I had already read a lot about Milkha Singh. Once when I had seen his interview on DD Sports, wherein he gave a message to youngsters to maintain their health, ’ Don’t fill up your entire stomach as if you are not gonna get to eat ever again. Eat appropriately and frequently.’ This I have inculcated in my routine ever since, such was the impact of the great Milkha Singh over me in just less than half n hour!
So the movie; it starts just well, as expected. Its a flashback, and his journey begins with his Army days, the most naive Milkha Singh (Farhan Akhtar) has ever been. He has that young boy charm which makes him stand out instantly. He participates in Army ‘daud’ with an intention of getting rid of exercises and in love of MILK! He is then spotted by his dear coach (Pawan Malhotra is outstanding as always) who understands Milkha the best! The scene where Milkha wears Indian sportsman blazer and gets beaten up for the same, is one the best scenes. Later on an injured but determined Milkha succeeds in defeating all the guilty athletes, by breaking the National Record, and announcing his genius to the Olympics!
In all of this, the movie continuously shows the childhood of Milkha Singh, a childhood full of agony and animosity with destiny. He sees his elder sister being ill-treated, and thus with all the strong emotions he turns into a brat, who would steal and bully with a knife. Eventually He grows up and meets his love (Sonam Kapoor) to whom he promises he would leave all his bad stuffs and become a good guy worthy of her! Thus he joins Amry.
After intermission, begins the international journey of Milkha Singh. He first goes to Australia, where he gets carried away and learns a lesson and is now determined to break the world record of 400 meters. He trains harder, and pumps up an amazing physic! Farhan Akhtar is one the most prolific actor of this industry over years! The way he is going he will end up among-st top 5-10 actors this nation has ever seen! He is outstanding in the entire journey, with out-most conviction! Yograj Singh is amazing in the movie as a coach, Yuvraj Singh is a very lucky son and a great sportsman no wonder why!
But somewhere in the second half I felt the movie is just ‘sensationalizing’ way too much. I would’nt mind to see if thats the story of Milkha Singh’s childhood, but showing it in 5 different cut scenes, each one just more and further cruel, right before every race is just ‘not here nor there’ situation which just leaves one feeling lethargic! In sensationalizing the childhood horrifics, the movie for me fails to do justice to Milkha Singh’s career! And thats why I am very disappointed with the movie! Its very sad what happened to the Sikhs during partition, but was that the theme of the movie? I am sorry I expected more of ‘Milkha Singh-The Flying Sikh’ and not at the atrocities of the partition days, esp in between of every race! Also the movie drags un-necessary for the same reason!
In the end, I would say it was a brave attempt, bravo Farhan Akhtar and Rakesh Om Prakash, but I wish more justice was done to the heroism of Milkha Singh.
Movie Rating - 3/5
P.S - Farhan Akhtar deserves a national award for his performance!
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