Maidaan Review: Ajay Devgn Delivers Near Faultless Performance In Syed Abdul Rahim Biopic

first frame of Maidaan, opens with 1952 Olympics in Finland. India loses a crucial win to Yugoslavia by 9 goals. 'SHAME!', callously splashed across papers gives way to echoes of disdain. Amit Sharma directorial, despite its shortcomings, aptly captures how passion for a sport does not even loosely translate to a true understanding of what it takes to submit you body, life and spirit to a game. For this and or reasons too, Maidaan is a 'class act'.

Hot take

Maidaan is a love letter to football, packaged in film reels. This perhaps, is an apt allegory for now deceased Indian football coach, Syed Abdul Rahim's life. Ajay Devgn is near faultless in his portrayal of coaching legend. same however, cannot be said about about presentation of story.

Does Maidaan live up to hype?

principal photography of film having commenced back in 2019, stood significantly delayed due to outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. However, as it goes in business of films, longer and tenser runup to release, more inflated are expectations that follow.

Maidaan n, five years in making, sly, is not Lagaan of football.

Ajay Devgn: Take a bow

Ajay Devgn has never really indulged in practices surrounding Bollywood's templated version of stardom, always maintaining an aloof yet strongly grounded public persona. This essence, is exactly what translates through as he assumes role of Syed Abdul Rahim. Devgn's Rahim is given no crutches with which he can win over audience - a grand entry, machismo, smooth dialogues - none of it finds a place in Maidaan.

Despite this, sheer attention and immediate respect actor commands in every frame is remarkable. Devgn's work across three-hour plus runtime of film is me up of strong glances, moments of reflective silence and a steely resolve that tears through screen to reach audience.

This very balance that Devgn strikes, allows some faces from 18-men strong team to command attention. Chaitanya Sharma as striker Preep Kumar Banerjee and Amartya Ray as winger Chuni Goswami leave quite impact. Priyamani essays role of coach Rahim's wife, Saira and makes best of her limited screen time, amply propping up Devgn's Rahim.

national identity versus state solidarity dynamic is skillfully developed

biggest antagonist in Maidaan is very real and persisting struggle of realising how state identity constructivism can never come before national identity. This struggle is personified by media honcho Roy Chaudhary (essayed by Gajraj Rao) and All India Football Federation member Shubhankar (essayed by Rudranil Sharma). An ardent dislike for Rahim coupled with an almost agenda-like need to place Bengal's interests in football over greater good makes for a solid undercurrent in film with a redeeming resolution.

Speaking of villains, Maidaan sees Devgn and his boys battle many - sorely poor editing runs front and center in this regard. Shahnawaz Mosani, sports editor for Maidaan must be appreciated for slick match sequences seminal to story.

His work in last thirty minutes of film, capturing Indian team's torrid journey through 1962 Asian Games makes for a surreal atre experience as audience applause syncs up with that of on-screen stium. Dev Rao Jhav however, film editor, has much to answer for inexcusable, and unnecessary three-hour plus runtime.

Maidaan pales in comparison to Bollywood's recent legacy of sports dramas

Lagaan (2001), Chak De! India (2007), Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013), Dangal (2016) - se are some of foremost titles from Bollywood's reservoir of sports dramas. Lagaan was first of its kind, cinematising struggle against British Raj tied in with national passion, cricket. Chak De! spotlighted equally hard-hitting me of women in sports. Dangal explored same waters under show and guidance of a proud patriarch. Maidaan in this regard, fails to present a pressing X factor to audience.

Still, film peaks strong in its highs. Against all odds is an understatement when it comes to team's trot to victory, something effectively cinematised. A moment that stands out in film is when team's best defender, Jarnail Singh, is severely injured during aggressive match with Thailand - Devgn simply mouths "Iska hisaab chahiye mujhe" and that is enough to supercharge m to a win. actor's steely resolve manages to translate through screen, for instance, even as he helplessly grasps at lone bench, coughing up blood, in final minutes of South Korea-India playoff. Full props to last thirty minutes of film, delivering a 'clinical finish'.

Watch it or skip it?

Maidaan is every bit worth watch. You must however, be prepared for occasional periods of lull and montages of intensive leg work, which very well could have been edited out to make sports drama a much crisper watch.

That being said, Maidaan is a story that needed to be told - and more importantly, heard.

Bottomline

Ajay Devgn, unsurprisingly, maintains an impeccable gravitas right from first frame, down to last. Amartya Ray and Chaitanya Sharma shine nearly as bright. last thirty minutes of film may just convert you into an overnight football enthusiast, even if you know nothing about sport. Chak De! fans can look forward to not one but two final strike moments.

Rating: 3/5