Movie Review - Iqbal

Let me start with one of the very good dialogue from this movie.

"When the heart begins to think like the head... that's when real success is achieved," Naseeruddin Shah tells to Shreyas Talpade, who plays as a deaf-and-mute boy aspiring to become a cricket player.
In the beginning for all those who expect Iqbal to be similar to Black, there's nothing like Black. Yes, the physically challenged 18-year old Iqbal and his washed-out drunk coach give a similar picture. But where Black goes deep into the misery of being a physically challenged person and the consequent triumph over the wound, Iqbal manages to show victory and triumph over the same without the misery and the pain.

The delicacy with which Kukunoor has handled Iqbal's disappointments and sadness is awesome. He portrays that high melodrama and extreme pain is not necessary to show the sufferings and the challenges of someone's life. You do not need buckets of tears and uncontrollable screaming. You can show it all in a look!

Well, Iqbal is a story of a deaf and dumb teenager, who aspires to be one of the men in blue. His journey, his disappointments, his hard work is what the movie is about. The story might be old, but the presentation by no means is the same.

The feel-good factor about the film is that it grasps and keeps your attention till the last scene in the movie. Nowhere in the 2-hour film do you feel bored or irritated. The mixed moments in the film are touching enough, so much that you find yourself crying and smiling with the characters in the film.

However, the best part about this film is that it does not sympathise Iqbal's disabilities. There are moments when his disabilities just don't seem to matter before his ultimate goal of securing a place in the Indian cricket team. And that I think is the difference between good and bad storytelling. This story could have very well converted itself to a tearful mela, but for Kukunoor's amazing mix of humour and emotions.

And finally, if it weren't for the performance, the movie wouldn't have been what it is. No character looked out of place. The actors fit the characters so amazingly well that you just couldn't have imagined a better casting. Shreyas Talpade is par excellence than what I can mention here. He did amazing mute acting. Shweta Prasad has shown that she has all the elements of making it big in a few years. Girish Karnad in his role as a corrupt coach fits, so much so that you actually hate him. And finally, Naseeruddin Shah, in probably one of his best and the most effortless performances ever! He just makes acting look so easy!

I am sure IQBAL will succeed in touching the core of your heart a number of times in two hours. And last but not the least, especially it’s worthy for freshers searching for jobs. I think, they can extract a message from Iqbal.