Never seen ‘Lagaan’ on the big screen? You now have three days to fix that
233 minutes. Eight National Awards. One Oscar nomination. India has not stopped talking about it since 2001. Now you can watch it the way it was meant to be seen.
Cricket and film have long enjoyed an extraordinary relationship in India. From stories of small-town aspirations to the euphoria of World Cup triumph, the world of cinema has brought cricket stories into films that motivate, delight, and move the spectator.
With India’s nail-biting victory over Pakistan in the 2025 Asia Cup final, cricket fever is again at an all-time high. And, it’s an ideal time to flashback to some of India’s finest cricket-themed movies.
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Lagaan (2001)
Directed by Ashutosh Gowariker, ‘Lagaan’ is an account of courage, togetherness, and resistance against injustice. It takes place in colonial India, where the people are subjected to unbearable levies (lagaan) by British officers. In order to rescue their people, they invite the British to a game of cricket.
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With Aamir Khan heading the cast, mainly joined by Gracy Singh and Rachel Shelley, the movie combines sports, drama, and patriotism. ‘Lagaan’ mainly is among the favorite sports films of India.
Iqbal (2005)
‘Iqbal’, helmed by Nagesh Kukunoor, is the tale of a mute and deaf youth from a rural village who aspires to be a part of the Indian cricket team. Shreyas Talpade is the determined cricketer. Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah is his encouraging guide.
The film splendidly depicts the ordeal of chasing dreams amidst adversities.
83 (2021)
Kabir Khan’s ’83’ recreates one of the most iconic moments in Indian cricket history. It’s the 1983 World Cup victory. Ranveer Singh stars as the legendary Kapil Dev. He shows the captain’s leadership and the team’s journey from underdogs to literally world champions.
Deepika Padukone appears in a cameo. For cricket enthusiasts, ’83’ is a nostalgic journey of India’s first World Cup victory.
Kai Po Che! (2013)
Drawing inspiration from Chetan Bhagat’s novel ‘The 3 Mistakes of My Life’, Abhishek Kapoor’s ‘Kai Po Che!’ follows three friends as they handle life and cricket in Gujarat.
Sushant Singh Rajput, Rajkummar Rao, and Amit Sadh give life to the tale.
MS Dhoni: The Untold Story (2016)
Neeraj Pandey’s biopic of Mahendra Singh Dhoni tracks the journey of one of India’s most celebrated captains. This documents his life from his humble beginnings in Ranchi to leading the Indian cricket team to multiple victories.
Sushant Singh Rajput stars as Dhoni. Kiara Advani plays his love interest.
Chakda ‘Xpress (Upcoming)
Audiences are waiting with anticipation for ‘Chakda ‘Xpress’, a biographical sports drama on Jhulan Goswami, the greatest female cricketer of India. Written by Abhishek Banerjee and directed by Prosit Roy, the movie has Anushka Sharma and is also starred in by Dibyendu Bhattacharya, Renuka Shahane, Anshul Chauhan, and others.
Indian cricket films have never been truly, simply games on television. They are stories about camaraderie and dreams fulfilled. It could be historical big-budget films like ‘Lagaan’, emotional journeys like ‘Iqbal’, or biopics inspired by true events like ‘MS Dhoni: The Untold Story’ and ‘Chakda ‘Xpress’. These films bring the essence of cricket and how it affects the lives of people.
With each match and each win, cricket keeps inspiring filmmakers as well as audiences everywhere.
Also Read: India players refuse to accept Asia Cup trophy from PCB chief Naqvi
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