Film Review: Sachin: A Billion Dreams

Director: James Erskine

Cast: Sachin Tendulkar, Anjali Tendulkar, Mikhail Gandhi (as young Sachin)

Release Date: May 26, 2017 (INDIA)

Running Time: 2 hrs 19 mins

CBFC Rating: U

STORY:

Based on the celebrated and immensely revered life of God of Cricket, Sachin Tendulkar, the film is a biographical with the living legend himself narrating his cricketing and personal life in substantial details in most part. If not Sachin, then the film has either his family, match commentary or news bulletins or mates from cricket field, including legends like Sir Vivian Richards, sharing the Sachin story throughout the screenplay. The childhood of the Master Blaster is either through documented pictures and interview but largely through biopic format with actors portraying real life characters, including  that of Sachin.

SCRIPT:

Sachin's life is mostly been an open book, with very few controversies. Living a public life since the age of 14 when he became the youngest to play in a Ranji tournament, Generations of Cricket loving Indians have grown up to reading and watching everything about him. The script therefore is mostly a brilliant ensemble of huge archival footage from the long and illustrious career of the cricketing legend.

The new parts are his childhood, his family, the personal video footages with his kids and a little bit from inside the dressing room. One is likely to enjoy the real life training of Arjun Tendulkar as a bonus. The childhood story is endearing and bound to bring smiles on the naughtiness of Sachin as a kid, and the part about him growing up with cricket practices alongside regular school is sure to at least make #lifegoals like learning time adherence from the cricketer himself.

There is enough laughter moments in the film, especially the talk of Sachin's injuries like that of his always troubling Tennis elbow which used to make everyone in the country become "expert on human anatomy."

The India-Pak rivalry, the loss of his father, the Sachin vs Warne matches and the world cup losses and the subsequent win in 2011, it's all in there. Sachin shares time period of Match Fixing allegations and Greg Chappell coaching but they are a bit sketchy, unlike he how clearly mention about his initial captaincy period in 1993 dividing the dressing room into two groups. 

The Script could have been more insightful in terms of the dressing room talks and relationship between the team-mates, even if as a narration, like Sachin locking himself inside the room for 2 hours after one particular loss. It is clear that the film was written for the love of Sachin Tendulkar and for the audience members to re-live the stadium atmosphere of the SACHIN SACHIN chants. It is too positive, straight and simple.

PERFORMANCES:

Sachin Tendulkar is probably one of the most soft spoken celebrity in the country. So you would not really expect a narration in that voice. But it's the magic of Sachin that his voice works. Even if you are not a Sachin or cricket fan, him narrating one of the most inspirational life story is bound to root for him and join the SACHIN chant.

The film is biographical, so any score of performance comes from the childhood parts of the film. Mikhail Gandhi as the young Sachin is as endearing as the legend's most famous childhood pic with the curly haired him holding a bat half naked. It's a sincere performance that will leave an impression. The teenage Sachin is wonderful with his strong eyes and how he trains, showcasing the legend's technical upbringing.

There is a host of cricketers from around the world, commentators, experts and cinema legends Amitabh Bachchan and Lata Mangeshkar sharing their Sachin story in the screenplay and it's all a real treat. If only wishes were horses, one may wish to have seen alleged rival camp members like Mohammad Azharuddin and Vinod Kambli share their part.

The cricket audience reactions throughout the film, either from inside the stadiums or from news archives are very well researched for final edit. They carry good emotions.

PRODUCTION:

Emmy nominated Director and co-writer James Erskine is loyal to Sachin Tendulkar - the God of Cricket. The script does leaves quite a bit uncovered. The screenplay is sketchy but there are enough moments that make up for the jumps.

The dialogues and narration are a mixture of hindi, english and marathi. So be prepared to cope up with the subtitles when needed.

Music by AR Rahman is good as stand alone but the lyrical part of original compositions don't gel with the screenplay. The Sachin chant is very well utilised, and so is the positioning of Rahman's decade old Vande Mataram composition. Background score by the music maestro is however very effective.

Cinematography is very effective and will evoke déjà vu and emotions, even if you are not much of a cricket buff. It just tugs your Indian heart. Editing by Avdhesh Mohalla is pretty neat and praiseworthy in terms of the archival footage available. In terms of film's length, it will not bore you.

FINAL WORD:

The movie is an experience from the word go. If you have ever seen the God of Cricket at work, you can relive the experience. If not, then this is your opportunity to know what it feels like. The film is about realising your destiny as the only way in life, the very way Sachin always lived for cricket and the country. Sachin: A Billion Dreams is a must watch, despite the shortcomings of the script. Go ahead and chant SACHIN.. SACHIN.

Porn Life

“None of us has PLANS to do porn.”

