Cricket, without an ounce of doubt, is the most celebrated sport in India, and just like actors Amitabh Bachchan and Rajinikanth, there are some Indian cricketers who are worshipped as gods in the country. As fans continue to cheer for the men-in-blue during the ongoing Cricket World Cup 2023, we have listed down some biopics celebrating Indian cricketers that every cricket fan should watch.
M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story
Filmmaker Neeraj Pandey’s 2016 biographical sports drama film M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story is based on the life of former Test, ODI, and T20I captain of the Indian national cricket team, Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Late Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput played Dhoni on the screen and received numerous awards and accolades for his convincing portrayal of the cricket legend. The film, which also features Kiara Advani and Disha Patani in important roles, was a major success at the box office.
Azhar
Titled Azhar, the biopic on former Indian skipper Mohammad Azharuddin hit the silver screen in 2016. The Tony D’Souza directorial featured Emraan Hashmi in the titular role and focused on the journey of the controversial figure Azharuddin was. Though the film did not set the box office on fire, people praised it for its direction and performances.
83
Not a biopic on Kapil Dev, but filmmaker Kabir Khan’s 2021 directorial 83 is based on the life of the former Indian skipper who led India to register its first-ever World Cup win in 1983. Ranveer Singh played Dev in the film, with Deepika Padukone appearing as his wife.
Sachin: A Billion Dreams
The James Erskine directorial may not be an outright biopic, but Sachin: A Billion Dreams still beautifully captures the eventful journey of master-blaster Sachin Tendulkar, from a young teen to becoming the god of cricket for Indians. The major highlight of the film is that Tendulkar himself narrates all the details of his life and career.
Kaun Pravin Tambe?
The biopic on Pravin Tambe is titled Kaun Pravin Tambe? It stars Shreyas Talpade in the title role and centers on Tambe and his struggles in his cricketing career. The film is directed by Jayprad Desai and had its direct-to-digital premiere on Disney Plus Hotstar.
