'Sachin a Billion Dream' movie released

Mumbai, May 27: Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar's biopic 'Sachin a Billion Dream' movie was world wide on Friday.

Story:

Sachin Tendulkar plays himself in this sports-docudrama that traces the life and times of one of the world’s biggest cricket phenomena.

Cast & Crew Details

Star Cast: Sachin Tendulkar, Anjali Tendulkar, Mayuresh Pem

Director: James Erskine

Music Director: A.R. Rahman

Review:

It's a treat to get a peek into Sachin's childhood. And it's also a fan-shriek moment to see footage of him in his personal space, looped to Dire Straits and Bappi Lahiri with his wife Anjali, his children—Arjun and Sara, his family and friends. The fact that Sachin is the sutradhar(narrator)who walks the viewer through his victories and injuries is an additional bonus.

Tendulkar fanatics can also feel the adrenaline rush because the film revisits his introduction to the world—yes, the time when he hit Pakistan's Abdul Qadir for four sixes in one over at the 1989 Exhibition Match.

And yet another indelible memory revisited here is the one in which he reduced Australia's Shane Warne into a punching bag in the 1998 Chennai test against the Aussies. His achievements are far too many to be accommodated in one film! Cynics may argue that YouTube has it all, but for those whom Sachin is an emotion, watching this footage on the big screen and without constantly having to hit the search button, the experience is priceless.

But, wait there's a flip side too. Most controversies around the cricketing God are glossed over. Many of us (me included) die-hard Sachin fans are ready to face the fact that our icon may have displayed feet of clay on occasion.



However, the film doesn't take chances. Sachin's poor performances in some key matches and his reluctance to comment on some of his boorish seniors are just touched on fleetingly.

The hagiographic narrative continues with commentators, critics and colleagues–Dhoni, Kohli, Ganguly, Sehwag, and Harbhajan are (sigh!) only eulogizing the Little Master.

Academically though this film is an important one because for a nation that revers cricket, it serves as a reminder that prodigies may be born, but they become Sachin Tendulkar only through perseverance, patience, and preparation. Go India go.

Positives :

Sachin Tendulkar's journey in this film looks so real that you even have moments like "Aila, Sachin Bhai aise karta hai." It not only celebrates the personality that he is but also Indian Cricket in all its glory.

Negatives :

Strangely, the film may not come across as an uninteresting affair for those who are not Cricket fans but their idea of it being a feature film certainly doesn’t come true here. The docu-drama with Sachin himself narrating may not appeal to everyone.

Final Verdict:

This is a treat for Sachin Tendulkar fans. It's realistic, emotional and highly inspiring. It will probably make you miss him even more on the field!