The biopic wave isn’t ending anytime soon. The next high profile sports drama that’s to hit theatres in Bollywood shortly is based on Saina Nehwal’s life, titled Saina whose trailer was unveiled today. Directed by Taare Zameen Par-writer Amole Gupte, the film starring Parineeti Chopra in the title role captures the highs and lows of the Hyderabadi player’s eventful career and the sacrifices made by her family behind all the achievements.
The trailer showcases how the ‘never-say-die’ spirit of Saina could be traced to her childhood. The child actor playing the younger version of Saina shares an uncanny resemblance with the player. Manav Kaul looks apt while cast in the role of her coach Pullela Gopichand. From Saina’s middle-class upbringing to her rise as the world number one badminton champion, the trailer captures it all, including portions that highlight her burden of succeeding every time she entered the badminton court.
Sports-based films are a frequent occurrence these days and one must wait to see if Saina’s reel-life story will present anything different from a regular drama. We can’t help but think that Telugu filmmakers missed the opportunity to have helmed a pan-Indian biopic, given Saina’s roots in Hyderabad and her international popularity. Parineeti has done her homework right in terms of appearance, though there’s a worry that the film may reduce Saina to caricature by merely mimicking her. Saina releases on March 26.