Maidaan Story:-
The film chronicles the journey of India’s greatest football coach, SA Rahim, and his decade-long solitary quest to propel the sport into its Golden Era.
Movie Ratings
| Release Date | 10 April 2024 |
| Language | Hindi |
| Genre | Drama, History, Sport |
| Duration | 3h 1min |
| Cast | Ajay Devgn, Priyamani, Gajraj Rao, Rudranil Ghosh |
| Director | Amit Sharma Ravindernath |
| Writer | Saiwyn Quadras, Aman Rai, Atul Shahi |
| Cinematography | Tushar Kanti Ray, Anshumaan Singh Thakur, Andrey Valentsov |
| Music | A.R. Rahman |
| Producer | Boney Kapoor, Arunava Joy Sengupta, Akash Chawla |
| Production | Zee Studios, Bayview Projects, FreshLime Films |
| Certificate | U/A |
The film immortalizes not only the struggling Indian football team but also Rahim as a strategist and a revolutionary coach. During the Golden Era of Indian football (the 1950s and 60s), the sweat and toil on the field earned the team the title of “Brazilians of Asia.” Legends like Chuni Goswami, P K Banerjee, Peter Thangaraj, Tulsidas Balaram, Jarnail Singh, and Pradyut Barman brought home gold at the 1951 and 1962 Asian Games and secured a fourth-place finish at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics—the best-ever result. While these players were icons on the pitch, Maidaan pays tribute to Syed Abdul Rahim, revered as India’s greatest football coach and manager.
In the climactic match between India and South Korea at the 1962 Asian Games, Rahim (portrayed by Ajay Devgn) inspires the footballers with a speech on the power of unity. He emphasizes that although there will be 11 players on the field, they will function as one team. This ethos resonates throughout the entire cast and crew of the film. Amit Ravindernath Sharma’s direction, Saiwyn Quadras’s screenplay, Tushar Kanti Ray’s cinematography, and AR Rahman’s soundtrack and background score collectively evoke the thrill of FIFA final matches. Special recognition goes to sports directors of photography Fyodor Lyass, Tassaduq Hussain, and Christopher Reed for recreating the intensity of the final match, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats.
The film not only immortalizes the struggling giant that was the Indian football team but also Rahim as a master tactician and revolutionary coach. Believing in the nation’s potential as a football powerhouse, he painstakingly crafted a world-class team by handpicking the finest talents and honing their skills. Amidst battles with football federation politics and a formidable sports journalist, Roy Choudhary (played by Gajraj Rao), who served as his staunchest critic, Rahim’s indomitable spirit shines through.
The narrative expertly weaves together the essence of the era, the football team’s journey, and Rahim’s personal struggles without losing its grip on storytelling. Audiences will find themselves captivated, cheering, and moved by the film from start to finish.
Ajay Devgn delivers a standout performance as Rahim, embodying a larger-than-life presence with quiet dignity. Priyamani, portraying his wife Saira, leaves a lasting impression in every scene. Gajraj Rao’s portrayal of the cunning journalist is exemplary. The ensemble cast, including Chaitanya Sharma as PK Banerjee, Amartya Ray as Chuni Goswami, Davinder Singh as Jarnail Singh, Tejas Ravishankar as Peter Thangraj, Aryann Bhowmik as Neville D’Souza, and others, convincingly embody their real-life counterparts.
Maidaan is a cinematic spectacle that demands to be seen on the big screen for its thrilling experience and exceptional storytelling. It epitomizes the film’s dialogue, ‘Destiny isn’t written by hands but by feet,’ as the team delivers a stellar performance!
Also Read the Movie Review:- Dukaan 2024
