The memories of April 2, 2011 are deeply embedded in the hearts of many of us. After a few weeks of exciting sporting events, it all culminated in the World Cup grand final. There were 28 years left for the homecoming and all that separated us from the trophy was a boundary. One can hardly forget Ravi Shastri’s immortal commentary as captain MS Dhoni won the World Cup in dramatic fashion and united the country in a way only cricket can do. Of course, I know about the urban celebration in 2011 through rooftop fireworks and water-filled streets, but I often ask my elders what it would have been like to see India win the World Cup in 1983. Iqbal begins with the entire village gathered under the shade of a banyan tree as they watch India win the World Cup in 1983. In dramatic fashion, as Kapil Dev leads India to victory, we see a woman about to give birth amidst all the celebration.
Many years later, the child has now grown up, still does not speak. However, he sees. he dreams. He challenges not himself but us as a society to see his genius despite our adversity. Cow grazing seems like the perfect excuse for Iqbal to pursue his dreams of becoming a cricketer, as he practices bowling on the ground that is now his home ground. His mother and sister are also very supportive. On the other hand, as good and caring a father as her father may be, his hesitation stems from being protective. He never understands Iqbal’s foolish notion of pursuing the game will take him nowhere. Rooted in his practicality, he is a man born of hardship and circumstances. He experiences many difficulties in maintaining his farm, and the lack of money creates a fear that turns into desperation for an immediate change in fortunes. Thus, he cannot imagine a life where education or a “hopeless” dream could help put food on the table. You want him to be proven wrong, but know deep down that his frustration remains justified.
Iqbal dared to dream. He may be perfect at his little home ball when no one is watching, but he hasn’t really understood yet how to use his gift of bowling in the game. He wants to learn. Even when faced with adverse circumstances, his determination to not give up is admirable. And it is this same determination that leads him to find a teacher in a man everyone dismisses as the village drunkard, played with excellent ability by Naseeruddin Shah. Kukunoor’s understanding of his setting and theme allows the portrait of rural India and a family to be painted on a canvas of honesty. Iqbal keeps the dream alive and is a student who fights for his teacher, ensuring that he is taught not to be better, but to be the best. Undoubtedly, the student-teacher relationship is greatly helped by Iqbal’s feisty sister Khadija, who is one of the most beautiful portrayals of a brother-sister relationship on screen. She often acts as his translator and trusts her brother more than anyone else and is willing to fight for him like anyone else. Iqbal finds a confidant in him, and as he is always determined to pursue his dream, it is the arduous journey of an ordinary man with a big dream that really makes you appreciate the film, where each character has such a definite narrative.
For those who love cricket or sports in general, a beautiful surprise awaits in the last part of the film, where the presence of a certain person brings a wide smile. Kukunoor’s unstoppable yorker in a film reflects the determination of a student who, without speaking a word, dreams of achieving what no one thinks he can; He believes in his talent and the power of learning. He just doesn’t dare to dream; He dares to dream big. Iqbal never cared to hear the voices of others, because, as the film rightly says, “the only voice he could hear was his own.”
published – October 13, 2025 at 10:00 am IST