Best Sports Movies of Bollywood

In India, only two are discussed more than anything else these are - Movies and Sports especially Cricket. Even if our national game is called Hockey, but we have always been attracted to cricket, which as become synonyms for Sports in India. Bollywood produces over three hundred films a year. Most of these are action or romantic films that star many big banner heroes and heroines. And while sport is the only other big thing in India, there are not many movies that have sports based themes. 

Right now, we are producing like 2-3 sports movies in year. Seeing the condition of Sports, apart from Cricket and they we performed at London Olympics. Bollywood can motivate next gen of India through realistic sports movies. Bollywood can be the most inspiring element of Indian society and going by this fact, the movie makers should dish out more and more meaningful movies on sports as history has it records that sports and Bollywood is a great combination and is certain to influence the Indian folks.

Check out this list of some awesome Sports movies from Bollywood :-

Ferrari ki Sawaari

Ferrari Ki Sawari is a simple rise-of-the-underdog story of a talented boy who dreams of making it big in the world of cricket. What makes the narrative interesting is its less-taken route (through a Ferrari) and the ensuing eventful journey. The slick sports car gives that additional momentum to the movie thereby ensuring a roller-coaster ride.

Cricket is the most common sport, Ferrari is the most uncommon car and together they make for a lethal combo in debutante Rajesh Mapuskar's film. The sport is something that everyone can relate to and the sports car is something that every other person dreams of. At a broader level, the Ferrari also stands as a metaphor for that larger-than-life aspiration of any individual that might seem unachievable at the outset but isn't entirely impossible.

Chak De 

Starring the reigning king of Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan, this film is acknowledged to be one of the best films on Sports movies. Chak De! India explores many issues like attitudes towards women, religious bigotry, the after effects of Partition, and the dominance of cricket over other sports in India, with a sensitivity that is particularly heart warming. The title song of the movie “Chak De India” seemed to have become the second national anthem for India, with the song being played on almost every occasion the Indian players register a win in the International arena. The songs picked at India's maiden T20 World Cup win year 2007, with India celebrating world cup triumph after 24 years.

The story of this movie is about a former hockey player Kabir Khan (played by Superstar Shahrukh Khan) who was demonised as a traitor when India lost a hockey match against Pakistan due to Kabir’s mistake. He later comes back and assumes the position of the coach of the national women hockey team. The women team was neglected always despite having a talented bunch of players. Kabir after assuming the post tries to bring discipline in the team. His efforts to uplift the team’s performance works as the team finally wins gold medal at the commonwealth games.

Iqbal

Iqbal, a movie that released in 2005, the story of undying faith and commitment of a young man , who is challenged by his senses, is a treat to watch. Iqbal , a village boy who is deaf and dumb , aspires to get selected to the Indian cricket team and his industrious efforts and never -say -die attitude makes him live his dream.was the endearing and gritty story of an eighteen year old deaf and mute boy who dreams of playing cricket for his country. The film had Shreyas Talpade playing the protagonist, while Naseeruddin Shah played local drunkard Mohit, who, as Iqbal’s coach and helped the realisation of the boy’s dreams.

After getting rejected by a famous cricket academy, Iqbal seeks the help of Mohit (Nasseruddin Shah) who was once a great cricketer. Mohit trains Iqbal and Iqbal gets a chance to play for a weak Ranji team. The team finally manages to win the Ranji Trophy riding on the magnificent bowling of Iqbal. Iqbal overcomes all the hurdles and gets selected for the national team.

Lagaan

A classic Bollywood movie which will always be remembered as one of the best movies made in India. It was a huge hit in 2001 when it was released. It was also in the race for an OSCAR award in the ‘Best movie in Foreign Language’ category. Directed by Ashutosh Gowriker , the movie is considered by many to be the best Indian sport based movie made ever. It is the story of resilience and perseverance of British ruled rural India. The movie showed how a group of villager agrees to play a match of cricket with the British rulers to save their village from the exorbitant taxes imposed on them. The uneducated group emerges victorious despite not having any knowledge of the game.

The villagers had no knowledge of the game cricket but were helped by the sister of a powerful British officer. She decided to help as she was impressed by Bhuvan’s courage to take on the British in their own game. The match was a nail biting affair and the match went down to the wire. The villagers won the match at the end when Bhuvan hit the last ball for a six.

Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander

This story of love, revenge, hard work, determination and self belief is built around a popular cycle race event in the town of Dehradun. Winning this annual event is a matter of pride for the colleges of Dehradun. Aamir Khan (in the lead role) is forced to participate in the race representing the Modern college when his elder brother, a potential winner of the race, gets injured due to the evil intentions of his opponents. Another stellar performance from Aamir Khan came in the year 1992, in the movie Jo Jeeta Wahi Sikander. The movie was directed by Mansoor Khan and was a huge box office success.

Aamir, a carefree youngster, rises up to the occasion and practices hard to win the race for his college and most importantly for his brother. On the day of race, his opponent from an elite college called Rajput College tries every trick to strike Aamir off the race but thanks to sheer determination, Aamir wins the race at the end. The movie was a huge success and people still remember the movie for its brilliant story, performances of the actors and great sound tracks.

List of other Sports movies from Bollywood :- 

Awaal Number , Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal, Rok Sako To Rok Lo, Patiala House, Dil Bole Hadiappa, Paan Singh Tomar,  Hip Hip Hurray ,  Boxer , All Rounder , Kabhi Ajnabee The ,  Maalamaal  , Stumped , Awwal Number , Chamatkar , Chain Kulii ki Main Kulii , Hattrick , Say Salaam India , Ta Ra Rum Pum , Apne .

Hockey Raises Hope After Good Fight Against NetherLands

Hockey Raises Hope After Good Fight Against NetherLands

Back in the Olympics after a hiatus of eight years, past masters of the game India produced a valiant fightback in the second-half before losing 2-3 to world number three The Netherlands in their opening Group B match of the men's hockey competition on Monday. India, returning to the Olympics after a gap of eight years, started off the match with a fast attack, but the Netherlands came close to scoring on the counter before Birendra Lakra effected a fine clearance.

On Monday, eight time winners India gave tough fight to much higher ranked Netherlands before going down 2-3 in their opening London Olympic Games pool B men's hockey competition here. The Netherlands, the World No.3, opened up a 2-0 lead within the first half hour mark, but the Indians rallied back remarkably during a four-minute blitz after half time to draw parity at the riverbank arena. However, the European powerhouse struck the winner from a penalty corner midway into the second session to log full points.

Indians, ranked tenth in the world played well, particularly in the midfield, but their forwards were often found lacking, as they made a mess of a number of golden opportunities. But the defence looked solid, with V Raghunath cutting out some beautiful Dutch moves. Indian skipper Bharat Chettri also shone under the bar making some brilliant saves.

The Indian players' nerves were on display in their opening match, where all but two of their players were making the maiden appearance in Olympic Games. India's fightback began in the 45th minute when Tushar Khandekar's cross from the left flank struck the far post and rebounded into the circle. An opportunist Dharamvir Singh capitalised on the chance by beating goalkeeper Jaap Stockmann with a firm shot.

Three minutes later India were level at 2-2 when Gurwinder Chandi picked up a short pass from Gurbaz Singh inside the circle and dribbled past a defender before pushing the ball towards Shivendra Singh, who tapped in for India's second goal. Penalty corner specialist Mink van der Weerden reclaimed the lead for The Netherlands when he sent in a drag flick just under the cross-bar.

Hockey, in which India has an impressive record with eight Olympic gold medals, is officially the national sport. The Golden Era of hockey in India was the period from 1928 - 1956 when India won 6 consecutive gold medals in the Olympics. During the Golden Era, India played 24 Olympic matches, won all 24, scored 178 goals (at an average of 7.43 goals per match) and conceded only 7 goals. The two other gold medals for India came in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and the 1980 Moscow Olympics. 

Hockey alone has provided 11 metals (8 gold, 1 silver and two bronze medals). Apart from the three in shooting, the Indians have got two each in athletics and wrestling and one apiece from weightlifting, tennis and boxing.

We all know what happened in Chile in 2008. India was playing the qualifiers and was unable to qualify for the Beijing Olympics. It was the first time since 1928 that Indian men were not representing our National Game at the mega event. Since then there have been a lot of changes that have happened in Indian hockey.

Four years later India has got the chance to undo what happened to them in Chile. In the last three decades, Indian hockey has lost the connection that it once had and people now have more reasons to criticize the most loved game than to like it and without fail they are doing it.

London Olympics provides good opportunity to regain the fans back the national pride - Hockey ! With good fight in first match  against Netherlands, we can expect better show in coming matches !