WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
First, the Recap:
Striving to find success. It is the mantra, the goal, the drive behind many a man or woman to seek out opportunities to excel in what they have passion for. Once that eagerness and vigor finds the path to fulfillment, however, at what potential cost does the final achievement come at? For a young boy, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Zeeshaan), his overall enthusiasm to succeed in everything he aims for is only equaled by his desire to put in whatever amount of work required to see the intended result gained. Initially playing goalkeeper for his school’s football team, his prowess attracts the attention of the cricket coach Keshav Ranjan Banerjee (Rajesh Sharma), who ultimately convinces Dhoni to try the sport out.
Finding a knack for it, especially in batting, a soon grown up Dhoni (Sushant Singh Rajput) builds his reputation as an incredibly talented offensive force on the field. With the support of his mother and sister, but hesitation from his father who wants to see his son obtain a regular profession rather than cricket, Dhoni soon finds himself working for Indian Railways as a ticket checker while also playing cricket for the company team. Trying to bide his time, Dhoni continues to discern that cricket is truly his one absolute fixation. Finally making the move to cricket full time, Dhoni encounters massive success, but also heartbreak and hard roads accompanying his journey.
Overcoming the odds, Dhoni becomes part of the Indian National Team to even greater acclaim, even as life, love, and other facets of his decisions definitively begin to come together for the better.
Next, my Mind:
As this reviewer was not at all familiar with the project’s titular leading character in either film form or in real life, director Neeraj Pandey’s epic 185-minute ode to one of India’s most beloved sports heroes served its subject well, delivering a highly detailed, emotionally charged, deeply dramatic, and consistently engaging insight into one man’s odyssey to fame and triumph. What makes Dhoni such a fascinating person, at least as portrayed here, was how much he never wavered in the pursuit of what he loved so fervently, but did it via a very grounded, humble resolve. With his intense, keen, and wholehearted push from childhood to adult to see his dream come true, much less maintaining the fortitude and sincere commitment to make it through the obstacles he confronted, it’s an inspirational narrative that one cannot help but cheer for.
Rajput is truly fantastic as Dhoni, providing the character with a very believable sense of self as he navigates the victories and defeats, both in life and in the sport he cherishes, Dhoni faced in the journey to stardom. Able to take on the rigorous athletic duties needed for the cricket match sequences found throughout the film while also showcasing a tender, humorous, and sometimes conflicted side of the character in other facets of the character’s life, Rajput embodies it all very, very well, with determined intent and delivery. Excellent supporting turns from Sharma as Dhoni’s coach, Disha Patani as his ill-fated first love Priyanka, Kiara Advani as a new lease in love Sakshi, Anupam Kher as Dhoni’s father, and Bhumika Chawla as his sister Jayanti all add perfect context and specific perspective on Dhoni’s life via their characters here.
Filled with its amazing displays of India’s favorite sport at all levels while providing the insightful, entertaining, and engrossing layers of it’s primary character’s road to fulfillment, “M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story” is a marathon viewing experience very much worth investing the time in, and that will keep your attention that entire span, moreso if, like me, you haven’t had the pleasure of knowing this sports legend’s tale.
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
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