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‘M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story’: Sushant is brilliant, the film is not
Film: “M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story”; Director: Neeraj Pandey; Cast: Sushant Singh Rajput, Kiara Advani, Disha Patani; Rating: **1/2
There is a moment of reckoning in Dhoni’s life when getting on that moving train would mean the difference between life and stillness. That metaphorical moment when Sushant Singh Rajput, playing Dhoni as though by birthright, jumps on that train, shot with astute honesty and gritty resplendence by Santosh Thundiyil, is so brilliant in capturing the moment, that changes a life from ordinary to something extra, that greedily one waits for more such moments in the vast stretches of storytelling that occupy the film.
First things first. There is nothing ‘Untold’ in this three hour-plus sprawling paean to one of the most iconic cricketers of our times. All we see for what seems like an eternity of playing-time are scene after scene from Dhoni’s life and career. All these incidents have been in the public domain for as long as we can remember.
The movie goes through the cricketer’s life chapter by chapter. This is not a film. It’s a book. A biography masquerading as a film. So prosaic that it makes the poetry in the songs played in the background, seem redundant. This is an authorised biography, if you will, since the legend himself imprints his signature on every frame, and that includes the actor who plays Dhoni on screen.
Sushant Singh Rajput is so ferociously correct in assuming Dhoni’s personality, you wonder how he got so much feeling into the batting. But more about his virtuoso performance later.
What gets our attention immediately is the eye for elaborate detailing of the biographical figures’ emotional and geopolitical status. Director Neeraj Pandey and his co-writer Dilip Jha ransack every nook and corner of Dhoni’s lifescape in pursuit of the demi-god who played the field as though he owned it.
From his childhood escapades as an accidental cricketer to his triumph during the World Cup, Dhoni is projected as an icon with almost no flaws.
There is a scene where Dhoni’s wife-to-be (Kiara Advani) who doesn’t know who Dhoni is (ha ha ha), asks her room-mate about him. “He’s very hot,” the friend sighs in her sleep. That friend embodies the film’s team. Awestuck, adulatory sighing and oohing over the cricket icon’s quirks and whims as though Mother Teresa has been reborn on the playing field. This is not a biopic. It’s a three-hour ‘bhajan’.
Say hello to the halo, then. And if you are looking for the dirt under the finger-nails… Then you are in for a disappointment. This is a celebration of Dhoni’s legendary status in the boldest strokes… pun intended. The sprawling but comprehensive and at times compelling plot takes us on a journey that spills with enthusiasm and brio — thanks mainly to Sushant’s bright and measured interpretation of Dhoni — but devoid of any surprises.
Some of what is seen to be a sign of the man’s greatness comes across as extremely strenuous attempts to reinforce the haloed argument. A sequence in a hotel room where Dhoni greets an old friend warmly, is supposed to reveal how ‘normal’ the icon remained even after his fame. But life teaches you that it is the peripheral people who “make” a star. And this is the subtext that lifts this eulogistic bio-pic to a believable level.
The ‘supporting’ characters — the ones who saw recognized acknowledged and encouraged Dhoni’s genius — are all brilliantly played by actors who seem to understand the dying art of selfless devotion. Mention must be made of Anupam Kher, Kumud Mishra and Rajesh Verma. The ever-reliable troopers, they turn their cramped spaces into middle-class homes and hearts, into rooms with a view into the soul. Unknown actors playing Dhoni’s pals in Ranchi are heartwarming and earnest. Dost ho to aisa!
A sizeable portion of the commodious plot is devoted to Dhoni’s two love relationships, one of them leading to marriage. It’s debutant Disha Patani who as Dhoni’s lost love, lights up every frame she gets to be in. Her death ought to have been a devastating moment in the narrative.
Regrettably, the breakdown after her death as he sobs in the middle of a busy road, is the only sequence that Sushant plays unconvincingly. He is otherwise on a firm wicket, playing out Dhoni’s aspiration on an even pitch, imbuing warmth credibility and authenticity to Dhoni’s persona. Sushant’s physical transformation displaying different stages of Dhoni’s life is astonishing.
What would “M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story” have been without Sushant Singh Rajput? What would Dhoni, the man and the legend, have been without his family and friends?
The women, including Dhoni’s very supportive sister (played by Bhumika Chawla), are shown to be precluded from the main drama. As though a feeble understanding of the nuances of cricket makes them the weaker sex. One of the wives of a Bengali cricket coach is either shown buying fish or offering tea to her husband as he cheers his protégé’s performance on live television.
This film is an extremely clever amalgamation of two favourite national past times: cricket and patriotic jingoism. Director Neeraj Pandey adopts the voice of a serial director, going through episode after episode in Dhoni’s life with reverence .
“The Untold Story”, some other time.
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.