Sachin - A Billion Dreams and an Emotional Experience

Sachin….Sachin….this chant reverberated in my ears long before I even started writing I guess. In a house where a television set was bought for the first time so that my brother would not miss watching the Olympic Games, sports was always a primary source of entertainment.  From the time of Doordarshan to the present day maze of digital channels, any sport was and is still education, inspiration and entertainment for me. I definitely have to thank my dad who loved watching football, cricket and hockey with us and mostly, my brother who first taught me how to bat.

I saw the movie, “Sachin A Billion Dreams”, yesterday and it was not a couple of hours of biographical presentation of a life for me. For me, it was a trip down memory lane and a barrage of memories came flooding through. The little master was not a batsman or bowler or fielder for me as a youngster growing up, he was a happy sensation and anytime, he was on the crease, there was genuine happiness in the heart and the hope for a win for the country.  I don’t think it is any exaggeration when it is stated that when Sachin comes on to bat, people switch on their TV sets and switch off their lives. I am a living testimony to it. I don’t think there is hardly any sportsperson who has represented his or her country with so much passion and intensity like the diminutive genius has done and I do follow a variety of sports and hence do have exposure to the feats and lives of athletes from various categories of sporting events.

For me, the movie had a lot of heart to it and I didn’t bother about the low quality footages from the bygone era because I knew that when you are watching anecdotes from the life of someone you looked up to as a kid, you just feel fortunate to witness those clippings on a big screen. There were numerous moments when I literally cheered with the crowd onscreen and I can assure I was not alone in that expressive mood. I could hear a lot of claps and whistles from people and I realized that Sachin was not just an icon but a sensation of pride and motivation for a whole lot of us who were lucky enough to grow up watching the little boy from Mumbai grow into one of the most influential sportsperson of all time.

From the sheer will power to face Waqar and Wazim at their best and to battle on with a bloodied nose at the age of 16 to hitting the careers of a few bowlers like Henry Olonga and Michael Kasprowicz out of the park, the man never ceases to put one at the edge of their seats when on song. It was an absolute honor to see the footage of Sachin continuing with bloodied nose and to see him hammer the spin wizard, Abdul Qadir for a string of sixes.  The elegant straight drive, the effortless backfoot punch, the nonchalant uppercut, the imperial square cut and the aggressive hook were just some of the most deadly weapons of his arsenal. I remember trying to practice so many off his shots as a young kid and the straight drive was my favorite and still remains to be.

The most significant aspect of the movie that touched me was his connection and attachment with his family especially with his father, his brother, Ajit and his wife, Anjali. His father reminded me of my dad who never forced me to do something which I did not want to do and to this date, blindly supports me in chasing my dream. I hope I can do a fraction of what Sachin has been able to do for his late father. Also, Ajit Tendulkar reminded me of my brother, Anil Kunjunny. The bond the brothers shared were very similar with my life in that my brother always supported my decisions and we still talk on a daily basis and I discuss each aspect of my life with him without any pretense. Sometimes, he offers advices and sometimes suggestions but does not force me on either occasion to take it and rather urges me to take my own decisions and stick with it. When I started drinking, I never hid it from him and I remember his advice when he said, “Have a peg or two once in a while but never smoke”. I am not saying I have not smoked but if you count all the cigarettes I have hid till today, the number would come to hardly 2 – 3 packets. Infact, I have not smoked in the last 6 years. I started watching cricket because of my brother and he introduced me to Sachin formally I should say. There was a silent bond that developed during all those years of watching cricket together and even today, we discuss about international matches and the players who are performing well. When it comes to cricket, our discussion seldom ends or runs out of subjects.

There was quite a lot to write but then again, Sachin is beyond words and any verbal description. It is an emotion that I have carried on with me during my past 30 odd years of growing up and it is that emotion which made me shed tears during some of the moments in the film. My friend who was with me to watch the movie probably did not feel that intensity but then again, I grew up in an atmosphere where my brother prompted me to tie up an old tennis ball in a ragged sock hanging on a rope from the roof and hitting it consistently with the middle of an old cricket bat. I loved doing that and still feel extreme joy when I middle a cricket ball and watch it rush off the surface. Sport has always been a natural high state of mind and Sachin was the best drug in that sense. I must have watched both the Sharjah innings countless times. The hook shot  off Caddick in the 2003 World Cup in South Africa  or the straight drives off Brett Lee in the MCG – it all reflected class and technique.

Sachin – A Billion dreams was a reminder for me about my brother and our bond and the love for cricket we still share and I thank the man who made my younger years a joyful experience with his numerous innings which made me happy and proud as an Indian. There might be many talented youngsters who might come through and even break your records, but they will never touch the hearts of people like you did. Atleast I can vouch for one who will never be moved by another sportsperson this lifetime. You have touched my heart and soul and have taught me indirectly that beyond all talents, you need to put in hardwork and should never stop chasing your dreams and best of all, remain grounded giving respect to everything around. Thanks for all the good memories and a big thank you to the director, James and the producers and the crew, who compiled this awesome experience of a movie.