MS Dhoni- A name that is synonymous with Indian team’s triumph at the world cup series, in both the T20 and ODI. A name that is bound to drive every cricket fan into a tizzy. Making a movie celebrating a true cricket leader is a Herculean task. Has the director succeeded in this? Read more to find out  ...

MS Dhoni is the story of our Captain Cool. Starting from the days when Dhoni was a goalkeeper to the days he successfully lifted the 2011 World cup, the movie tracks his journey with an emotional connect which is bound to touch the audience. There are  innumerable knots which any common man with big dreams can relate to. Be it the scene where Dhoni is frustrated that he is not able to progress well enough as a cricketer or be it the scene where four friends do everything beyond their might to make the dream of their friend come true. We have all experienced this. This is the biggest strength of the movie - emotions run high but just like our captain they make us smile. There is a strange warmth associated with it which throws in a relatable depth to the soul of the movie

The visuals are apt. At times, it  is easily noticeable that Sushanth Singh Rajput’s face has been embossed on to a figure. There might not be too many songs that are hum-worthy for a movie of this template. But we wonder if it will make any difference. There are a few love portions in the second half which might slow down the pace for a few but immediately the film picks up momentum.

The editing is neat. Although the run time is  more than 3 hours the excitement level never dies down. The nostalgic moments are aptly trimmed. They are neither too long to make it too dramatic nor are they short to kill the emotion even before we get hooked on.

The casting is perfect and Sushanth Singh Rajput has done a tremendous job. Anupam Kher shines as a father who never doubts his son’s potential, but rather doubts the chances of him landing a perfect chance. The scene where he cries on seeing his son lift the World Cup or is jubilant that his son has proved his doubts wrong are noteworthy.

Overall, the director, Neeraj Pandey has thoroughly understood the nature of the movie and has delivered a memorable flick. He handles the script  with a fine mettle and shows immense maturity in the way he has executed it. MS Dhoni is not the journey of a single man. It is the journey of an entire generation which grew up watching, eating and sleeping cricket. It is the journey of every next door guy who wants to live his dreams.