When India is reeling at 114 for 3 against Sri Lanka in the cricket world cup final of 2011, a man decides to take charge of the situation. It helps that he is also the captain of the team. He silently walks past the crowd, enters the ground and creates history.
The cricketer’s image of rotating the bat as if he is wielding the sword is etched in our memory.
On April 2, 2011, India reaffirms its faith in the hero who was selected into the team through BCCI’s tier-two city programme.
Here, director Neeraj Pandey takes us 15 years earlier when Pan Singh Dhoni (Anupam Kher) is a pump operator in Ranchi. The local stadium needs water and that requires him to wake up at eleven in the night. He waters the stadium in a hazy winter night. Pan’s little son watches him from the balcony of his government quarter, and probably this is the moment when the kid decides to make it big in life.
It’s the story of Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Sushant Singh Rajput), the current India captain and one of the game’s most popular exponents ever.
The first half of this nearly 180-minute film goes into the riveting details of a middle-class boy’s life in the hilly town of Ranchi. People are concerned about each other, and there is a genuine love for talented kids. Nobody is a villain here, not even the cricket officials. Optimism and hard work are expected to take people to new destinations.
However, the dream can be smaller. Like, Dhoni’s sister Jayanti (Bhumika Chawla) says, “Mehnat karega toh ek din railway me RM bhi ban sakta hai” (If you’ll keep doing hard work then you can also become the RM in railways). Dhoni smiles, we too.
We knew the man, and now we have seen the journey too. So, what’s still untold?
Maybe the backroom politics of the cricket governing bodies? The pressure on the captain? The sponsors’ role?
This is the point where it begins to falter. Sushant keeps going though, like one true commander on the screen.
Then the curse of the second half strikes, and it goes into an irreversible slide. Two romances arrive in swift succession (Disha Patani, Kiara Advani, both sparkly, both reduced to sidebars). There are songs. There is a stab at the intrigue that governs selection processes at various cricketing bodies, including the mighty BCCI, but it is laughably feeble.
The entire focus is on Dhoni who is shown as the sole match-winner from the Indian side. His team-mates, which include Indian cricketing greats (Saurav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar and others), are seen in flashes, either from the back or in profile. There are no dressing room banter with his team-mates. No scenes, in fact, with other players, except for a couple of stray ones with Yuvraj Singh (Harry Tangri). The film tries to establish Dhoni above all the petty issues.
A tribute to MSD’s success, this works due to the extensive research. They have also touched Dhoni’s tender sides also and the treatment is likely to suit the protagonist. In short, he may become a cleaner and bigger hero after the film.
Sushant Singh Rajput ably pulls off his act as Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Neeraj Pandey promises to suck you into Dhoni’s world from the word go!
Sushant Singh Rajput gives his career best performance. He is not only convincing as the player with his body language but also with his amazing batting skills. The actor has clearly put in immense efforts for this role and I’d say they will definitely be paid off as he is set to get noticed for it.
Anupam Kher does a great job as Pan Singh Dhoni, the father. He emotes brilliantly in the scenes where he is full of pride for his son.
Bhumika Chawla plays Dhoni’s sister. She does a fairly good job and quite true to her simplistic character.
Kumud Mishra’s character is the one that holds importance in giving Dhoni the big break. He is as usual a perfect fit for his role.
Kiara Advani and Disha Patani look pretty and do what’s exactly expected from them.
Supporting actors like Rajesh Sharma and give this film the required impact.
A special mention to Herry Tangri, who portrayed Yuvraj Singh in the film. Loved his bits thanks to the exact body language.
Neeraj Pandey is better known for his thriller films Baby, Special 26 etc. With Dhoni, Pandey makes his point as a director, the fact that he can pull off any film.
Pandey’s observation is surely brilliant and hence his lead actor gets the right under the skin of the character.
There are ample of scenes in the film that make you glee, be it the amazing camaraderie between Sushant and his friends or his uncomfortable shoots for brand endorsements, the situational comical nature in them is a winner.
Music of the film has been widely appreciated and Besabriyaan surely sounds lovely in the theaters.
On the whole #msd is a wonderful film which makes you cry. Film could have been bit crisp to get repeat run.
I give 4/5*
