Abu Dhabi: This year Bollywood will be releasing biopics on three of India’s greatest cricketers.
Mohammed Azharuddin’s Azhar is set to hit the theatres on May 13, while Sachin Tendulkar and Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s biopics’ trailers are also out.
Interestingly, Azharuddin is not ready to term the movie as his biopic - despite reiterating during interviews that “whatever the movie has portrayed is with my approval.”
If the movie is on his career and life then why is it not a biopic, is what one wonders.
Azharuddin’s move to say that it is not a biopic is in all probability to avoid any controversy or legal action against him after the release.
His active participation in the promotion of the movie is a clear indication that the tainted former India skipper is looking to clear some muck off his tarnished image with his side of the story on match-fixing.
Azharuddin will tour with the entire crew in the UAE on May 7.
In the case of Dhoni’s biopic – MS Dhoni ‘The untold story’, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has taken a keen interest. The BCCI has even sold the clippings of Dhoni’s last-ball six in the final of the 2011 World Cup to Star Sports, who are marketing the movie. Dhoni’s company Rhiti Sports, run by his good friend and business partner Arun Pandey, are the producers. It is for the first time that Rhiti Sports is producing a movie, BCCI have sold rights for any movie and Star Sports have marketed a movie.
And as far as legend Tendulkar’s Sachin ‘A billion dreams’ is concerned, there is no question about BCCI not giving support as the legend himself is calling the shots. Tendulkar, 42, is making his acting debut with the movie, which has been directed by award-winning British director James Erskine.
While BCCI are backing Tendulkar and Dhoni’s biopic, it is clear that they are shying away from the tainted former India skipper Azharuddin’s biopic.
Azharuddin, who hit three back-to-back Test centuries in his first three Tests, was known for his peerless wristwork and was arguably the best fielder to emerge from the subcontinent in the 1990s. However, his illustrious career ended in disgrace as he was banned for life for alleged involvement in match-fixing.
However, despite the Andhra Pradesh High Court lifting the ban in 2012 and Azharuddin also having served as Member of Parliament, the BCCI has always distanced itself from the cricketer.
Last year, the BCCI shot off a letter to the Delhi & Districts Cricket Association (DDCA) for allowing some of the Vidarbha cricketers to flout the Anti-Corruption norms by speaking to Azharuddin during a Ranji Trophy match against Delhi at Feroz Shah Kotla. So it is certain that BCCI continues to see Azharuddin in bad light and is adamant on not entertaining him in any role with Indian cricket.
Azhar’s Director Tony D’Souza, whose first two Bollywood movies Boss and Blue tanked at the box office, when contacted by Gulf News revealed that he won’t be travelling to UAE for the promotion but was upbeat about the movie doing well. However, he too chose not to endorse the movie as a biopic.
“I wouldn’t term this movie as a biopic or a semi-biopic. I would say it’s a movie based on certain events and incidents of Azhar. There are songs, kissing scenes and couple of characters who are not related to Azhar’s life or career. All I can say as of now is, I hope it does well,” said D’Souza.
If that’s the case then legendary athlete Milkha Singh’s movie Bhaag Milkha Bhaag should also not be a biopic. One thing is certain, a well thought-out drama is clearly being staged here by all parties associated with Azhar ahead of the release. However, the real story and crowd verdict will unfold when the curtain goes up on May 13. Until then, everyone will be keeping their fingers crossed.
