M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story Movie Review

Direction & Writer : Neeraj Pandey
Producer : Arun Pandey, Fox Star Studios
Cast : Sushant Singh Rajput, Anupam Kher, Bhumika Chawla, Kiara Advani, Disha Patani
Music : Amaal Mallik, Rochak Kohli, Sanjoy Chowdhury (BGM)
Cinematography : Santosh Thundiyil
Editor : Shree Narayan Singh
Production company : Fox Star Studios, Inspired Entertainment, Friday FilmWorks
Running Time : 190 mins

A biopic is made out for an inspiration and when it comes to ‘M.S. Dhoni – The Untold Story’ it actually brings the life of a personality who has inspired millions. People love him not just for his helicopter shots and massive boundaries, but his smart intelligent wizardry planning. Who could really think that big when Yuvaraj Singh ready with his gloves to walk into stadium would be stopped by MS Dhoni on the spur of moment for replacement during the ICC World Cup final match. Well, the reason was intensely smarter as Dhoni witnessing the arrival of Muthaiah Muralidharan felt that Yuvaraj Singh would fall off short to his spins. Remember! Both MSD and Muralidharan were part of CSK and this indeed was his smart way to analyze his bowling. But with this untold story, Neeraj Pandey actually tries to focus more upon the shots and victories of MSD of the way he learnt the helicopter shots and the footages of winning strokes. We have to earnestly appreciate him for having the best CG works of ‘Combustion’ on getting Sushanth Singh Rajput image visually imposed with real life cricket footages and players as well.

“To make it simple, the film is a tailor-made treat for Dhoni fans and if you’re someone watching the film as a fan of Cricket game, you wouldn’t be completely gratified”

To make it simple, the film is a tailor-made treat for Dhoni fans and if you’re someone watching the film as a fan of Cricket game, you wouldn’t be completely gratified. In fact, the first half is so inspiring and compelling that your eyes would be moistened in places to see the emotional pains of MSD, where his life is stuck between fate and destiny. Landing up as a Ticket Collector that doesn’t offer him peace of mind and so on and there happens to be a sequence, where his Railway officer Ganguly compares hurdles in life as different style of bowling and MSD replies, what if all balls are ‘Bouncers’. Such dialogues are really hard-hitting and then the friendship that is shared with his pals and the bond with his love interests, finally the Sakshi that he marries is splendid. But Neeraj Pandey seems to have hidden the jovial side of Dhoni, who is known as a Prankster, the way he shares a great rapport with his team mates. The controversial clashes between him and few senior players in the team could have gained few more lights. All that we see during the second half is what we have been watching over YouTube over and again for the classy-massy strokes of Dhoni.

Sushanth Singh Rajput is extraordinary and just beyond brilliance. The girl playing the role of Sakshi, his wife gets a perfect makeover resembling the real life Sakshi. Others in the cast including Anupam Kher have done a brilliant job. Detailing has been done with perfection that includes Dhoni owning his pets at home.

When you watch this film as a ‘Dhoni’ fan your main intentions would be up there to scream, cheer and celebrate the man on the screens

But as mentioned earlier, when you watch this film as a ‘Dhoni’ fan your main intentions would be up there to scream, cheer and celebrate the man on the screens. There isn’t a single inspiring message from the man, who is known for patting the shoulders and encouraging young talents. Moreover, Cricket is a game of team spirit and isn’t an one man show. So bringing up some footages of others in the team like big names including Sachin Tendulkar, Ganguly et al would have been better. When Yuvaraj Singh gets such a stunning footage, why not Gautham Gambhir, who almost saved the country’s reputation during final match?

With lots of questions we walk out of theatres, which simply gets diminished by the enthralling crowds cheering up for Dhoni.