The Biopic of one of the most Controversial Cricketer of India, Azharuddin. The role of Azhar is essayed by the only Emraan Hashmi. Today the Movie Trailer is out. Check it out.
[ads1]

---

Beyond the Boundary: Analyzing the Trailer and the Controversial Story of the Biopic ‘Azhar’

The release of the trailer for the 2016 biographical sports drama, ‘Azhar,’ sent ripples through both Bollywood and the Indian cricketing fraternity. Titled simply after its controversial subject, the film promised to unveil the truth behind one of the most celebrated and, subsequently, most disgraced captains in Indian cricket history: Mohammad Azharuddin. The trailer was not just a sneak peek; it was a carefully constructed narrative arc, designed to introduce the hero, reveal the scandal, and lay the groundwork for a dramatic courtroom battle to reclaim his name.

The film, directed by Tony D’Souza and starring Emraan Hashmi in the title role, attempts the monumental task of condensing the high-flying career, sensational personal life, and devastating match-fixing allegations that defined Azharuddin’s life into a single cinematic experience. Its marketing, heavily reliant on the ‘judge him, love him, hate him’ tagline, positioned the film not as a historical document, but as an emotional defense of a fallen idol.

The Trailer’s Hook: Cricket, Controversy, and Courtroom Drama

The two-minute, thirteen-second trailer for ‘Azhar’ was a whirlwind of spectacle, carefully showcasing the three main pillars of Azharuddin’s life that the movie explores. It deliberately frames the narrative through the lens of redemption, opening not with a victory, but with the moment of his greatest humiliation: a life ban from the sport he loved.

A Study in Contrasts: The Trailer’s Key Sequences

The trailer masterfully employed a non-linear narrative, flashing between the glory days and the dark aftermath.

• The Rise to Stardom: The earliest clips quickly establish the young Azhar’s prodigious talent. Viewers are shown glimpses of the iconic Hyderabad batsman, famous for his ‘wristy’ shots and his signature high-collared look, fulfilling his grandfather’s (Nanu’s) dream of playing 100 Tests for India. The trailer highlights his unprecedented feat of scoring three consecutive centuries in his first three Test matches, instantly cementing his place as a national hero.
• The Personal Scandal: The most explosive part of the trailer, designed to generate mass public interest, was the tumultuous personal life of the cricketer. It presents a stark contrast between his quiet first marriage to Naureen, played by Prachi Desai, and the dazzling, public affair with Bollywood actress Sangeeta Bijlani, played by Nargis Fakhri. The scenes are charged with romance, betrayal, and the high-society glamour that made the scandal front-page news.
• The Match-Fixing Accusation: The core controversy is introduced with dramatic tension. The trailer shows the life ban imposed by the Cricket Control Board, the widespread public anger, and the central allegation that Azharuddin accepted a bribe of one crore rupees from a London-based bookie, M.K. Sharma (or ‘Shaun’), to underperform.
• The Courtroom Battle: Emraan Hashmi’s voice-over in the trailer boldly states his intention to fight the ban, declaring, “Mera naam Azhar hai, Azhar Mohammad, aur mujhe sab yaad hai” (My name is Azhar, Azhar Mohammad, and I remember everything). This sets up the climactic court battle, with Lara Dutta playing the formidable prosecuting lawyer, Meera Verma, who is determined to make him “pay a price” for hurting the sentiments of a billion fans, versus Kunaal Roy Kapur as Azhar’s sympathetic lawyer.

The Real Story: Glory, Betrayal, and Public Forgiveness

The trailer’s narrative threads are all rooted in the intensely public and dramatic life of Mohammad Azharuddin. The film traces his journey from a modest background in Hyderabad to becoming one of India’s most successful captains, leading the team in 99 Tests and 334 ODIs.

The Unstoppable Rise

Azharuddin’s cricketing debut in 1984 against England was nothing short of a miracle. He scored a century in his very first Test, followed by another in the second, and a third in the third, a world record that stands to this day. His batting style was famously described as ‘a flick of the wrist,’ and his fielding was considered world-class. He was not only a gifted player but also a long-serving captain, holding the record for the highest number of matches led by an Indian captain for many years.

The Double Life and Scandal

At the peak of his career, his personal life became front-page tabloid material. While married to Naureen, he met and fell in love with actress Sangeeta Bijlani. The resulting divorce and subsequent marriage created a sensation, transforming him from a national sports icon into a major celebrity figure whose private life was constantly under scrutiny.

