Ajay Devgn scores a tour-de-force performance in Maidaan, the inspiring biographical drama about Syed Abdul Rahim, the unsung hero who defied all odds to revive Indian football in the 1950s and 60s.
As the fiercely determined coach, Devgn is a force of nature, rallying his rag-tag team to overcome lack of funds, facilities and support through sheer willpower. The young actors portraying the players match Devgn's intensity with wonderfully naturalistic acting.
Director Amit Sharma transports viewers to that era through lush period details and deftly balances the personal drama with exhilarating, innovatively-shot match sequences. The climactic 1962 Asian Games final is a genuine goosebump-raising triumph.
But the soul of Maidaan lies in its simplicity and understated tone in depicting Abdul Rahim's against-all-odds journey. In the pantheon of Bollywood sports biopics, it's a winning underdog story that raises a deserving champion. An entertaining, uplifting must-watch!
