From Sachin Tendulkar to Viswanathan Anand: 6 Indian sports personalities whose lives would make for compelling, entertaining biopic

Sports in India is a topic of discussion that can branch out into many subtopics, especially considering how one game in particular draws the most fans. While this is the case, India has a stellar selection of some supreme athletes who have brought glory to the tricolour.

From Dhyan Chand and his men dominating the world of hockey to P.T. Usha earning herself the nickname as the "Queen of Indian track and field", many of these stories also have a lot of heart to them. One could even say that most of these stories would make great movies that could make big money at the box office. So let’s take a look at some sportspeople whose biopics would make for great watches.

Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar is hailed as the "God of Cricket" by fans of the sport from around the world, and this is a name that he earned for himself. At just sixteen, walking onto the Karachi pitch to make his test debut, Sachin had an aura about him. For the next 24 odd years, he dominated the sport and went on to become one of the greatest cricketers to ever play the game.

From a debut at the age of 16 to winning the World Cup for his country towards the twilight of his career, this movie is bound to offer drama and motivation and, above all, a feel of larger than life to it. Sachin's biopic has been long overdue.

P.T. Usha

P.T. Usha was known around the world as the Payyoli Express, and this name came after she declared herself as the Queen of Indian track and field. Usha’s illustrious running career saw her win two silver medals in 100m and 200m at the 1982 New Delhi Asian Games; 13 gold medals at the ATF meets; five gold medals at the Asian track and field Championship; and many more. A career highlight was when she missed out on the bronze medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics in the 400 metre hurdles by 1/100th of a second.

A career that had everyone in awe started very roughly, with Usha having been born into a poor household. While her parents struggled to make ends meet, she also suffered from malnutrition as a child. A P.T. Usha biopic (provided that an actor can pull off her iconic running style) would make for an endearing watch that sends out the message that anything is possible.

Dhyan Chand

A true magician, Dhyan Chand is considered the greatest hockey player that has graced this nation. Dhayn Chand’s biggest exploit is when he and his Indian team won the Olympic gold medal on three different occasions, in 1928, 1932, and 1936. A leading figure during the time of India’s world hockey domination, this man is one of the reasons that hockey still remains one of India’s favourite sports.

A Dhyan Chand biopic would give the viewer a great insight into how the world ran during the early 1900s. Games such as India hammering the England team 4-0 before having them pull themselves out of the Olympics, would mean entertainment and feelings of nationalism on point. The biopic would also give a look into legendary players such as Chand’s brother, Roop Singh.

Viswanathan Anand

While we think about sports movies, a movie based on chess is not what instantly comes to your mind. But movies and shows such as Life Of A King and The Queen’s Gambit have proven that a well written and executed movie about chess can work a treat. Viswanathan Anand’s life and triumphs would make for the best chess biopic as well, if someone ever decides to make one. The grandmaster is a five-time world chess champion who was also the first Indian chess grandmaster.

The biopic could offer Anand’s life from being the "Lightning Kid" to an undisputed champion, with all its ups and downs and the grind that he would have had to put in. The movie could also make amazing use of his rivalry with Magnus Carlsen, to whom he lost his title in 2013.

C.K. Naidu

Cinema and cricket are two of the biggest forms of entertainment in India, and we often see the two things go hand in hand. While there have been a few biopics about Indian cricketers already made, a biopic about C.K. Naidu could have a whole different shade to it. The first captain of the Indian cricket team in Test matches, Naidu, laid it all out on the cricket pitch. Naidu’s 153 at the Bombay Gymkhana, which consisted of 11 sixes, even earned him a silver bat from the MCC.

A movie about the incredible life of this great sportsman could be particularly interesting because it could give fans a look into cricket over a century ago. Naidu’s biopic could also have a monumental ending, considering how the former captain returned to the pitch to play one last game at the age of 68.

Sania Mirza

Sania Mirza is one of the most prominent racquet sports players the country has had to offer. A tennis superstar, Sania Mirza’s exploits include six Grand Slam doubles titles. She was also the first Indian to make it to the No. 1 spot in the WTA doubles rankings. One of only two Indian women to win a WTA Tour title, she was also the only one to make it to the top 100 rankings. She and Martina Hingis formed a formidable partnership on the court, and a biopic would also have the scope to make use of some other great tennis players such as Alisa Kleybanova, Venus Williams, and Mahesh Bhupathi.

From the controversy of allegedly declining to play with Shahar Pe'er to all the hate she received following her marriage to Pakistani cricketer Shoib Malik, Sania Mirza’s biopic will have a lot of drama attached to it. Not to mention, her wrist injury and her willingness to give up could make for some classic sports drama moments of motivation and inspiration.