There are a few films that are surprisingly fun to watch, mostly because of their high energy and emotionally charged feel. This week’s Ajay Devgn-starrer Field One such rare film that hits the right spot is the one that tells the story of the amazing journey of Indian football coach Syed Abdul Rahim between 1952 and 1962.
Rahim revolutionised the game in the country and it was because of him that the Indian football team, playing in a 4-2-4 formation, was once called the “Brazil of Asia”.
It was due to his leadership that the Indian team achieved excellence in both the technical department and tactical innovation.
The team won gold medals at the Asian Games (New Delhi in 1951 and Jakarta in 1962) and even reached the semi-finals of the 1956 Summer Olympics held in Melbourne, making India the first Asian country to achieve this level of success.
At a glance
Movie: Maidan (in theaters)
Cast: Ajay Devgn, Gajraj Rao, Priyamani and Rudranil Ghosh
Duration: 182 minutes
Director: Amit Ravindranath Sharma
Music: A.R. Rehman
Cinematography: Tushar Kanti Ray; Fyodor Lyas (Games)
Rating: ***1/2
Written and directed by Amit Ravindernath Sharma and produced by Boney Kapoor and Zee Studios, this sports drama film stars Ajay Devgn, Priyamani and Gajraj Rao in the lead roles. The film is based on a true story that has completely vanished from people’s memories. Perhaps, there is so much noise about cricket in our country that some interesting stories are never told.
The three-hour film begins with India’s defeat in the 1952 Olympic Games against Yugoslavia, largely due to injuries caused by a lack of football equipment. This may surprise many, but the Indian team did not have its own equipment until 1952.
Due to lack of proper footwear, the players were asked to wrap their feet with cloth even while playing international matches. The Calcutta-based federation put the blame for the team’s failure entirely on coach Syed Abdul Rahim.
In his defence, Rahim pointed to the lack of gear for the team members and insisted that some of the young talented players could have played better. He said that he should have been allowed to choose the players. He then not only selected his best team but also ensured that the national football team was adept at new techniques and strategies.
A victim of internal politics and targeted by senior journalists (played by Gajraj Rao and Rudranil Ghosh in the film) for losing the match, Rahim manages to convince the governing body that he should be given a chance to coach the boys.
What follows is sure to leave the spectators teary-eyed. Focusing more on the game and the skills used by the players, the coach teaches team members how to execute their winning moves and make game-winning throws.
Watch the wild animal chase that leaves the crowd in the stadium spellbound. The entire journey of the players is narrated so well that even non-football fans will be able to appreciate it.
As the team takes on established teams like South Korea and then Japan, one cannot help but appreciate the honest, inspiring and respectfully told biography of an influential but forgotten Indian sporting icon.
What else has been added to it? Field Its strengths are its photography and music. Rahman has done a great job composing the music Song Which will touch your heart. Tushar Kanti Ray’s camerawork captures the grandeur of 1950s Calcutta. Apart from Ray, lensman Fyodor Lyas has captured some complex and difficult sports scenes, giving the audience something like live action. Field This book is inspiring and compassionate, and has a dash of social commentary.
Thanks to the rousing performances, the almost unknown but extremely talented cast – notably, Chaitanya Sharma as PK Banerjee, Amartya Ray as Chuni Goswami, Davinder Gill as Jarnail Singh, Tanmay Bhattacharya as Pradyut Burman and Tejas Ravishankar as Peter Thangaraj – play the real-life roles very convincingly.
The film also features a fine performance by Devgn, who adds depth to the character of the real-life Rahim while undermining his role. Due to Devgn/Rahim’s almost self-effacing demeanor, ‘Field‘It becomes a touching story of perseverance and the spirit of not giving up. Along with this, one also gets to know about an unsung sports hero whose one-sided unconventional approach towards the game proves to be a winning formula against opponents.
The fact that after Rahim’s attempt in 1962, even after 62 years, India has not qualified for any international football tournament, shows the extraordinary talent of this forgotten coach.
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