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Cricket is an exciting sport with plenty of drama, action, and passionate spectators. As such, it shouldn’t come as a surprise to know a number of films have been created using the sport as the central subject.
Whether you play cricket, watch it, or even gamble on it at an online sportsbook, if you are looking for film ideas that involve the game, then look no further. Here we detail five intriguing options for cricket fans to enjoy.
Written and directed by Ashutosh Gowariker and produced by Aamir Khan, Lagaan tells the story of a small village under financial pressure during the Victoria part of the British Raj. The villagers are in strife due to a tax burden put on them by the British. Efforts to decrease the tax fail, and instead, a bet is made.
If the villagers can field a team that beats the British in cricket, three years of taxes will be cancelled. The village then has to learn how to play the game for the chance to win. Do they succeed? You will have to watch to find out!
Iqbal is a movie about a boy obsessed with the cricket from an Indian village who dreams of making the national Indian team. Iqbal was directed by Nagesh Kukunoor and produced by Subhash Ghai and is a motivating tale of someone chasing their dream, with Shreyas Talpade playing the main character.
The number in the title might seem a bit random, but the 600028 part refers to a zip code in the suburbs of Chennai. Chennai 600028 is a comedy sports film directed as well as written by Venkat Prabhu.
The film is built around Indian street cricket, as well as the themes of love and friendship in Mandaveli, a part of Chennai. Chennai 600028 went on to be one of the hit films of 2007 and catapulted some of the then-unknown actors into popular figures.
2007 was clearly a good year for cricket films, as here is another one titled Say Salaam India: ‘Let’s Bring the Cup Home’. This one is about four boys from modest beginnings and their passion for cricket.
However, they end up at a local school where the most valued sport is wrestling, not cricket. Indeed, the authority there thinks that cricket is responsible for spoiling traditional Indian sports and is very against it. The four boys face opposition, but will their innate skills and passion for cricket prevail?
This one’s a bit different as it is a sports film that tells the story of Indian cricket player Sachin Tendulkar. Directed by James Erskine and produced by Ravi Bhagchandka, Sachin: A Billion Dreams dives into the life of the famous cricketer in great detail, revealing things you may not have already known. Released in 2017, Sachin: A Billion Dreams was filmed in both English and Hindi.
There, you have it, five cricket-related choices for your potential viewing pleasure. They might not be as exciting as playing or watching the popular sport for some, but there is plenty here for fans to digest.