Best fictional sports drama Bollywood films on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hotstar, and Zee5.
The coronavirus pandemic has pulled the handbrake on sporting events all around the world and bunkered people into their work-from-home routines and social distancing. With sports off the menu, it has left sports enthusiasts dejected. Catching up on sports movies is one of the better ways to experience the same thrill and excitement of a live match. Therefore, we bring to you the best fictional sports films of Bollywood, so that, in these testing times you can relive the magic of sports. So what’s say, let’s begin.
Panga (2020)
The film follows Jaya, a former Kabaddi world champion, who is pushed into making a comeback by her family. It portrays the internal conflicts between her role as a mother and that of a woman with ambition. The movie has an engaging screenplay which is filled plenty of heartfelt moments and definitely makes for a light-hearted watch.
Director: Ashwini Iyer Tiwari
Cast: Kangana Ranaut, Jassie Gill, Richa Chaddha, Neena Gupta
IMDb Rating: 7.0
Where to watch: Disney+ Hotstar
Hawaa Hawaai (2014)
The film follows Arjun, a poor boy working at a tea stall, who overcomes his financial and emotional challenges in order to fulfil his dream of becoming a skating champion. It is soulful, heartbreaking and hopeful, moving you from tears to deep thought. The child-like chemistry the kids share is delightful to watch and will leave you in splits. Overall, Hawaa Hawaai is a must-watch.
Director: Amole Gupte
Cast: Partho Gupte, Saqib Saleem, Makarand Deshpande, Neha Joshi
IMDb Rating: 7.4
Where to watch: Disney+Hotstar
Saala Khadoos (2016)
The film follows Adi Tomar, a boxer, who after getting ignored by the boxing association tries to accomplish his dream by training Madhi, an amateur fighter. It has an engaging screenplay coupled with stellar performances and realistic boxing scenes which make it a riveting watch.
Director: Sudha Kongara
Cast: Madhavan, Ritika Singh, Nassar, Mumtaz Sorcar, Zakir Hussain, Radha Ravi
IMDb Rating: 7.6
Where to watch: Sony Liv
Mukkabaaz (2018)
The film follows Shravan Singh, an aspiring boxer, who overcomes the politics present in the boxing federation in order to fulfil his dream of becoming a champion. Mukkabaaz launches a scathing attack on the system and hypocrisies of our society with a blend of love & humour. Rachita Arora, DJ Nucleya and Divine deserve a special mention for the pulsating soundtrack that also helps the narrative.
Director: Anurag Kashyap
Cast: Vineet Kumar Singh, Jimmy Shergill, Zoya Hussain, Ravi Kishan
IMDb Rating: 8.0
Where to watch: Zee5
Lagaan (2001)
The movie is set in the early 1890s, during the late Victorian period of India’s colonial British Raj. It follows Bhuvan, a farmer, who accepts the challenge of Captain Andrew Russell, the Commanding Officer of the British troops stationed there, to beat his team in a game of cricket. If Bhuvan wins the challenge it would that his village wouldn’t need to not pay taxes for the next three years. The film is must-watch for its rich production values, stellar performances and its eclectic soundtrack. It became the third Indian film to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film after Mother India (1957) and Salaam Bombay! (1988).
Director: Ashutosh Gowarikar
Cast: Aamir Khan, Gracy Singh, Khulbhushan Kharbanda, Suhasini Mulay, Paul Blackthorne
IMDb Rating: 8.1
Where to watch: Netflix
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZPbpymefuE
Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander (1992)
The film is a coming-of-age drama which has an element of sports seamlessly infused in the narrative. It portrays the transformation of Sanju, a carefree college student when his elder brother is unable to participate in a prestigious competition due to an injury. The movie should be praised for its realistic storytelling.
Director: Mansoor Khan
Cast: Aamir Khan, Ayesha Jhulka, Deepak Tijori, Pooja Bedi, Khulbhushan Kharbanda
IMDb Rating: 8.2
Where to watch: Zee5
Chak De India (2007)
The film follows Kabir Khan, a tainted hockey star, begins coaching the Indian women’s national hockey team to prove his loyalty to the nation. It has an extremely well-knit screenplay with an unrelentingly deft direction which give a fresh look to the conventional underdog sports film.
Director: Shimit Amin
Cast: Sharukh Khan, Shilpa Shukla, Sagarika Ghatge
IMDb Rating: 8.2
Where to watch: Amazon Prime
So, these are the best fictional sports films of Bollywood on Prime, Netflix & Hotstar.
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