Movie Review: Sachin: A Billion Dreams- Match Fixing, Azharuddin, Greg Chappell, Premature Retirement Plans- It has It All
You can't miss this one if you are a cricket fan. Sachin Tendulkar and his wife Anjali take you through all the highs and lows in his 24-year long career.
If you have followed Sachin Tendulkar's career very closely, and many of us have, you would even correctly predict what's the next scene in line. However, all the pictures and the footage have been weaved so very seamlessly into a very engaging script.
From his childhood days to Ramakant Achrekar (coach) to Ajit Tendulkar (brother) to his invincible batting records to his Farewell Speech at the Wankhade, the docu-drama has it all.
And as one scene moves to another, there are some very interesting anecdotes which will give you information that you surely didn't know. A few of these may be present in his book Sachin Tendulkar: Playing It My Way, but it's a different experience when you actually hear/see them on the big screen.
Child Artiste Who Plays Sachin Tendulkar In A Still From Sachin: A Billion Dreams
One, Sachin had clearly told Anjali that either of them would have to sacrifice their career. Clearly, Anjali (MD, Paediatrics) got the message and complied.
Two, Sachin was extremely upset when he was removed as captain.
Three, Indians were not playing as a team before the match fixing scandal broke out and the camera constantly keeps coming back on Mohammed Azharuddin.
Four, Sachin had thought of quitting cricket after India performed very badly in the 2007 World Cup until a call from Sir Vivian Richards made him reverse his thinking.
Five, Greg Chappell loved to 'divide and rule' and was one of the main causes why India could not clinch the World Cup 2007.
Mind you, there are many revelations embedded in the story and I really don't want to spoil your fun, especially what Anjali did when her eyes set on Sachin for the first time.
Sachin Tendulkar Along With Team India Post Winning The ICC World Cup 2011
Did I miss anything when the curtains came down? Yes, I did. There is very little mention of Sachin's friendship with Vinod Kambli, almost none. And surprisingly, there is no praise for M S Dhoni and Gautam Gambhir while we are being shown the 2011 Final Vs Sri Lanka, unlike the manner in which (justifiable) praise is showered on Rahul Dravid, Saurav Ganguly, V V S Laxman and Javagal Srinath.
Buy a ticket? Of course! Such films come once in a lifetime. It's million times better than the bad music, bad acting and badly directed films which are in abundance around you.
You'll come out with your adrenaline flowing and the chant of 'Sachiiin, Sachiiin' revereberating in your ears.
I'll go with Three-and-Half.
Image Source: zimbio, twitter/sachin_rt, youtube/200notoutfilms & rapidleaks
