Poster of the film
Film Review: MS Dhoni: The Untold Story
Director: Neeraj Pandey
Cast: Sushant Singh Rajput, Herry Tangri, Shreyas Talpade, Kiara Advani, Disha Patani, Anupam Kher, Bhumika Chawla, Rajesh Sharma.
Rating: 3 stars
Neeraj Pandey written/ directed M S Dhoni :The Untold Story is the story of Indian Cricket Team’s most prominent and popular captain, his humble beginnings in Ranchi and his passion for the game.
When his coach spots him the first time in the school playground, Mahendra Dhoni is playing football. On being asked if he would like to play cricket, Mahendra responds that why must he give up a big ball for a small ball? Then one night,as he watches his father at work, he sees the stadium lit up for the first time and changes his mind. He is willing to learn cricket and keen on batting but his coach believes that Mahendra/ Maahi has the making of a bowler.
From under nineteen and state level to National and then International matches, Mahendra Singh Dhoni reaches his peak when he wins the World Cup for the country and the nation becomes hysterical.
What works about the film are the highs and the lows, the narrative tells you as much about the person as the profession. We discover that Dhoni is as passionate about football and tennis as cricket and has an aggressive streak that he suppresses and vents out on the field. We learn he is a prankster, sometimes a boaster and lose his heart easily.
What does not work is the selective perception. The film makes a hero out of the cricketer and overlooks anything even slightly negative about the captain. The title suggests an Untold Story but the screenplay borrows from published incidents. One misses the cricket politics, rivalries, the recent scandal and controversies.
It isn’t as if the film does not make you laugh or cry, there are moments you feel jubilant and moments you feel choked but somehow the experience is never complete. At the end of the film you still don’t know the man.
The biggest drawback is the length (over three hours) of the film and by the last hour you are so restless that you are tearing your hair waiting for the climax.
The supporting cast of the film is extraordinary and Sushant Singh Rajput playing Mahendra Singh looks the part.
A still from the film
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