Iqbal

Watched Iqbal yesterday. Yes, this movie is exactly what the abundance of word of mouth on it asserts - the best movie of this year.

I don't think this is a great movie, it's just that it is so rare to see a film that works in Bollywood, which does not come from a masala genre, that works simply as a straightforward story - that this film looks all the better compared to the awful field it competes with.

Iqbal brings a smile to the face and a tear to the eye and a lump to the throat and a racing of the heartbeat in slight twist and sweet turn and more than makes up for the time and money it takes to invest in watching a film - much more than that.

Nagesh Kukunoor's minimalist narration (enhanced by rousing music by the creative genius duo of Salim Sulaiman) that we saw in his earlier films is here perfect - the rustic ambiance of the film seems to pervade the storytelling too.

The film reminded me of Million Dollar Baby and Shwaas at times - MDB, because of the minimalism & struggle against odds; Shwaas, because of the sweetness of the tale.

Lovely, lovely film.

I went to this movie just today. I heard great reviews from everybody and I finally watched it today. Nagesh Kukunoor has the knack of coming up with some good films, especially off late after Teen Deewarein(Which was brilliant). This movie I think is another feather in his cap. This story is about a deaf mute, Iqbal (Shreyas Talpade), who lives in the small village of Kolipad and dreams of becoming a great cricketer. His father is totally against his love for the game but his mother and sister push him towards his dream. Iqbal is first coached by a devious Girish Karnad, who ditches him for a rich kid. His only refuge is the village drunk Mohit(played brilliantly by Naseeruddin Shah), a former Ranji cricketer. The relationship between Iqbal and Mohit is beautifully brought out on screen. Iqbal's sister (played by Shweta) also gives a brilliant performance. But the cherry on the cake belongs to Naseeruddin Shah. His charm is infectious. He breathes life into the character of Mohit with effortless ease. Shreyas Talpade has also brought in a very good performance. He has really emoted very well and has done justice to his role as the deaf mute. The actor playing Iqbal's father also does a very good job. I think this movie is for the masses as well as the classes. It will be enjoyed by one and all. As the movie's bylane rightly puts it. "It is a story above Cricket."

When you come inside a theater at the end of the movie you want to go out feeling good, happy and this is what Iqbal did. A deaf and blind boy practicing, achieving his goal, striving for it was beautiful and at the end the triumphing of Human Spirit. Let the movie speak for itself go watch it. I have to write 10 lines and i will. Step 1- Go to Video Store or Theater Step 2- Rent or buy a ticket for Iqbal Step 3- Go home and watch it or watch it in the theater Finished Watching It????????????????????????? Step 4- Go to your home and say that this comment was useful as i told you to watch one of the most amazing and inspiring motion pictures Bollywood has ever made!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Iqbal has to be one of the best movies India has had to offer yet. I was so glued to this movie that I actually finished it in only one sitting. It is a Highly inspirational movie which tells us that ever dream no matter how impossible it maybe is worth putting a Fight for. Shreyas Talpade the Guy who played Iqbal did an awesome job. The expressions on His Face and the way he Protraied his character was remarkable. He did not even have a word worth of Dilogues in the whole movie but is expressions and character portrayal spook a million words. Naseeruddin Shah has once again proved himself to be a remarkable actor... I was beginning to think that Haseeruddin Shah was moving downhill post the LXG fiasco but I have been proved wrong with his remarkable performance in this movie.

People get You hands on the DVD of this movie ASAP..It will be worth every second .

An inspiring and thought provoking tale of a specially abled lad's passion to realize his only dream of being part of the national cricket team. This is a gold dust of cinema, one of the finest you would ever come across by. Indeed, Nagesh Kukunoor deserves a big round of applause for this spectacle, a feat that he successfully achieves in his next project (Dor) as well.

Anybody among us can dream big but those who realize those dreams are the special ones, right! And what would you call that person who has been written off by many since birth and yet goes on to achieve what he has always dreamed of? EXCEPTIONAL; maybe it is an understatement but yes.

As they say, behind every successful man there is a woman, and well Iqbal (a very challenging role portrayed with ease and grace by Shreyas Talpade) had two backing him in his endeavor, his mother and his ever supportive and caring little sister, Khadija (a character brilliantly portrayed by Sweta Basu). Obviously family support is good for moral boost up but it just isn't going to be enough without a well drunk, sorry! a well experienced coach (Nasseruddin Shah's portrayal of this character is surely going to have a lasting impact. He lightened the screen every time with his presence. Pure brilliance!).

And for all those who have started to question their choice of watching this movie because of the fact that you do not understand cricket, then let me just tell you - You don't need to understand cricket at all to enjoy this because becoming a national cricket player is used as a synonym in this movie for a dream that is just too big in the eyes of the society for a lad like him).

I watched this movie when I was a teenager and I have to admit that this movie forever changed my perception of cinema. So, if you are feeling low, dejected, hopeless or having any such kind of thoughts about quitting on your dreams, I urge you to watch this remarkable piece of work.

You would never want to quit on to something that gives meaning to your life.