Kolkata: Now this should sound music in the ears of critics who complain against the injustice meted out to non-cricketing stars of the country. DD Sports has proposed a budget of Rs 12 crore which would be spent behind making films on six eminent sports personalities who have done India proud, according to a report in Hindustan Times. The Information & Broadcasting Ministry has already approved of the idea.
The sports persons, all Olympians, include Dhyan Chand (hockey), PV Sindhu (badminton), PT Usha (athletics), MC Mary Kom (boxing), Karnam Malleswari (weightlifting) and Leander Paes (tennis). “We had proposed the names of six Olympians and the government has cleared the idea,” said a DD Sports spokesperson to the newspaper. “There could be changes as there is already a film on Mary Kom; but hers is an inspiring story. We are working on it. Hopefully, we will complete the project this year itself,” added the spokesperson.
“We are in the process of acquiring non-exclusive rights of the players. We are not going for exclusive rights because of our budget. Like PV Sindhu is a star now and has many professional years ahead of her. We need to pay a huge amount to acquire her exclusive rights,” he elaborated.
Talking of sporting biopics, filmmakers have never shied away from taking up these projects. We have had films on Milkha Singh, Mary Kom, MS Dhoni and of late, wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat whose captivating tale is minting money at the box-office, in the form of Aamir Khan’s Dangal. On the pipeline is a film on badminton star Saina Nehwal.
And not just these films. According to HT, DD Sports will have a makeover with five new shows on sports. The channel will also produce three episodes each on sporting disciplines which will be like tutorial classes. “These episodes will be like tutorials. In the episodes on hockey or cricket, one can learn about how to become a good goalkeeper, batsman or bowler,” he said. The I&B Ministry will give all sorts of support to the project.