#Maidaan: A Proud Moment For All Hyderabadis

Bollywood star hero Ajay Devgan’s latest movie “Maidaan” is getting released tomorrow on the eve of Ramzan. This film tells the story of India’s glorious football coach SA Rahim, who was responsible for the national team to sweep the Gold Medal at Asian Games 1962, is not only a tale of victory and hard work but also a proud moment for all the citizens of Hyderabad.

At a time when India got its independence from the Britishers, it was SA Rahim who believed that playing football would get the nation its identity across the globe. Despite politics from the Bengal-led Football Federation of India which always considered Bengal players to be there in the team rather than building a team for the nation, it’s Syed Abdul Rahmi who went across the length and breadth of the nation to find the right players for the team. If the talk from the premieres is anything to go by, the film’s first half showcases how Rahim struggled with authorities, and the second half showcases his own cancer struggle and how he led the team to victory.

No doubt, the film has its ups and downs, but the technical brilliance, narrative, amazing visuals and AR Rahman’s brilliant background score have given many clap-worthy moments inside the theatres. All the Hyderabadis should be feeling proud to watch the story of their own son unfolded on the silver screen. Guess what, after Rahim’s demise in 1963, India never qualified for the Olympics in Football, and that’s 64 years so far.