Amy Poehler’s take on Les Misérable and Celebrity Life is definitely a forever favorite; because I relate to it so much. *wink* *wink*

It’s always been my most confident belief doing porn – definitely not the amateur one – mean that you are superbly and insanely confident about your body, your face (for the close ups, listen to Amy again), and obviously your forever surprising body parts and energy. I, for one, am always wishing and dreaming for that confidence level. Actions are lazy though, regretfully.

Like Joseph Gorden-Levitt’s Don Jon, I have never really liked jerking off to porn. Even in relationships and confirmed upcoming sex dates, I have been addicted to it. I hate it, no other words can I think about my actions. I have tried to look for answers why I continue to do regretful actions and understood that from being a passive person who wanted to get the hardcore action to suffer the pain, as if I deserved it, I have reached the stage of being someone who feels low at his own being in comparison to is failing to achieve. I seriously need the highest insane level of motivation to build up muscles for the muscle of confidence in my brain and heart.

Talking about watching people for emulation, I remember watching this particular porn (details of which I will like to reserve for private consumption) many years ago and how I couldn’t find a porn hence with anyone as submissive as this one guy, portraying a paid escort, and serving the master. The skin, the abs, the face, the energy…he was perfect. But why do I have to think about him anymore?

He was not sissy, neither was he feminine. He was every inch of a guy in his expressions and in his actions. He was a boy BOY. He just happened to be gay escort.

That is what I wished for. That is what I still wish to be. Even if not in a porn life.

As luck would have it, my favorite chance-encounter-porn among friends also had the bottom guy who was complete opposite of sissy and feminine and every inch of a guy in his dialogue (yes, this one had a story with dialogues. Love these kind, LOL), expressions, actions, a man MAN and having sex with with another man.

What’s the Point of talking about these two?

Today I find out that my first BOY has all grown up to become this MAN; like growing older from a 16-17 year old twink to a good 23-24 year old guy.

The best thing I have ever and I can ever find out in Porn.

I may fail again in not getting back to the other porn because of not yet being at the level of ‘most confident’ as a professional porn actor but this will be the inspiration in all my conscience, sub-conscience and even unconscious state to keep pushing myself for my future self.

Never say never; surprisingly all thanks to my Porn Life.

Handful of Fate

Maybe our mistakes are what make our fate.

I don’t prefer making plans when I know I will not give my hundred percent into it. Explains my joblessness, for this time it’s not about preference but about ability. I just can not make plan for a new job till I become myself with my full awareness. I am lazy, I am worried but I am fearless to feel any and every pain. Because my fate, no matter how delayed, will not have my bad habits and especially any regret. I am regretful aplenty, as of now and it does pain a lot.

Another day, another visa related work. This time it was for me - for my  plan to settle abroad through some proper mechanism.  The visit to the Canadian Education center brought out the prospect of New Zealand also, the country I wished to try my fate with Roop. He proposed to me spouse visa but we were mature to talk about me being properly settled in case the fate decided to disagree for right. So, the prospect made me trust destiny. However, I do need to be hundred percent sure of my path to the destination.

Family, especially mother, has brought a different line of not letting me move out, in a sudden srop of words a night before. I quietly don’t care about the same, but I do care about me investing in any amount and time, something which will be cent percent if go for it.

Not letting any mistake decide an otherwise fate, like life has been a lot, making me still feel the pains of regret - biggest one being not trusting my heart.

Talking about matters of the heart, I am still figuring that out - for a hundred percent belief – for a fate of my plans.

Destiny's Child

आगे क्या होने वाला है इसपर किसि का कंट्रोल तो है नही
तो ऐसे में वही करती हूं जो मेरा दिल कहता है
कल को मैं किसि को ब्लेम नहीं करना चाहती कि जी तुम्हारी वजह से मेरी लाईफ़ खराब हो गई
मेरी लाईफ़ जो भी होगी मुझे पता होगा मेरी वजह से ऐसी है
तो आई विल बी हैप्पी

Some fundas can never be "zyada" and Jab We Met is testament to that. What else can define a seemingly destined bad luck making me think about this line for my writing.

A good old tuesday hit the break with Canadian Visa denial for my brother and sister-in-law and enough tension ensued. Money matters for an average middle class home and my brother has dreams for his wife. I know that more than money, he will never let my sister-in-law down. It's just that his never-say-never attitude is the least peaceful and he has no filter between his thoughts and words.

Fears are quite natural to flow in a negative environment and I could not save myself from being a recipient. Add to that my ongoing man periods which did the best to accentuate the not so secret power of negativity with pessimistic varied thoughts for future.

Happy to say, however, that I have always considered myself as Destiny's Child. I have lived with pride in using the power of my destiny for my benefits and it did make me much lazy. For if I really wish, I wish with all my heart and that wish has always come true. It's just that even though I genuinely believe that my wish count is infinitive, I have always exercised them with utmost responsibility.

Happiness, Career, Money, Travel, Relationship, Marriage, Family.. They will all happen. I will never stop believing.

“And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” 

Words

Words can inspire.
And words can destroy.
Choose your words well.

