# Ghoomer

Ghoomer (lit. 'Spinner') is a 2023 Indian Hindi-language sports drama film written and directed by R. Balki. It stars Shabana Azmi, Abhishek Bachchan, Saiyami Kher, and Angad Bedi.
The film had its world premiere as the opening film at the 12th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne on 12 August 2023 and was released theatrically in India on 18 August 2023. At 69th Filmfare Awards, the film received three nominations, including Best Actor (Critics) for Bachchan and Best Supporting Actress for Azmi.

## Synopsis

Anina "Ani" Dixit, a bright and upcoming batting prodigy, loses her right hand in a freak accident. However, the unsympathetic and failed test cricketer, Padam "Paddy" Singh Sodhi, gives her new hope in the form of bowling. He trains her with unconventional techniques, to turn her fate around as a bowler. Spinning or "Ghoomer", is a new style of bowling they both invented. Will Anina be able to qualify and make it into the Indian women's team as a bowler, with less than 10 months to go?

## Cast

* Saiyami Kher as Anina "Ani" Dixit
* Abhishek Bachchan as Padam "Paddy" Singh Sodhi
* Shabana Azmi as Anina's grandmother
* Angad Bedi as Jeet, Anina’s boyfriend
* Shivendra Singh Dungarpur as Anina's father
* Ivanka Das as Rasika
* Akshay Joshi as Anina's brother Tishu
* Piyush Raina as Anina's brother Anuj
* Pari Sharma as Young Anina
* Bhagya Bhanushali as Young Jeet
* Padmanabh Bind as Male selector Morey
* Kiran Navgire as Coach
* Bishan Singh Bedi in a cameo appearance as himself
* Mohit Kumar as Treasurer Bhavik
* Amitabh Bachchan in a special appearance as a cricket commentator
* Neroli Meadows in a special appearance as a cricket commentator
* Subhalaxmi Sharma as Captain Dipti
* Kavita Singh as Anjali
* Aditi Aryan as Dilshaad
* Bhakti Teli as Diya
* Sayali Sathghare as Geetha
* Vedika Dawane as Jayshri
* Priya Kaushik as Manmeet
* Niddhi Dawada as Meena
* Sushmita Avhad as Nanda
* Nirali Oza as Nasreen
* Prakashika Naik as Preetha
* Akshayaa Surve as Rodriquez
* Saima Thakor as Simran
* Abbas Momin as Bartender
* Kajal Sisodia as Tanvi
* Guneet Sandhu as Anina's Classmate
* Amber Botha as English player Amber
* Nonkhululeko Thabethe as English player Archer
* Bernadette Greeff as English player Bernadette
* Christine Tomlinson as English player Christine
* Samantha Schutte as English player Evans
* Lebogang Nkadimeng as English player Grant
* Kayla Abbott as English player Kayla
* Nicole Slier as English player Nicole
* Paulinah Mashishi as English player Pauline
* Jenna Searle as English player Searle
* Christen Van Wyk as English player Williams

## Production

The film started in 2021 and was wrapped in June 2022.

## Music

The music of the film is composed by Amit Trivedi while lyrics written by Kausar Munir and Swanand Kirkire.

## Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, Ghoomer received a rating of 75%, based on 12 reviews, with an average rating of 6.8/10.
Renuka Vyavahare of The Times of India rated the film 4 stars out of 5 and wrote "A poignant and powerful tale of human resilience". Zee Media Bureau reviewed the film and wrote "Abhishek Bachchan Hits All The Right Chords". In a review, Monika Rawal Kukreja of Hindustan Times wrote "Abhishek Bachchan, Saiyami Kher's stellar acts will move you". Lachmi Deb Roy of Firstpost rated 3 stars out of 5 and wrote "Abhishek Bachchan and Saiyami Kher’s powerful performances will leave you awestruck".
In a review, Toshiro Agarwal of Times Now wrote "Saiyami Kher, Abhishek Bachchan Film Is An Inspiring Journey Of Resilience And Triumph".
Taran Adarsh of Bollywood Hungama awarded the film 2.5/5 stars and wrote "Ghoomer rests on Abhishek Bachchan and Saiyami Kher’s performances and some well-executed scenes. But the narrative is too quick and the trailer ended up showing nearly the whole story."

## Accolades

| Award | Ceremony date | Category | Recipients | Result |
| Filmfare Awards | 28 January 2024 | Best Actor (Critics) | Abhishek Bachchan | Nominated |
| Filmfare Awards | 28 January 2024 | Best Actress (Critics) | Saiyami Kher | Nominated |
| Filmfare Awards | 28 January 2024 | Best Supporting Actress | Shabana Azmi | Nominated |

## Note

* ↑ 'Ghoomna' in Hindi means to spin and "er" suffixe add to it from English, that's why "Ghoomer" translates to "Spinner."