Iqbal

Iqbal, directed by Nagesh Kukunoor, is an Indian film starring Shreyas Talpade as a deaf and mute farmer's son obsessed with cricket, who dreams of playing for the national team. Iqbal works toward that dream under the guidance of a washed up, alcoholic former cricketer played by Naseeruddin Shah; real life cricket legend Kapil Dev appears as himself in a cameo as one of the team selectors. Some sports writers claim the film draws on the life of Yashwant "Baba" Sidhaye, a real deaf and mute cricketer who played in the Ranji Trophy, but the filmmakers never confirmed this connection, and the film is officially presented as entirely fictional. Shreyas Talpade learned sign language and studied Kapil Dev's own bowling technique to prepare for the role; the film won Best Feature Film on Other Social Issues at the 62nd National Film Awards, while Naseeruddin Shah won the Silver Lotus for Best Supporting Actor. Who it's for: anyone curious about an Indian film following a deaf and mute farm boy's cricket dream, shadowed by a disputed but never confirmed claim of inspiration from a real cricketer's life. Who it's not for: those assuming this is a straightforward biography, since the filmmakers presented it as entirely fictional from the start.