The film industry is bracing for an epic showdown as two of Bollywood’s megastars, Ajay Devgn and Akshay Kumar, are slated to release their upcoming films ‘Maidaan’ and ‘Bade Miyan Chote Miyan’ simultaneously during the Eid festivities in April. Ajay Devgn’s sports drama, ‘Maidaan’, which encountered numerous delays, including the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, is finally seeing the light of the day, with the backers announcing its release during the auspicious Eid period.
‘Maidaan’ is produced by the industry veteran Boney Kapoor and captures the golden era of Indian football through the lens of biographical storytelling. Ajay Devgn embodies the character of Syed Abdul Rahim, a pivotal figure in the annals of Indian history famous as the architect of modern Indian football.
Renowned for its detailed production design and exhaustive post-production efforts required for period accuracy, the film took longer to complete, as shared by Boney Kapoor in a conversation with Zoom, “The main reason for the delay has been the post-production. It’s a period film, which necessitates a considerable amount of post-production to get the historical elements just right. We’ve filmed in diverse locations and stadiums across various countries, and we had to ensure that each looked convincingly true to what they were in that period.”
Director Amit Sharma, a dedicated filmmaker known for his acute eye for authenticity, helmed the project. Boney Kapoor praised his passion and the team, “My director and I, we make a solid pair, and our partners share the same level of passion. We’re painstakingly fine-tuning the film to ensure the final product looks realistic, appealing, and genuine.”
Set against the vibrant backdrop of 1950s India, Devgn’s portrayal of Rahim promises to deliver an engaging cinematic experience in ‘Maidaan’, which is set to release in five languages: Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada. The film marks the Hindi film debut of National Award-winning actress Keerthy Suresh.
Prior to finalizing the release plans, director Amit R Sharma engaged the Trailer Park Group in London—a team renowned for creating compelling trailers for Christopher Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer’, ‘Tenet’, and ‘Inception’. Unveiling the high standards set for ‘Maidaan’, a trade source described to mid-day, “Boney Kapoor has enlisted the cream of technical teams, utilizing some of the film industry’s finest crew, equipment, and technicians for the film. They’re the same masters behind the trailers of Marvel’s ‘Black Panther’ and ‘Eternals’. The conventional template for Indian trailers is being redefined with this film, paired with world-class VFX by an international team.”
While anticipation for ‘Maidaan’ mounts, Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff’s ‘Bade Miyan Chote Miyan’ teases an intriguing face-off as it gears up for its own release during the Eid holiday period. With director Ali Abbas Zafar at the helm, the film promises a potent mix of action and entertainment, with Prithviraj also starring in a critical role.
Akshay and Ajay’s camaraderie stretches back to the ’90s, and the duo continues to share screen space, presently co-starring in the upcoming ‘Singham Again’. Akshay’s previous outing, ‘OMG 2’, faced a box-office competition with Sunny Deol’s ‘Gadar 2’.
As fans eagerly await the ultimate battle of the blockbusters, ‘Maidaan’ and ‘Bade Miyan Chote Miyan’ are posed to test their mettle against each other, offering movie-goers a compelling choice in the realms of genre, style, and star power. With the stakes raised high and the excitement palpable among cinema enthusiasts, the Eid season is set to be a memorable juncture in Bollywood’s illustrious chronicle.
