#SachinABillionDreams : 15th Nov 1989 to 18th
Nov 2013 , the nation romanced with one man for 24 magical years . Cricket in
India was never about just 22 yards, Sachin for our generation was way beyond a
superman, he was the memories we grew up with. Answer to “Sachin he ke out
hogeya” defined the mood of the country for over two decades. If Gavaskar stood
for resilience, Kapil for flair, Sachin was the one who represented Hope and
Aspiration.
It is not easy to make a film on someone who is under
constant media glare since the age of 16, who steers clear of controversies and
whose autobiography has just been published couple of years back. But director
James Erskine uses a non linear narrative to intercut between different phases
of his career to stitch together a riveting saga. The home videos have been
beautifully used to keep the documentary engaging. It gives a good sneak peek into the masters’
mental strength. Watch out for Sachin’s interview post his selection to Indian
Team. Even as 16 years old he was very confident and was not wary of Pakistani
attack that comprised of few supremely talented players. That speaks about his
mind set. There is not much in the story that you already not know, but then
the master himself narrating the story makes it exciting. What works for the
film is Sachin speaking about his own failures, struggles and pressure of
coping with the expectations. And this
is where Sachin transcends from being a demigod to a mere mortal who overcame adversities
through sheer hard work. And that is what Sachin was to 120 billion Indians,
one among us, yet far superior to most, the one who fulfilled our own
unfulfilled dream to be world beater. The film does well to stay away from
being hagiographical.
Sachin – A billion Dreams is a beautiful documentary that
helps you relieve your memories and inspires one to dream. It reinforces the importance
of humility, hard work and conviction. It
leaves you with a lump in your throat. As you walk out of the auditorium tears
of nostalgia overwhelms you. Afterall you have just relived a huge part of your
life. Go watch it right away , watch
Sachin step out and hit Warne for a six , watch him as he tackles the desert storm,
watch him as he celebrates the world cup win , watch him as he walks one last
time to bat for India , feel the lump in your throat as he gives his farewell
speech and discover yourself in each of his journey . Between 22 Yards and 24 years how quickly time
flew by, nostalgia, tons and tons of it.
As for rating, all I would chant is “Sachin .. Sachin “. The
man means a world and I ‘m forever a fan boy.
