Maidaan Movie Review: Ajay Devgn Perfectly Portrays Syed Abdul Raheem On The Big Screen

Maidaan is made with a lot of heart and emotion, and it manages to successfully connect with its audience.

Genia Chadha

Apr 9, 2024 - 13:56

Apr 9, 2024 - 14:47

Maidaan Movie Review: Ajay Devgn Perfectly Portrays Syed Abdul Raheem On The Big Screen

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Syed Abdul Raheem is one of the most important names in Indian football history. He was the coach of the Indian football team when it was given the title of 'Brazil of India'. He revolutionized Indian football with his grit, determination, conviction, and hard work. Playing such a character will be a challenge for any actor, but Ajay Devgn perfectly captures the essence of this iconic figure.

Syed Abdul Raheem was the most influential figure behind India's Asian Games success in 1951 and 1962 as well. Sadly, he is a figure who is largely forgotten by Indian sports fans because India has never been able to leave a mark on the global stage in football since his demise. This film does a phenomenal job of showcasing his struggles on and off the pitch.

#OneWordReview . #Maidaan: An Experience !
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Give all the awards to @ajaydevgn for his performance which came without much dialogues, just pure eyes and coughs ????Watch out for his emotional scenes in the last 30 mins !!

The film takes you to the world of Rahim… pic.twitter.com/Mv2EBSNlCA — CineHub (@Its_CineHub) April 9, 2024

The runtime of the film is over 3 hours, but it never felt like the film was dragging itself. The music was beautifully made as well, and it does its job of capturing different emotions perfectly. Amit Ravindernath Sharma has directed this film exceptionally well, and it is a joy to watch for cinema as well as football fans alike.

Regional pride becomes the reason for bitterness between Rahim and his main adversary, Rudranil Ghosh, in the Football Federation of India. Supported by a prominent sports writer, Gajraj Rao. The power play behind the scenes dictates team selections and coveted 'foreign' tours. It's less about Hindu versus Muslim and more about Bengal versus Hyderabad. Take a vocal Bengali away from his passionate support for his favorite teams, and you'll encounter deafening silence, or in this instance, outright hostility.

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Domestic scenes between SA Raheem and his wife Runa, played by Priyamani, will put a broad smile on your face, as the portrayal of the sweet and sometimes unspoken romance between a husband and his wife is very well done as well. The actors playing the roles of some iconic players, such as PK Banerjee, Chuni Goswami, and Peter Thangaraj, are mostly fresh faces. Casting is a strong point of the film, as all the characters feel real and authentic.

Maidaan is made with a lot of heart and emotion, and it manages to successfully connect with its audience. The film is an emotional roller coaster and will mean a lot more to you if you are a football fan. Like every film, Maidaan is not perfect, but the negatives dwarf in comparison to the brilliance it brings to the table.