Iqbal
File:Iqbal poster.jpg Movie poster for Iqbal
Directed by	Nagesh Kukunoor
Produced by	Subhash Ghai
Written by	Vipul K Rawal
Starring	Naseeruddin Shah Shreyas Talpade Girish Karnad Yatin Karyekar
Music by	Himesh Reshammiya Salim-Sulaiman
Cinematography	Kapil Devi
Editing by	Sanjib Datta
Distributed by	"Mukta Searchlight Films"
Release date(s)	26 August 2005
Country	India
Language	Hindi
Budget	78 lakh (US$155,600)
Box office	45 crore (US$8.98 million)

Iqbal (Hindi: इक़्बाल) is a 2005 Hindi Bollywood film written by Vipul K Rawal and directed by Nagesh Kukunoor and was released under Subhash Ghai's new banner, "Mukta Searchlight Films".

The story follows a cricket-obsessed boy from a remote Indian village as he aims to overcome his difficulties and become a cricketer and fulfil his dream of playing for the Indian national cricket team.^[1]

Plot synopsis[link]

Written by Vipul K Rawal, and directed by Nagesh Kukunoor Iqbal tells the story of Iqbal (Shreyas Talpade), a deaf and mute boy, who dreams of playing cricket for India. However, he is discouraged by his father who thinks that Iqbal's daydreams are a waste of time. Instead, he wants Iqbal to help him tend to the crops and become a farmer like him, which would be a stable profession.

Iqbal's sister, Khadija (Shweta Prasad), however, helps him try out for a nearby academy run by Guruji (Girish Karnad), an influential former India captain, who accepts him for his talent. However, when Iqbal competes with a rich boy, Kamal, who is also the star of the academy, he is thrown out by Guruji out of fear of Kamal's father, who bankrolls the academy. Iqbal seeks help from the local drunkard, Mohit (Naseeruddin Shah), who was once a great cricketer and persuades him to be his coach. They are able to train in a nearby field, using Iqbal's buffaloes (named after actual members of the Indian cricket team) as fielders.

Mohit trains Iqbal and gets him a place on the Andhra Pradesh Ranji Trophy team, despite Iqbal not having any previous cricketing experience. Iqbal plays marvelously for the team, which was a weak team before he joined, and is soon noticed by the press and cricket selectors alike. However, when the final match of the season pits Iqbal against his rival, Kamal, Guruji tries to bribe Iqbal to bowl badly so that the national team scouts at the game would select Kamal for the national cricket team. Iqbal succumbs to his offer, out of concern for his father, who is facing financial difficulties and may lose his lands. Luckily, a sports agent is able to offer him a better deal, and Iqbal bowls with his usual fiery pace and wins the match for his team. He also impresses the onlooking national team selector Kapil Dev (in a special guest role), and wins a place in the national team.

In the end Iqbal is shown donning the Indian Colours.

Cast[link]

• Shreyas Talpade as Iqbal
• Naseeruddin Shah as Mohit
• Girish Karnad as Guruji
• Shweta Prasad as Khadija
• Yatin Karyekar as Anwar
• Prateeksha Lonkar as Saida
• Dilip Salgaonkar as Bipin
• Jyoti Joshi as Farida
• Aadarsh Balakrishna as Kamal
• Gururaj Manepalli as Akash
• Kapil Dev as Himself (Special Appearance)
• D. Santosh as Satish Bhatawdekar

Reception[link]

Iqbal was well received by critics and audiences alike, and became the highest grossing low-budget film in the year.^{[citation needed]} The success of the film ensured its director Nagesh Kukunoor a little commercial recognition. It also catapulted it's writer Vipul K Rawal to instant fame. After the super success of the film, many producers tried to sign both the writer and the director, however Vipul has refused to work with Nagesh ever again for personal reasons. The film was voted amongst the Ten Hindi Films that is ideal for Training and Motivational material.^[2]

Awards[link]

• National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues - Nagesh Kukunoor
• National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor - Naseeruddin Shah
• Zee Cine Critics Award - Best Actor - Shreyas Talpade

Music[link]

The music is composed by duo Salim-Sulaiman and Himesh Reshammiya

1. "Aankhon Mein Sapna" composed by (Himesh Reshammiya) sung by (Ravindra Upadhyay)
2. "Aashayen" (KK)
3. "Aashayen (Slow Version)" (KK)
4. "Khelenge Khelenge" Sukhwinder Singh
5. "Maula" (Sriram Ayyer)
6. "Mutti Mein Aasman" (KK)
7. "Paani" (Suresh Wadekar)
8. "Tum Tana" (Sriram Ayyer)

References[link]

External links[link]