Review of Sachin: A Billion Dreams (2017) by Shardul S — 27 May 2017

Sachiiin...Sachin!

There are ladies and gentlemen of a certain vintage who have had the honor and pleasure of witnessing Sachin's career from debut to retirement. I am of course referring to the greatest generation - all of us who were privileged to be born in the 70s!

My immediate thought 10 minutes into the documentary was that Sachin has given all of us an incredible time machine to feel like young teenagers again. When he made his debut against Pakistan in 1989, I was studying for my std.12th board exams. I got goosebumps when they showed Sachin hitting the awesome Abdul Qadir for big sixers which landed outside the ground! I had seen that incredible match live when Sachin had scored 53 runs off 18 balls !!

We still remember operation Desert Storm, when Sachin single handedly took India to the final and we won the Coca Cola cup handsomely against Australia in 1998. The best part of this documentary is that it shows his human side and the incredible pain and sacrifices he went through to become a world class player. He fully credits his elder brother Ajit for a big part of his success. His family and friends have been his support system and they have stood by him through thick and thin. He continually emphasizes that TEAM INDIA counts. Individual brilliance does not. An excellent lesson for success in every walk of life!

We often perceive the external aura of celebrities. But we never know the pressure and overwhelming odds they face on a daily basis. Sachin has shared his life and provided inspiration to all of us.

On a personal note, I had a BIG smile on my face when Sachin revealed the one song he listens to when he is stressed and wants to relax. It is by our own Bappi da from Mithun da's Disco Dancer!! "Yaad aa raha hai tera pyaar"!!! :).

Take a bow little master. Thank you for this heart warming documentary and giving us a chance to relive our teenage years!