I am being a man for the words as I live. It's not easy, but such if Life. No matter the situation, a conversation can make it better, even if not good. Words can bring wonders and the biggest being an assurance that your existence and the time is all good.

However, even these words can not be compartmentalised. Not every motivational quote can go with every down situation. Words of motivation also need to be thought of well before their use. Tough talk can create wonders at times but can really pain and hurt also. 

Maybe that is why it is wisely said actions speak louder than words. Probably the very reason I am always up to let go of the present and be optimistic about the future. But who can decides the time of action and need for comforting words. One can know and be heartfelt with the exact reality of a situation for a person and still can't motivate. Because the thoughts are endless.

Blank Spaces usually continue like periods in my life. Feeling uneasy to stand on a basic shopping and courier commitment and overhearing a strong tone from my mother on my stay-at-home situation doesn't surprise me anymore but I don't want either to be given future opportunity to repeat.

A mistake repeated more than once is a decision.

I have started to channel my inner comfort in my wardrobe and its a relieve when I can be myself and feel little or no pressure on being questioned. No matter the brands, I know I will never be shabby or uncomfortable for anyone around me; this much I will always care for my family and the society I am living with them.

It's just the words that they say without proper knowledge and/ or the least interest to attain that knowledge, they hurt, especially to me who is strong at remembering life.

We can not never feel hurt by the people we live with.
But we can definitely decide who has the ability to hurt us.

Blank Spaces

How can emptiness be so heavy?

One would imagine a life without an actual job to be empty but there is so much happening in my life that I can not but wonder what and how was I really living all this while. There is vacuum of regularity in my day-to-day life but the emptiness is really heavy to live with. It's like I am finally seeing the world I have made for myself and it's so complex that I am feeling extremely heavy to solve it myself.

Emotions are a tricky world. They can make you feel a whirlwind of happiness and sadness, unimaginable and inexpressible for the real life itself. I am not scared of emotions but I am human and bound to feel the weight, especially from the empty emotions that just can not be shared. 

The recent past, as shared in previous writings, did fell on me today. There are times I keep sitting along my table, in front of my laptop, doing nothing, thinking nothing and yet feeling so heavy that I am not even able to get the energy to scream.

Much of it is psychological, a lot of it sub-conscious but its all part of the one and only life I am living. No respite to my selected loneliness expect the writing I am able to do.

Staying put by my corner in my room, both of which still feels stranger to my soul. Listening to words about me, my eating time, spending family time with a smile here and a laugh there and finally getting back to the same corner in the same room. So much happening yet the spaces still feel blank - heavy blank.

I felt so much that I have started to feel nothing.

Multi Tasking Life

Life happens one moment at a time, but it is for us to decide what life to live in each moment. 

A beautiful day, an extension of the pleasant weather from last evening and water park plan that has been in bucket list for over a week just flew in the moment with the right breeze. A little humid but the fun one hour drive to water park in outskirts of the city and the amazing time thereon slayed a lot of wishes.

It started with feeling happy getting ready. My mirror is becoming a good friend and bringing me smiles. It's like it reads me and giving me a look into what I can all be.

Water never felt so good to play with. No matter the crowd, I had fun people for friends and we joked and laughed all through, never letting any negative thought get into my positivity. How could I, for I was in water at last.

It was everything I wished for every moment to be. Mad and pure fun. I was my age, confident in a never before experienced energy and happy. I was not striving for perfection because I was happy like I have not been in a long time. The journey through every moment was awesome if state the obvious.

The dry rides were scary but absolutely crazy fun. It was like we instinctively chose the rides in the ascending order of scariness. Starting from a warm up fun scary to the second last being shocking scary, what with getting to know in the end that my chair was loose throughout the airy ride. But the last one took the cake. I hurled out mad mad abuses in the last ride, which was unlike anything I had ever imagined, and far from anything I could while I saw it run a course before our turn on it. From Punjabi to Baahubali abuses, it was absolutely awesome.

Apart from the Wave Pool dance, we even got to dance on two other occasion - once on a dance floor before dinner and the second to a fun choreography class outside Decathlon. Definitely the cherry on top as we brought down the shutter to our Water Park sojourn.

However, life is more than what it seems like on the cover and there were emotional challenges of the heart yet to come.

A very recent promise to meet Akshay for overnight in his hotel room during his Gurgaon visit, turned out to much of a chaos - but one that I sorted out for the first ever time unlike similar and less dainty chaos I have forever been running away from.

Extremely personal to pen, the roller coaster moments did not end till next day's evening return train. Every moment is etched in the heart, especially being refered 'really strong and mature person' from the person who actually made me that. This was unexpected, especially after the turn of events, but something that make me happy about the person I am unlike I have ever been

Always a failure at multi-tasking, I passed today in multi-tasking unplanned life. #Blessed.

Author's Note: Although published on May 20, 2017, this particular Post is about an experience that went on till May 21, 2017 evening. Even the day needed multitasking from another day.