"Maidaan is one of the best films."
Maidaan is a captivating sports biopic.
It chronicles the enthralling saga of the Indian football coach Syed Abdul Rahim.
Between 1952 and 1962, Rahim pioneered football in the country, leading the national football team to success in the Asian Games and several other matches.
Directed by Amit Sharma, Maidaan is a testament to willpower, sportsmanship, and patriotism.
The film was released on April 10, 2024. Although rather lengthy, the movie holds the attention of the audience through a rousing and relatable story.
At the heart of the movie is an incredible performance by Ajay Devgn, who becomes Rahim.
Are you pondering whether to invest three hours of your time in the film?
DESIblitz is here to help you decide if you should watch Maidaan or not.
A Gripping Story of Sports & Determination
Over the years, Bollywood has given us a shining plethora of rousing movies based on sports.
These include Lagaan (2001), Chak De India (2007), and Dangal (2016).
However, Maidaan is a film that has football at its core, which is a sport in which India does not have much of a global footing.
The film tells the story of Syed Abdul Rahim, who takes it upon himself to form a football team for India in the 1950s.
He recruits the players himself, highlighting the importance of stamina, focus, and even height in the game.
He also enjoys a happy marriage to Saira Rahim (Priyamani).
He also finds an unflinching ally in Anjan Da (Baharul Islam), who convinces the Indian football federation to give Rahim a chance.
Rahim then leads the team to victory in several games and under his leadership, they also navigate their way through the Asian Games in the early 1960s.
Meanwhile, Rahim grapples with a devastating issue that could spell disaster for him.
However, that doesn’t stop him and his team from epitomising the spirit of determination that is essential for success in sport.
The film is decorated with heart-wrenching scenes and riveting action on the field.
Maidaan has enough sub-plots that save the film from becoming too one-dimensional. There is always something that hooks the audience.
Sublime Performances
For a film to work, no matter how strong the script is, good performances are imperative.
However, the acting in Maidaan is not just good. These acts will stay with you long after the ending credits have rolled.
Gajraj Rao has proven himself as more than a worthy actor. In Maidaan, he plays Roy Chaudhary.
Roy is a journalist who does everything he can to remove Rahim from the field, as he bears a grudge against him for not including players from Calcutta in the new team.
Gajraj makes the audience loathe the character, which is the goal of an actor playing any antagonist.
Meanwhile, as Anjan Da, Baharul Islam is effective. A scene where his character delivers a speech in favour of Rahim is especially impressive.
Priyamani provides an anchor in the form of Saira – Rahim’s supportive wife.
However, her lack of screen time is questionable. Furthermore, we don’t get enough sense of her ambitions and struggles, other than the fact that she is learning English.
More detail and depth to her character could have justified her tremendous acting abilities better.
The young actors who make up the team in Maidaan are excellent – especially in the matches.
There is a scene where an Australian player disrespects one of the members by making him tie his shoelaces.
The grit and emotion this induces is genuinely raw.
But of course, the most radiant gem in this saga is Ajay Devgn, who inhabits the world of Rahim without a hint of stardom or vanity.
A reputable, intense actor, Ajay uses his famous mannerisms and gifted talent to convey so much. His expressions are a canvas of diverse emotions.
Without a strong artist like Rahim, the film would have sagged.
However, with an actor of Ajay’s calibre leading the film, it not only holds but rises.
The Music
If there’s one composer who has truly brought pride to the Indian film industry, it is AR Rahman.
The musician is applauded for his soul-stirring, resplendent compositions.
In Maidaan, he does not disappoint.
The first song from the film is ‘Mirza‘ – a romantic song picturised on Saira and Rahim.
‘Mirza’ is enchanting and fully underscores the romanticism that Rahman is known for.
Other songs such as ‘Team India Hain Hum’ and ‘Jaane Do’ also encapsulate the driving spirit of perseverance in Maidaan.
Writing about the music of the film on Medium, Tushar Shukla comments:
“Scoring great albums is something Rahman can do in his sleep, but what I always admire is how he gives us, within the constrains of a commercial project, music that is so deep, it educates us along the way and elevates our music-listening sense.
“Take ‘Mirza’, the typical Hindustani-qawwali template duet, which pushes the genre with vocal embellishments in latter half.
“Or ‘Jaane Do’, which is constructed so delicately and executed so eloquently, one can listen to it a 100 times and yet not fully decipher its beauty.”
AR Rahman rocks in Maidaan, which is a testament to why music aficionados continue to admire the maestro.
Direction
Amit Sharma is one of the most tenacious and talented filmmakers in Bollywood.
The production of Maidaan began back in 2019 but was halted due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
With such a great film finally available to watch, one can unquestionably agree that the movie was worth the wait.
The film is adorned with breathtaking visuals and shots.
In an interview, Amit shares the challenges of making a sports drama:
“Shooting football was the biggest challenge.
“On a football pitch, 20 people run after the same ball.
“We used many devices and about 10-12 cameras daily and we created a pitch because we were not getting permission to shoot in a stadium.
“We maintained our shooting pitch for about three-and-a-half years. In between we went through Covid.
“Many players were coming from abroad. Lockdowns would be lifted but no flights would start.
We had to wait. It was quite a difficult task to finish shooting. It was challenging as well as satisfying.
“I knew there would be difficulties. I think that was a challenge I took.”
The thoughts of Amit illustrate the daring and responsible filmmaker he is. The great direction of Maidaan proves this.
Maidaan is a riveting, compelling watch, decorated with a spell-binding narrative.
Leading man Ajay Devgn admits: “Maidaan is one of the best films I have done.
“From the way the emotions and drama have been captured to its exceptional storytelling, great characters, and the way it has been shot. For me it’s perfect.”
These words are proven true in Maidaan. It is a tale of resolve and victory.
With Maidaan having premiered on Amazon Prime on June 5, 2024, brace yourselves for an utterly unforgettable film.
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