WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
First, the Recap:
It is the very nature of competition to possess the drive and desire to be the best you can, especially in the professional sports realm. With the cheering of the fans, the prestige, the pride in representing your country, it all meshes together into one cohesive dream. However, with said fame comes the possibilities of being corrupted by the very system that supports you. One of India’s premier cricketers and national team captain, Mohammad Azharuddin (Emraan Hashmi), aka Azhar, had it all. Dominating the sport with virtually unmatched skill, his leadership brought India, its national team, and fans success. With an established home life and wife Naureen (Prachi Desai) also in hand, Azhar was a picture of complete and total triumph.
That is until one accusation, match-fixing 3 games, is leveled against him, stripping him of his rank, playing rights, and imposing a lifetime ban from the sport he cherishes. One year passes, and Azhar calls upon his brother, Reddy (Kunaal Roy Kapur), a low level lawyer, to defend him at trial against the ban and the charges. Facing the intimidating presence of veteran prosecution lawyer, Meera (Lara Dutta), a battle of fortitude and building evidence begins to unfold, with nothing being held back by either side. But, under the pressures of the hearings, Azhar finds comfort in a popular actress, Sangeeta (Nargis Fakhri), which threatens his marriage. Also attempting to debunk a business relationship with bookie MK Sharma (Rajesh Sharma), all factors point to guilt, but Azhar refuses to back down, pushing to win back his name and country.
Next, my Mind:
Director Tony D’Souza infuses a wonderfully planned out and smoothly flowing film about this controversial cricketer with flare and dramatic impact via intense courtroom sequences, fan-crazed cricket stadium shots, and overall quality acting from the primary players. It places a very serious perspective on exactly how revered these athletes are, and therefore the notion of one of the sport’s biggest stars being false has deep repercussions on not just the player, but an entire nation that’s now been let down by one of its heroes. The fantastic utilization of music in the narrative adds additional nuance and potency to specific scenes, and the combination of some innocent humor, plus legal drama and sports action, gives the film a well-rounded tone and mood throughout.
Hashmi embodies Azhar quite effectively, and paints the viewer a picture of not just a star cricketer, but of a deeply committed individual who placed utmost importance on the quality of the game, the passion of the country it represents, the support of family, the memory of promises made, and a sheer will to overcome adversity and make his dreams come to pass. Hashmi’s conviction to show all of these facets in his role is evident. Such can also be said for Desai’s Naureen, who becomes a long-suffering supporter of her husband, even after their actual relationship was broken apart. Desai brings an innocence to the part that truly engages and fits perfectly for her character. Likewise, Fakhri’s Sangeeta is a force to be reckoned with, a popular actress who gets involved with Azhar unwillingly at first, then falls for him, then realizes the mistake she’s made.
Great and important supporting turns by Dutta, Kapur, and Sharma all figure into key points within the greater story, adding a blend between them of additional humor, hubris, and tension. In total, “Azhar” is another worthy Bollywood effort that, most importantly, presents an finale that allows the viewer to ultimately decide whether they believe the events portrayed or not when it comes to Azhar’s guilt or innocence. Hence, we are given the freedom to make up our own minds, which is something this reviewer in particular happens to appreciate.
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
