Nagesh Kukunoor wrote and directed Iqbal, a 2005 Indian coming-of-age sports drama Bollywood film. The movie follows a cricket-obsessed deaf and mute youngster from a rural Indian town as he strives to overcome obstacles in order to become a player and accomplish his ambition of playing for the Indian national cricket team. It is produced by Subhash Ghai under the banner “Mukta Searchlight Films.” The National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues was given to the film.
On August 18, 2016, the film was exhibited retrospectively at the Independence Day Film Festival, which was co-hosted by the Indian Directorate of Film Festivals and the Ministry of Defense to commemorate India’s 70th Independence Day.
Iqbal (Shreyas Talpade) is a deaf and mute youngster who aspires to represent India in cricket. His father, on the other hand, discourages him, believing that Iqbal’s daydreams are a waste of time.
Instead, he wants Iqbal to assist him in intending to the crops and eventually become a farmer like him, which would have been a secure career.
Iqbal’s sister, Khadija (Shweta Prasad), meanwhile, encourages him to try out for a local institution operated by Guruji (Girish Karnad), a powerful former India captain who recognises his promise. When Iqbal fights against a wealthy child, Kamal, who is also the academy’s star, he is booted out by Guruji, who is afraid of Kamal’s father, who finances the institution. Iqbal enlists the services of a local drinker, Mohit (Naseeruddin Shah), who was once a famous cricketer and convinces him to serve as his coach. They can practise on a neighbouring field with the help of Iqbal’s buffaloes (named after genuine players of the Indian cricket squad).
Despite Iqbal’s lack of cricketing experience, Mohit trains him as well as receives him a spot on the Andhra Pradesh Ranji Trophy team. Iqbal shines for the squad, which was already a weak one before he arrived, and is quickly noticed by the press and cricket selectors. When the season’s final match matches Iqbal against Kamal, Guruji tries to pay Iqbal to bowl badly so that the national team scouts at the game would pick Kamal for the national cricket squad.
Iqbal Bollywood accepts his offer out of fear for his father, who is now in financial trouble and it may lose his property. Fortunately, a sports agent is able to negotiate a better agreement for him, and Iqbal bowls at his customary furious pace to help his team win the match.
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