The film was a huge box office success and also won the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment.
In a new interview, Farhan remembered how a journalist asked director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra why a ‘Punjabi actor’ was not cast in the film.īhaag Milkha Bhaag, which released in 2013, featured Farhan Akhtar in the role of late track star Milkha Singh. Bhaag Milkha Bhaag is a stupendous achievement overall.Farhan Akhtar, who played legendary sprinter Milkha Singh in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, recalled feeling judged at the first media interaction for the film. At 3 hrs Bhaag Milkha Bhaag could have been 20 minutes shorter and still had the same impact, but the extra duration in a way just prolongs the involvement.
#MAKING OF BHAAG MILKHA BHAAG MOVIE#
Roger Ebert famously said- "No good movie is too long and no bad movie short enough". The music by Shankar Ehsaan Loy is spot on, while the cinematography by Binod Pradhan is excellent.
The script by Prasoon Joshi has beautifully woven blood, sweat, tears and true grit which makes it such a motivational tale. The supporting cast comprising of Pavan Malhotra, Dalip Tahil, KK Raina, and Prakash Raj is spot on. When he does the bhangra, i bet there are few Sardars who can do it better. Right from the look and physique, to the mannerisms and the dressing sense- he is an absolute delight. The amount of effort he has taken to get into the character of Milkha is phenomenal. This is a career defining role for him, how much has he grown as a method actor. This is an out and out Farhan Akhtar movie- he is the heart and soul of it, he is there in every frame. He might have taken to running just for the extra rations, but his talent, dedication, hard work, and discipline ensures his legacy. Scarred in mind he is brought up by his sister, (a now habitually great Divya Dutt) and straightened from his devious past by the love of his life Sonam Kapoor, and mentored by supportive coaches, Milkha has an arduous path to become the flying Sikh. When it is a Farhan Akhtar movie there has to be flashbacks and non linearity, right (Dil Chahata Hai, Rock On, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara)? The story begins with defeat at Rome Olympics as Milkha repeatedly looks back, and immediately we jump into the reasons for the same in Multan, around partition, as young Milkha, played with exuberance by Japtej Singh is on the run for his life from his parents' killers.
He tends to blow hot (Rang De Basanti) or cold (Delhi 6, Aks) but here he is red hot. Who is Milkha Singh? Kudos to Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra for making us care for this question by humanizing the character to the utmost. One is not born a world class athlete, and the story of Milkha is no different. At once inspirational and believable, there is no way one cannot identify with the pain and the joy of being Milkha Singh, the poster child for India's track and field achievements. But nothing like Bhaag Milkha Bhaag has happened to Bollywood in a long time, maybe not since Chak De India. 2013 has been a good year for Bollywood with a number of movies finding the right balance between entertainment and art, such as Special 26, Kai Po Che, and Raanjhanaa.