Biopics are the flavour of the day and Bollywood has now given several hits in that genre.
From MSD to Milkha Singh and from Mary Kom to Tendulkar the cine world has recreated lives of many prominent sportsstars.
Next in the pipeline is the film on Bengal tigress Jhulan Goswami who becomes the first woman cricketer to be portrayed on screen.
Goswami recently told reporters that it was her gut feeling that this was perhaps the right time to have a biopic, given the kind of offers coming in.
The film on Jhulan Goswami comes at a time when biopics of Sania Mirza, PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal are on the cards. Goswami, confirms that the biopic is in the pipeline with working title ‘Chakdah Express’.
“Shooting will be held from Chakdaha to Lord’s,” Susanta Das who directed 2012 movie ‘Asche Bochor Abar Hobe‘, told PTI.
The film will showcase her tale starting from Nadia district to reaching The Lord’s where India shone in the women’s World Cup final. Susanta plans to start scripting soon and shoot from April next year.
The focus will be her journey, the odds she overcame since she was 10.
Jhulan grew up in Chakdaha in West Bengal and is known as the Bengal tigress in the Indian side.
The 34-year-old fast bowler has recently scripted history by surpassing the record of Australian Cathryn Fitzpatrick. She is now the highest wicket taker in ODIs.
Goswami’s new record came while she was playing her 153rd ODI match in South Africa. She finished 3 for 20 in 7.3 overs.
The Arjuna awardee works with Air India in the commercial department since 2006.
Ever since Irrfan Khan recreated Paan Singh Tomar’s life, it’s been open season for biopics on India’s sports stars.
The film will be made in Hindi and is being aimed for release around the World T20 next year, which starts in the West Indies on November 2.
Das was more vehement in his assertion that the film will go ‘backstage’ sharing information about the former India captain who has played two 50-over World Cup finals.
Without announcing the names, the director said they have shortlisted a few tall Bollywood actors to play the role of Jhulan.
The director hopes it would inspire many youngsters.
Jhulan Goswami is the fastest bowler in the women’s circuit who now sits atop the leading wicket-takers’ list in ODI history.
From being a ball girl in the ’97 World Cup final to overtaking her idol Cathryn Fitzpatrick, its been a dream run for 15 years.
Struggle was another way to define Jhulan’s story. She would rough it out in locals to go and train and then would equally dedicate herself to studies. A routine thrice a week kept her in best spirits with an eye on her goal. Her tall frame convinced her coach that she will make a fearsome pacer.
Having started off a pure bowler, Goswami slowly but steadily earned the reputation of India’s leading allrounder. Along with Mithali Raj, Goswami put together a world record seventh-wicket partnership worth 157 against the hosts at Taunton in 2002.
Goswami bagged the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year award in 2007 and captaincy came calling soon after. Government of India conferred her with the prestigious Arjuna Award in 2010, and the Padma Shri two years later.
Standing at 5’11”, she can be very intimidating. But her aggression comes to the fore only on field. Her unmatched line and length remain most potent part of her repertoire.
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