the use of computer graphic/video imagery where they superimpose the actor's face on the real video clips, came across as very amateurish or were too obvious. The director was able to coax out of all the cast the characteristic trait of deference and demeanor one sees in that part of the world, gave it an authentic feel.
A worth while watch for all Indian sports lovers and families as well.