Azhar

The movie is not without its flaws though. The attention to detail is quite poor and product placements are too blatant.

But don't let that hold you back. The movie has all the elements of good, clean entertainment. Romance, humor, drama and some urgency make the movie a tight two hours that you won't be bored of.

I don't know whether he did it or not. The movie doesn't argue one way or the other. What it argues is legality of BCCI's verdict. Azhar was the scapegoat of a scandal that had involvement of many on the field and off the field.

Judge him however you want, don't miss the movie

~ MovieRecipe

Azhar, directed by Tony D'Souza, is a biographical drama based on the life of former Indian cricket captain Mohammad Azharuddin. The film delves into the highs and lows of Azhar's cricket career, his personal life, and the infamous match-fixing scandal that shook the cricketing world. With Emraan Hashmi in the titular role, the movie attempts to present a nuanced portrayal of a man who was both celebrated and vilified.

Plot Summary The story follows Mohammad Azharuddin (Emraan Hashmi) from his humble beginnings in Hyderabad to becoming one of India's most successful cricket captains. The narrative explores his rise to fame, his controversial personal life, and the allegations of match-fixing that led to his fall from grace. The film oscillates between the courtroom where Azhar defends himself against the charges and flashbacks that provide insights into his cricketing journey and relationships.

Performances Emraan Hashmi delivers a convincing performance as Azharuddin, capturing the cricketer's charisma, style, and vulnerabilities. Hashmi's portrayal brings depth to Azhar's character, showcasing both his strengths and flaws. Prachi Desai, as Azhar's first wife Naureen, and Nargis Fakhri, as his second wife Sangeeta Bijlani, add emotional layers to the story, though Fakhri's performance feels somewhat lacking in conviction.

Lara Dutta stands out as the determined lawyer Meera, who is hell-bent on proving Azhar's guilt. Kunal Roy Kapur provides comic relief as Azhar's loyal friend and lawyer, Reddy. The supporting cast, including Gautam Gulati and Manjot Singh, deliver solid performances that enhance the film's narrative.

Direction and Screenplay Tony D'Souza's direction effectively captures the essence of Azhar's life, balancing the glamour of his cricketing achievements with the darker aspects of his career. The screenplay, written by Rajat Arora, provides a coherent structure to the biopic, interspersing courtroom drama with key moments from Azhar's life. However, the film occasionally falters in pacing, with certain sequences feeling rushed or overly dramatized.

Themes and Execution Azhar explores themes of ambition, loyalty, betrayal, and redemption. The film attempts to present a balanced view of Azharuddin's life, portraying him as a flawed hero rather than a villain. It delves into the pressures faced by professional athletes and the impact of fame on personal relationships.

While the film addresses the match-fixing scandal, it does so with a sympathetic lens towards Azhar, which may feel biased to some viewers. The depiction of cricket matches and behind-the-scenes politics adds authenticity to the narrative, though the film could have benefited from a more in-depth exploration of the scandal's intricacies.

Music and Cinematography The film's music, composed by Amaal Mallik, is a mix of peppy tracks and emotional melodies that complement the narrative. Songs like "Bol Do Na Zara" and "Itni Si Baat Hain" resonate well with the film's romantic and dramatic moments. Cinematographer Rakesh Singh captures the cricketing action and personal drama with finesse, using a palette that reflects the different phases of Azhar's life.

Conclusion Azhar is a compelling biographical drama that offers a glimpse into the life of one of India's most enigmatic cricketers. Emraan Hashmi's strong performance, coupled with Tony D'Souza's competent direction, makes the film an engaging watch. While the movie does take creative liberties and presents a somewhat sanitized version of events, it succeeds in humanizing Azharuddin and shedding light on his trials and tribulations.

For cricket fans and those interested in the complex lives of sports personalities, Azhar provides an intriguing, if not entirely unbiased, portrayal of a cricket legend's rise, fall, and quest for redemption.

Now Bollywood made a movie with the mixture of sport and drama. Before seen the movie i read writer got inspired from the Azhar's life so this will be the good movie. But its not like that, the movie is quite simple and the dialogue delivery is not that level. Now a days the standard of Bollywood is so high . Emran Hashmi act Azhar role and he has done great job. In the movie writer tried to show how India board committee slaps a life ban on Azhar. This movie tells the story of Azhar how much he suffered. As i told story is quite simple but writer shown to the society about the Azhar.At least now people knows about Azhar. Media is the great medium to give the knowledge to society. I want to thanks writer,producer who told the story of Azhar by movie.

A poorly made movie which had a good story and a wonderful protagonist. Storytelling is the only thing which stands out. Director and Actors just donot add value to the movie. Characters r not at all worked out.

Azhar lacks spine. It is evident in the long disclaimer preceding the film in which the team seems to be making a claim on cricketer Mohammad Azharuddin's colourful and controversial life as a source material yet maintaining that it is a fictional account. All to escape the legal battles the film could land them in.

Azharuddin (Emraan) is a fascinating character to have built a dispassionate film on. A man, who rose meteorically because of his game, the way he let his bat do all the talking on the field. He fell from favour just as fast because of his covetousness and his alleged involvement in the match-fixing scandal that rocked cricket. He is a man of frailties and shortcomings both on the field of cricket and in the arena of love. But instead of exploring the many shades of grey in him, Tony D'Souza attempts to defend and validate him. Such is the bias that the other players — Manoj, Ravi, Navjot (only first names, no surnames mind you) — get the wrong end of the stick.

Manoj is made to come across not just as jealous and vengeful but selfish, playing for himself than the country and crude and unrefined to boot. Ravi is nothing but a rake. As though that wasn't enough you have Kapil tell Azhar It's the good-for-nothing kids who trouble the class monitor the most. Poor Azhar! Such is the eagerness to justify him that D'Souza makes it seem as though the whole bad world is out to get him. From his haughty fan-turned-prosecutor Mira (Lara Dutta) to the condescending owner of the gym that he inaugurates. Why he took the Rs. 2 crore from bookie M.K. Sharma and what he did with the money is portrayed in such a way as to earn him some desperate brownie points. Even his walking away from an ostensibly fine marriage into the arms of actress Sangeeta Bijlani (Nargis) is turned into a soppy inevitability with him righteously mouthing lines like A broken relationships doesn't actually mean an end of it. But what of Naureen (Prachi), the one who was wronged? When it comes to the craft, the film looks too outmoded in the way it has been mounted — the loud background score soaring over everything else and dialoguebaazi in the name of conversations.

The lines, some of them utterly inane and vacuous, reminded me of heavy duty dialogues of Once Upon A Time In Mumbai. In that masala flick they seemed entertaining, here desperately out of place.

Azharuddin's love for his grandfather becomes a way to draw out melodrama; he gets selected in the national team just as granddad breathed his last. And then there is Azhar's father's obsession with his underwear: the mandatory crass comedy track.

In the name of acting you have Emraan being stiff, staring deep into the camera, looking far from his comfortable self. Prachi and Nargis weep buckets when they are not being coy. Nargis does it most inelegantly. If that wasn't all there is also Kunaal Roy Kapur as Azhar's lawyer. As yet another stereotype of the South Indian in Bollywood, he irritates to the hilt. So does the film.