World Cup 2023: 4 Films That Capture The Spirit of The Game

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OCTOBER 05,2023

As the World Cup begins on October 5, there is a resounding excitement in the air about cricket. Everyone is waiting to cheer for India and see the trophy being lifted by the team after a long gap of 12 years. Cricket is a game that involves a lot of passion. This passion is not just limited to the players on the field but is even more widespread among the viewers, who are just glued to the screen at the time of a match. A game of sports brings so much emotion to the entire population that people laugh and cry with all the success that the team makes.

As there are so many multitudes of emotions involved in the game, countless films have been made on the game over the years. These films either have a cricket plot or are based on some popular cricket players to tell the world the story behind their brilliance.

Also Read: Shabaash Mithu: Taapsee Pannu Essays Mithali Raj's 'Herstory'

To keep the spirit of World Cup 2023 alive, here are four films that truly capture the emotions of the game:

1. Lagaan (2001)

No list of sports films is going to be complete without this Oscar-nominated film by Ashutosh Gowariker, which has almost registered in public memory now. It is set in colonial times, when a cricket match is planned between the British and some village people. The film remains memorable for its intermingling of the themes of patriotism with the emotions involved in the game. As much as it is just a cricket match between two teams, it also becomes a game of defiance against British rule. Filled with songs by AR Rahman, the film's structure is full of twists and turns, keeping it super engaging, just like a match of cricket.

2. Ferrari Ki Sawari (2012)

An endearing film made on the backdrop of cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar and his Ferrari, Ferrari Ki Sawari tells an unusual father-son story. In the film, a father goes to all limits to make sure that the dream of his son to play at the iconic Lord's Stadium is fulfilled. It is an emotionally bumpy ride and also carries the myth of Sachin Tendulkar through its story, which is present in the hearts and minds of every Indian. It remains a must-watch for the engaging performances by Sharman Joshi, Boman Irani and Ritvik Sahore.

3. MS Dhoni: The Untold Story (2016)

Just like the myth of Sachin Tendulkar is so grand, so is the importance of MS Dhoni to Indian cricket. He is loved by everyone for being the captain cool, who designed strategies to win matches. His story of becoming a legend of the game is no less than an adventure. Being a ticketing clerk in the railways while he played cricket alongside, MS Dhoni's story is full of inspiration. Brought to the screen by the vision of Neeraj Pandey, the film's cricket scenes were shot with so much technical finesse that it looked like a real match taking place on the screen. With a breathtaking performance by the late Sushant Singh Rajput, the film's last act is sure to give anyone goosebumps as it shows the 2011 World Cup final and Dhoni 'finishing off in style'.

Also Read: Dhoni is my favourite player: Hrithik Roshan

4. Iqbal (2005)

Before all the bipics on cricket stars started to become a trend in the industry, this small and endearing film came out in 2005 to widespread love and critical acclaim. It tells the story of a hearing- and speech-impaired boy who dreams of playing for the Indian Cricket Team and is trained by a retired coach. With his career-best performance, Shreyas Talpade embodies the character with the utmost dedication. It is just captivating to see him act according to the sensibilities demanded by the character. With songs that have now become anthems for motivation, Iqbal captures the spirit of cricket in the truest sense. It won the National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues and gave wide recognition to writer and director Nagesh Kukunoor.