The upcoming biopic “Maidaan” will showcase the untold story of the legendary footballer Syed Abdul Rahim who brought laurels to the country in the 1950s. Ever since the trailer was released, some audiences have been drawing parallels between the Ajay Devgn starrer and the iconic sports drama “Chak De India”. However, director Amit Sharma notes that the only commonality is the 22 players on the field.
In a recent interview, Sharma explained that while both films use football/hockey as the backdrop, the narratives could not be more different. “The journey, struggle and theme of the two movies have no overlap. Maidaan is a tribute to Abdul Rahim and his emotional dedication towards elevating Indian football.” He further clarified that it is not a sports biopic but a heartwarming account of one man’s love for his country and sport.
The filmmaker shared that depicting Rahim’s inspirational story on the big screen was a challenging task. “My goal was to bring this sporting legend’s contributions to light and ignite patriotism in audiences.” Produced by Boney Kapoor, “Maidaan” release date is April 10. It also stars Priyamani and Gajraj Rao in key roles alongside Devgn to bring this untold tale of a visionary coach’s relentless efforts.
