Azhar

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.

Azhar review :

Before reviewing Azhar, it's important to understand what a biopic means and how Bollywood has misunderstood it:

A biopic is a cinematic adaptation of various events of a non- fictional personality (living or dead) dramatising (to some extent) crucial aspects of his/her life.

Unfortunately, Bollywood mistakes biopic to be a cinematic "glorification" of a real life person to such an extent that it turns him/ her in to a superhero of sorts. It worked fine with 'Neerja' whose story itself, was heroic. But when you do that to a controversial figure like Mohammad Azharrudin, it ends up looking fake. Truly, the climatic revealation of why Azhar fixed those three international matches of his otherwise illustrious career takes away all the good the movie built up to right till then....

A long disclaimer read out in the start tells you that the movie is not a biopic but an adaptation of Mohammad Azharrudin's life for entertainment purposes. Wow! I wish they had also stated that it will end up making him in to a messiah of sorts while tarnishing his fellow players including Ravi Shastri and the legendary Kapil Dev.

Anyways, the film covers all the major events of the former Indian captain's life - from his childhood when his Nanajaan (Kulbhushan Kharbanda, endearing) motivates him to vent his anger through the cricket bat rather than words, his still unbeaten back to back three centuries on debut, his handling of resentful senior players on being suddenly elevated to captaincy position as well as his personal life - initially blissful with his first wife Naureen (Prachi Desai) and his subsequent affair with bollywood actress Sangeeta (Nargis Fakhri).

Presented in non linear format, the narrative flows well and certain scenes like Azhar talking cricket lingo in his awkward first meeting with Naureen and his ad shoot with Sangeeta which is the germinating point for their affair are well executed.

On the other hand, certain questions like how did Azhar learn his trademark flick shot, what made him the outstanding fielder he was, how did he handle the tremendous success he got as a captain before the match fixing allegations struck him are unexplored. I wish director Tony D'Souza had touched upon these aspects.

Even the match fixing scandal is fleetingly passed with one scene where the bookie (Rajesh Sharma) is introduced to Azhar in the dressing room and a few scenes later, a deal is struck between the two of them.

On the film's positive is Emraan Hashmi knocking it out of the stadium with a solid performance. He doesn't physically resemble Azhar but gets the cricketers mannerisms and body language spot on. Maturing as an actor with every film of his, Emraan has come a long way from his serial kisser days. Of course, he gets his lip lock in Azhar as well but now, the guy can act like never before...

The supporting cast is a mixed bag. Rajesh Sharma is convincing as the bookie. Prachi Desai is okey dokey. Nargis Fakhri still can't act and here, she doesn't even try. Azhar's fellow mates (Shastri, Siddhu, Kapil, Manoj Prabhakar) are too one dimensional and caricatured to leave a mark.

On the tech front, editing appears flawed with an entire scene repeated for no rhyme or reason. The two romantic numbers are soulful but the Oye Oye song is poorly recreated.

Overall, Azhar works better as an entertainer than a biopic. It's desperate attempt to make him a messiah is its undoing. One time watch, nevertheless!

Regards, Sumeet Nadkarni.

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, 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.

AZHAR REVIEW :- One of the most awaited film of Emran Hashmi's career from its trailer release to today. When i saw the Trailer of Azhar that time only, i decided to watch this film on First Day First Show. Reasons are known, Emran was looking promising after a long period plus i was interested in knowing our Cricketer Azharuddin's controversial life. Finally watched the Film and i am completely satisfied with this product, it completed all my expectations which were not high.

Acting- Excellent job by Emran Hashmi. I haven't seen his some acting oriented movies so i cant decide but still i say it is his Best Performance i've ever seen. His walking Style, Batting style, Dialogue delivery everything was perfect. Not award winning though, but still Kudos for him. Prachi Desai, Nargis Fakhri and Lara Dutta failed to match Emran. They didn't have much screen space, may be that was the reason but really their Make up talks louder than their Acting. Other star cast was strictly okay.

Music :- Certainly, not up to the mark. Songs just come and go. Nothing to remember. Same with Background Music.

Cinematography :- Worse. Really some scenes looks like daily soaps, especially Cricket match scenes. Disappointing field for the film.

Screenplay :- Good but not great. Good because of 130 minutes run time, and not great because editing could have been better. Many scenes and especially songs deserves cut. 2-3 loo breaks are there but still Film doesn't make you feel bore.

Dialogues :- Superb ! Clap worthy, whistle worthy and touching. I don't want to spoil much cause it will affect the impact of those dialogues.

Direction :- First of all i want to praise Tony D'Souza for daring to make controversial film like this and want to thank him for revealing some truths about Azharuddin. Direction is very good, surpassed my expectations. Tony crafted film very well, especially Interval and Climax scene.

Final Words :- Overall a good movie which deserved your one time watch for many reasons. We love you 'Fighter Azharuddin' forever. Thanks to Balaji Production for making this film so that we realise some unknown facts about our Azhar. Go for it, and don't watch it as a movie watch it as Azhar's real life story, movies like this comes very rarely. 7/10 stars by me.