Syed Abdul Rahim, a towering figure in Indian football history, is renowned for his revolutionary tactics and unparalleled coaching prowess. As the architect behind India’s golden era in football during the 1950s and 1960s, Rahim’s innovative strategies and dedication to the sport left an indelible mark on the nation’s football landscape. Rahim unfortunately died of cancer nine months after his greatest triumph, India’s gold medal win at the 1962 Asian Games at Jakarta. Sadly, the Indian football team, once described as the Brazil of the East for its all-attack formation, never could reach those heights. Things would certainly been different if he was with us some more time.

His keen understanding of the game, coupled with his ability to nurture and mould young talent, propelled India to numerous triumphs on the international stage, including the historic gold medal at the 1962 Asian Games. Rahim’s legacy extends far beyond his achievements on the field; he remains a source of inspiration for generations of football enthusiasts, revered for his unwavering commitment to excellence and his role in shaping the future of Indian football.

Regional pride versus national integrity becomes the point of contention between Rahim (Ajay Devgn) and his chief adversary (Rudranil Ghosh) in the Football Federation of India, who is backed by a powerful sports writer (Gajraj Rao). While he’s readying a world-beating team, travelling the length and breadth of India in search of talent, games are being played behind his back to bring him down and tarnish his reputation. In the bargain, football suffers. That, sadly, hasn’t changed till now. Regional politics has been the bane of every sport in India, and football is the heaviest casualty.

The film, which had been in development hell for a while, gets the sports action right. You’re mesmerised by the on-field action, as stalwarts like Chuni Goswami, PK Banerjee, Peter Thangaraj, Jarnail Singh, Tulsidas Balaram, Neville D’Souza – played by Amartya Ray, Chaitanya Sharma, Tejas Ravishankar, Davinder Singh, Sushant Waydande, Aryann Bhowmik respectively – are seen giving their blood, sweat and tears to the beautiful game. In today’s volatile time, it’s great to see a Muslim coach preaching camaraderie and togetherness, saying that you may be eleven on the field but should play as one.

Ajay Devgn’s portrayal of Syed Abdul Rahim in Maidaan captures the essence of the legendary coach’s persona with remarkable depth and authenticity. Devgn’s portrayal breathes life into Rahim’s character, showcasing his passion for the sport, his astute tactical acumen, and his unwavering determination to overcome obstacles. Through his nuanced performance, Devgn brings to light the complexities of Rahim’s leadership style and his ability to inspire and motivate his players to achieve greatness against all odds. Maidaan not only pays tribute to Rahim’s remarkable legacy but also serves as a poignant reminder of the transformative power of sports and the enduring impact of visionary leaders like Syed Abdul Rahim. Priyamani plays Saira, Rahim’s wife in the film, and their old-fashioned interaction, where they display their affection through their eyes and expressions, brings a smile to your face. Rishabh Joshi makes his presence felt in his small role as Rahim’s son Hakim, who also played for India under his father. Rudranil Ghosh and Gajraj Rao as the scheming, egotistical creatures trying to take the reins of Indian football in their hands are the perfect foil for Devgn’s honest-to-goodness act.

All-in-all, director Amit Ravindernath Sharma has given us a riveting sports drama. Watch it to see the recreation of the golden period of Indian football and for the acting masterclass displayed by Ajay Devgn.

Jaya Bachchan celebrates her birthday today. With a filmography spanning decades, the veteran has an indelible mark on Hindi cinema. To mark the special day, Amitabh Bachchan penned a heartfelt note.

Amitabh Bachchan took to his blog and wrote, “It is in the morn of another family birth .. of which that has required no explanation .. the better half celebrates her birthday TODAY, and all the greetings for her are recognised and shown gratitude, as always…”

Revealing that the family had a quiet celebration at home, he added, “A quiet family ‘bring in’ for the 9th on the midnight hour .. and the love of immediate family presence..”

Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan have shared screen space in iconic films like Sholay, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham and more. More recently, Jaya featured in a scene-stealing role in Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani.

The Delhi High Court will give its verdict today on a petition by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case linked to the alleged liquor policy scam. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma will pronounce the order shortly.

The AAP boss, who has dubbed the corruption case against him a political conspiracy, has also challenged his ED custody. He was later sent to judicial custody till April 15 and now remains in the Tihar jail.

During the April 3 high court hearing, Mr Kejriwal had questioned the “timing” of his arrest. The Chief Minister had said that his arrest was against the basic structure of the Constitution as it disturbed a level playing field in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

The ED, which has called Mr Kejriwal “kingpin” in the alleged scam, opposed his petition and said the law is applied equally to him and an “aam aadmi“.

Read | “Undertrial Prisoners Have No Right To…”: Arvind Kejriwal Bail Hearing

“Aam aadmi has to go behind bars if he has committed a crime but because you are a chief minister you can’t be arrested? You will loot the country but no one can touch you because the elections are coming? You say your arrest will infringe on basic structure? what type of basic structure is this?” the ED had argued.

The Chief Minister had earlier claimed that there was no real evidence of his involvement in the alleged scam, but the agency insisted it had traced the money trail.

Read | AAP Begins Mass Fasting In Protest Against Arvind Kejriwal’s Arrest

Mr Kejriwal was arrested by the central agency on March 21 after the high court denied him protection from coercive action, leading to severe backlash from the opposition camp. On April 1, he was sent to jail for two weeks after 11 days of ED custody.

The liquor policy was introduced to bring an overhaul to the liquor business in Delhi but was scrapped after Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena ordered a probe into the alleged irregularities in the policy. The ED believes the policy provided a high profit margin and bribe money was allegedly used to fund the AAP’s election campaigns.