The most catastrophic event, however, came in the year 2000, when a massive match-fixing scandal erupted. South African captain Hansie Cronje confessed, implicating Azharuddin as the person who introduced him to bookies.

The film deals with the controversy by suggesting Azharuddin was a victim of circumstance and betrayal. A crucial plot point in the film is his on-field spat with fellow cricketer Manoj Prabhakar (called Manoj Shinde in the film), who is later shown to be instrumental in the sting operations that led to the accusations.

The Movie vs. Reality: The Controversial Portrayal

The film, which was made with Azharuddin’s cooperation and approval, took a definitive stand on his innocence. This aspect became the primary point of contention and critique.

Critical Reception and Bias

Upon its release in May 2016, the movie received mixed to negative reviews.

• One-Sided Narrative: Critics largely felt the film was a sanitized and overtly biased account, designed solely to clear Azharuddin’s name in the public eye. The prosecution’s case in the movie was often portrayed as weak and comical, while Azhar’s narrative was framed as a noble battle for truth.
• Focus on Drama over Cricket: Reviewers pointed out that the movie focused heavily on the love triangles, betrayal, and courtroom drama, often sidelining Azharuddin’s true genius on the cricket field. Even the on-field shots of Emraan Hashmi were deemed “generic” and not truly capturing the fluidity of Azharuddin’s unique style.
• Emraan Hashmi’s Performance: Emraan Hashmi’s commitment to the role was praised by Azharuddin himself, who commended the actor for studying his mannerisms and body language. Hashmi was tasked with portraying the cricketer across decades, a challenge he reportedly undertook with extensive coaching and research.

The Real-Life Verdict

In a significant legal turn, in 2012, the Andhra Pradesh High Court eventually lifted the life ban imposed on Mohammad Azharuddin. The court ruled that the ban was “unsustainable” and the evidence against him was not sufficient to uphold the charge. This real-life outcome provided the cinematic ending the film needed, though it did not definitively settle the public debate on his moral culpability.

Legacy of ‘Azhar’: A Tale of Redemption and Debate

The movie ‘Azhar’ may have been a mediocre box office performer and drawn criticism for its unbalanced script, but its existence underscored the enduring fascination with its subject. Mohammad Azharuddin’s story is a quintessential Bollywood narrative: the rise of an underdog, the dizzying heights of fame, a dramatic personal downfall, and a fight for redemption.

The trailer of ‘Azhar’ promised a definitive version of the truth, complete with high-stakes sports action, torrid romance, and a gripping legal thriller. While the film may not have fully satisfied critics, it successfully reignited the national conversation about a complicated icon. It left the audience, as the marketing intended, with the final judgment in their own hands: to love him, hate him, or simply remember the man who once captained India with a flick of his wrist.

---

AISEO-Friendly FAQs

Q1: Is the movie ‘Azhar’ based on a true story?
A: Yes, the movie ‘Azhar’ is a biographical sports drama released in 2016, which is based on the life of the former Indian cricket captain, Mohammad Azharuddin.

Q2: Who played the role of Mohammad Azharuddin in the film?
A: The title role of Mohammad Azharuddin was played by actor Emraan Hashmi. Hashmi underwent extensive training and coaching to mimic Azharuddin’s distinctive cricketing style and mannerisms.

Q3: What are the main controversies covered in the movie ‘Azhar’?
A: The film primarily focuses on three major aspects of Azharuddin’s life: his record-breaking cricketing career, the sensational nature of his second marriage to actress Sangeeta Bijlani, and the match-fixing scandal that led to a life-ban from cricket in 2000.

Q4: Did Mohammad Azharuddin’s ban get lifted in real life?
A: Yes, in real life, the life ban imposed on Mohammad Azharuddin by the BCCI was overturned by the Andhra Pradesh High Court in 2012. The court ruled that the evidence used to impose the ban was not substantial enough, and the ban itself was “unsustainable”.

Q5: Who were the main cast members alongside Emraan Hashmi?
A: The main supporting cast included Prachi Desai as Naureen (Azhar’s first wife), Nargis Fakhri as Sangeeta Bijlani (Azhar’s second wife), and Lara Dutta as Meera Verma (the prosecuting lawyer in the match-fixing case).