Nearly a decade later, this Neeraj Pandey film remains a masterclass in how sports biopics should capture an underdog's journey.

Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput knocks it out of the park as the former Indian captain M.S. Dhoni in this eponymous biopic. From the lopsided gait to Dhoni’s self-effacing demeanour, Rajput makes it his business to be convincing as the small-town boy who becomes India’s top cricketing legend and he strikes gold.

Directed by Neeraj Pandey, who gave us taut thrillers such as A Wednesday and Special 26, this biopic does a splendid job of bringing alive the Indian middle-class milieu.

Dhoni’s family headed by a conservative father (Anupam Kher) who wants Dhoni to get a stable job instead of pursuing his sports, his simple friends who take reflected pride in Dhoni’s cricketing calibre and his optimistic school coach, all make the first half utterly convincing.

What’s not to love about an underdog who makes it to the big league? Until the film’s interval, things were moving at a languid but engaging pace. It was refreshing to see a Hindi film which did not shirk from showing how ordinary your life can get if you rein in your ambitions.

The scenes in which Dhoni and his friends try to race against time and reach the airport for a sports selection round makes you cheer for these lovable underdogs.

But it’s the second half that lets this biopic down. Ideally, his innings as the captain of the Indian cricket team playing in the world cup should have been explosive. But precious screen time is squandered away in bringing to life the women that entered the former Indian captain’s life.

Kiara Advani and Disha Patani are charming and cute in their roles, but this vanilla romance feels unnecessary. There’s even a song about Rajput on a bike with glasses romancing his young wife. The picturesque song appeared after we were treated to some lengthy courtship scenes. Though, in any other movie these songs ( which are quite hummable ) would have added to the charm factor, somehow fail to drive the point in this one. Nevertheless, for such moments, you just have to indulge yourself in celebration of life, than a legendary revelation.

Did we really need to know that aspect of Dhoni’s life?

Well it doesn’t hurt to know, but the parts where the personal ethos starts driving the film, that where becomes irrelevant. Important chapters such as the conflict that this cricketing legend may have faced as a captain when he had to lead his team or the politics that played out when stakes become high in a popular and scandal-ridden sport such as cricket is skimmed through.

It’s surprising that a bold director such as Pandey chose to focus on Dhoni’s personal life rather than his professional.

It makes you wonder if he just copped out. Apart from a couple of scenes touching upon Dhoni’s unconventional decisions taken as a captain such as removing a couple of established players from the team, the film doesn’t offer any insight into the interesting episodes on the professional front. We don’t want the dirt, but at least give us the gritty bits.

But what elevates the patchy screenplay in the second half is Rajput’s charismatic performance. It’s difficult to take your eyes off him. He’s so assured in his role that it’s compelling to see him transform himself from a diffident ticket collector in an Indian railway station to one of the world’s best batsmen and captain. Give this film a shot for Rajput and the sturdy support that the supporting cast gives him.

While this may not be Pandey’s best Bollywood innings, it’s definitely watchable.

( Source Inputs : GulfNews )