Aug. 26, 2005|India|150 Min.|R
Genre: Adventure;Bollywood;Drama;Kids
Description: Iqbal is a 2005 Indian film that tells the inspiring story of a deaf and mute boy named Iqbal, portrayed by Shreyas Talpade. Iqbal dreams of playing cricket for India, but his father dismisses his aspirations, urging him to focus on farming instead. Despite his father’s discouragement, Iqbal’s sister, Khadija, supports him and helps him try out for a cricket academy run by Guruji, a former Indian cricket captain played by Girish Karnad.
Although Iqbal shows exceptional talent, he is expelled from the academy after competing with Kamal, the academy’s star player and the son of its primary financier. Determined to pursue his dream, Iqbal seeks guidance from Mohit, a former cricketer turned local drunkard, played by Naseeruddin Shah. Under Mohit’s coaching, Iqbal trains rigorously in a nearby field, even using his buffaloes as makeshift fielders.
Through hard work and dedication, Iqbal earns a spot on the Andhra Pradesh Ranji Trophy team, despite lacking prior experience. His outstanding performances transform the team and attract attention from the media and national cricket selectors. However, in a crucial match against Kamal, Guruji attempts to bribe Iqbal into underperforming to ensure Kamal’s selection for the national team. Iqbal initially agrees, motivated by his father’s financial struggles, but a better offer from a sports agent inspires him to play with his usual passion. His performance not only secures victory for his team but also impresses Kapil Dev, a national team selector, earning Iqbal a place in the Indian national cricket team. The film concludes with Iqbal proudly wearing the Indian cricket jersey as he prepares for his international debut.
Cast director: Nagesh Kukunoor
Cast actor: Naseeruddin Shah, Girish Karnad, Shreyas Talpade, Shweta Prasad, Yatin Karyekar, Prateeksha Lonkar, Dilip Salgaonkar, Jyoti Joshi, Aadarsh Balakrishna, Gururaj Manepalli
Original name: Iqbal