Movie Review: Azhar

‘Azhar’, based on former Indian cricket captain Mohammad Azharuddin’s life and mainly on the betting controversy is confusing; not because one might have expected an engrossing sports biographical film which it fails at but because the whole idea of making ‘Azhar’ is to inform you that the cricketer wasn’t wrong and then in the climax, you are asked to judge him.

I, for one, don’t follow sports and sportspersons hence, can only talk about the movie. Not judge Azharuddin.

Director Tony D’Souza’s film is very mediocre. It begins on a dull note till a character actually says nobody likes a story mid-way. So, our protagonist takes us back to the time he was born to play for the country. Even then, you don’t feel invested in the plot. Neither does it work as a sports film nor a drama about a wronged cricketer torn between his wife and new-found love. And someone calls Sangeeta Bijlani a big actress. Oh, well.

Emraan Hashmi quite sinks his teeth into the role and you might want to watch ‘Azhar’ only for him. It’s not just the body language and mannerisms I’m talking about but the sincerity in his performance. It’s a pity that the weak direction doesn’t do justice to the character. Prachi Desai is good in the few scenes she is there. Nargis Fakhri just can’t act. Lara Dutta does a better job than both of them as a lawyer against Azhar who was once his fan. Kunaal Roy Kapur impresses in the last few reels.

For a change, the music is quite nice. ‘Bol Do’ is my pick.

‘Azhar’ might disappoint his fans and definitely not for people expecting a sports film.

• About the Author

About Abhirup Dhar

I don't watch movies... I live them! Let me introduce myself. Abhirup Dhar was born in Kolkata and is still being brought up in India. A banker by profession, he is filmy to the core and is passionate about reviewing movies and writing. He likes to live on his own… he likes to be blunt, sarcastic, famous, infamous, confident, over-confident, moody at times… he likes to be himself. He is imperfect because perfection is boring. His love for movies dates back to his childhood days when he studied in a boarding school. A three-month Winter Vacation every year… and he made sure he watched as many movies then. Parents thought it was a phase... he knew it was Passion and he knew it back then itself. The craziness to watch movies on the Big Screen began during the last two years of school when he literally bunked to town so that he could catch up with the new Hindi Movie releases. Some thought he was plain crazy. He confirmed it was Passion... yet again. The hard fact is that not always can you walk a path you are passionate about. You have expectations to fulfill and Life to be made. But Life gives you chances and you have to grab them. So... here is he... your friendly critic who will be giving you his Verdict every week so that you can decide which release is worth your moolah and which is not! See you at the Movies! Stay connected at Facebook and Twitter!