On the eve of Sourav Ganguly's 54th birthday, the highly anticipated film 'Dada' unveiled its first look, featuring Rajkummar Rao in the iconic role of the legendary Indian cricket captain. The scene captures Rao, dressed in the Indian jersey, swirling it in joyous celebration after India's triumph in the 2002 NatWest Series final against England at Lord's. This moment, immortalized by a shirtless Ganguly waving his jersey before running onto the field, has become a defining image in cricket history.
The film, produced by Luv Ranjan and Ankur Garg of Luv Films, with Vikramaditya Motwane at the helm, has generated significant buzz. Ganguly himself expressed his enthusiasm, stating in an interview that Rao was the ideal choice to portray him. He offered his full support, emphasizing his trust in Rao's portrayal.
The iconic moment in question occurred during the 2002 NatWest Series final. India, under pressure after losing nine consecutive ODI finals, faced a formidable English team led by Nasser Hussain. Despite a strong start, India slipped to 146 for 5, with Ganguly and Virender Sehwag contributing 60 and 45 runs, respectively. However, a fearless display of batting by Mohammad Kaif and Yuvraj Singh turned the tide.
Their aggressive sixth-wicket partnership of 121 runs brought India back into the game, and the thrilling two-wicket victory was sealed in the final over by Kaif and Zaheer Khan. In the aftermath of this nerve-wracking win, Ganguly's iconic gesture of waving his jersey on the Lord's balcony before running onto the field to embrace the batsmen became a symbol of Indian cricket's resilience and triumph.
The film 'Dada' aims to capture this iconic moment and the spirit of Ganguly's leadership. With Rao's portrayal and Ganguly's involvement, the project promises to bring this pivotal chapter in Indian cricket history to life, offering a unique perspective on one of the sport's most memorable victories.
