| Iqbal | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Nagesh Kukunoor |
| Written by | Nagesh Kukunoor Mir Ali Hussain (dialogues) |
| Screenplay by | Nagesh Kukunoor |
| Story by | Nagesh Kukunoor |
| Produced by | Subhash Ghai |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Sudeep Chatterjee |
| Edited by | Sanjib Datta |
| Music by |
|
| Distributed by | Mukta Searchlight Films |
Release date |
|
Running time | 132 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Languages | Hindi Sign language |
| Budget | ₹2.25 crore[1] |
| Box office | ₹5.60 crore[1] |
Iqbal is a 2005 Indian Hindi-languagecoming-of-agesportsdrama film directed and co-written byNagesh Kukunoor.[2] Produced bySubhash Ghai, under "Mukta Searchlight Films," the story follows a cricket-obsessed deaf and mute boy from a remote Indian village as he aims to overcome difficulties to become acricketer and fulfill his dream of playing for theIndian national cricket team. The film received theNational Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues.[3]
The film was screened retrospectively on 18 August 2016 at the Independence Day Film Festival jointly presented by the IndianDirectorate of Film Festivals and theMinistry of Defense, commemorating the 70thIndian Independence Day.[4]
Iqbal is a deaf and mute boy who dreams of playing cricket for India. However, he is discouraged by his father, who thinks that Iqbal's daydreams are a waste of time. Instead, he wants Iqbal to help him tend to the crops and become a farmer like him, which would be a stable profession.
Iqbal's sister, Khadija, however, helps him try out for a nearby academy run by Guruji, an influential former India captain, who accepts him for his talent. However, when Iqbal competes with a rich boy, Kamal, who is also the star of the academy, he is thrown out by Guruji out of fear of Kamal's father, who bankrolls the academy. Iqbal seeks help from the local drunkard, Mohit, who was once a great cricketer, and persuades him to be his coach. They are able to train in a nearby field, using Iqbal's buffaloes (named after actual members of the Indian cricket team) as fielders.
Mohit trains Iqbal and gets him a place on the Andhra Pradesh Ranji Trophy team, despite the fact that Iqbal has no previous cricketing experience. Iqbal plays marvelously for the team, which was a weak team before he joined, and is soon noticed by the press and cricket selectors alike. However, when the final match of the season pits Iqbal against his rival, Kamal, Guruji tries to bribe Iqbal to bowl badly so that the national team scouts at the game would select Kamal for the national cricket team.
Iqbal succumbs to his offer out of concern for his father, who is facing financial difficulties and may lose his lands. Luckily, a sports agent is able to offer him a better deal, and Iqbal bowls with his usual fiery pace and wins the match for his team. Surprisingly, he also impresses the onlooking national team selector,Kapil Dev (in a special guest role), and wins a place in theIndian national cricket team.
In the end, Iqbal is shown donning the Indian Cricket Team's blue jersey and walking in the ground to make his international debut.
Vinayak Chakraborty ofHindustan Times found the movie to be Kukunoor's best work, and was favorable of Talpade and Shah's performances, noting that the former "achieves what many seasoned actors often fail to do — he makes you forget it’s actually an act."[5] Agreeing with Chakraborty,Sudhish Kamath ofThe Hindu wrote that "every frame oozes inspiration, every scene comes alive with candid ingenuity," and called Talpade "the find of the year."[6] The success of the film ensured its directorNagesh Kukunoor the commercial recognition.[7] The film was voted amongst the Ten Hindi Films that is ideal for Training and Motivational material.[2]
Nominated
Other awards
The music for the soundtrack was composed byHimesh Reshammiya,Salim–Sulaiman,Sukhwinder Singh, Om The Fusion Band and Kedar–Sarosh and was released under theTips Industries label.[8]
| Track# | Song | Singer(s) | Music | Lyricist | Duration (min) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aankhon Mein Sapna | Ravindra Upadhyay | Himesh Reshammiya | Sameer | 4:06 |
| 2 | Aashayein | KK,Salim Merchant | Salim–Sulaiman | Irfan Siddique | 4:20 |
| 3 | Aashayein (Slow Version) | KK | Salim–Sulaiman | Irfan Siddique | 1:12 |
| 4 | Rogura | KK, Salim Merchant | Salim–Sulaiman | Irfan Siddique | 3:20 |
| 5 | Khelenge Khelenge | Sukhwinder Singh | Sukhwinder Singh | Subhash Ghai | 4:54 |
| 6 | Maula | Shriram Iyer | Om The Fusion Band | Indraneel | 5:19 |
| 7 | Mutthi Mein Aasman | K.K | Kedar-Sarosh | Vimal Kashyap | 5:58 |
| 8 | Paani | Suresh Wadkar, Sukhwinder Singh,Shweta Pandit | Sukhwinder Singh | Subhash Ghai | 4:26 |
| 9 | Tum Tana | Shriram Iyer | Om The Fusion Band | 4:18 |