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{{short description|2016 film by Tony D'Souza}}
{{EngvarB|date=May 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Azhar
| image = Azhar Hindi poster.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| native_name = 
| director = Tony D'Souza
| producer = {{unbulleted list|[[Shobha Kapoor]]|[[Ekta Kapoor]]|[[Sony Pictures Networks]]}}
| writer = [[Rajat Aroraa]]
| based_on = 
| starring = [[Emraan Hashmi]] [[Lara Dutta]] [[Nargis Fakhri]] [[Prachi Desai]] [[Kunaal Roy Kapur]]
| narrator = 
| music = '''Songs:''' [[Amaal Mallik]] [[Pritam]] DJ Chetas '''Background Score:''' [[Sandeep Shirodkar]]
| cinematography = Rakesh Singh
| editing = Dev Jadhav Vipul Chouhan
| studio = {{unbulleted list|[[Balaji Motion Pictures]]|Sony Pictures Networks|Indiana Films Limited}}
| distributor = [[Panorama Studios]] [[Sony Pictures]]
| released = {{Film date|2016|05|13|df=y}}
| runtime = 130 minutes
| country = India
| language = [[Hindi]]
| budget = {{Estimation}}{{INR}}350 million<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |title=Azhar – Movie – Box Office India |work=bollywoodhungama.com |access-date=15 August 2016 |url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/azhar/box-office/}}</ref>
| gross = {{Estimation}}{{INR}}566.9 million<ref name="auto"/>
}}

'''''Azhar''''' is a 2016 Indian [[Hindi]] [[biographical film|biographical]] [[sports film|sports]] [[drama film]] directed by Tony D'Souza. The story and is inspired from the life of Indian cricketer and former national team captain [[Mohammad Azharuddin]]. The film is produced by [[Shobha Kapoor]] and [[Ekta Kapoor]] for [[Sony Pictures Networks]] and features [[Emraan Hashmi]] in the titular role. The film was released worldwide on 13 May 2016.<ref>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Emraan-Hashmi-turns-Azharuddin-on-Azhar-poster/articleshow/51648354.cms "Emraan Hashmi turns Azharuddin on ‘Azhar’ poster"]</ref>
The film was a moderate success at the box office as it collected only 568 million gross against the budget of 350 million. The film also drew criticism for its fictionalised interpretation of events.<ref name="Samiuddin">{{cite news |last1=Samiuddin |first1=Osdin |title=Bollywood tries but fails miserably to tell the real story of Mohammad Azharuddin |url=http://www.thenational.ae/sport/cricket/bollywood-tries-but-fails-miserably-to-tell-the-real-story-of-mohammad-azharuddin#full |access-date=1 April 2017 |publisher=The National |date=22 May 2016}}</ref><ref name="Dwivedi">{{cite news |last1=Dwivedi |first1=Sandeep |title=Don't play it again, Azhar |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/biopic-mohammad-azharuddin-dont-play-it-again-azhar-2802398/ |access-date=1 April 2017 |publisher=The Indian Express |date=16 May 2016}}</ref><ref name="Ferrero Sharma">{{cite news |last1=Ferrero Sharma |first1=Ruchir |title=Sorry Bollywood, The Truth About Azhar Lies in His Own Confessions |access-date=1 April 2017 |work=The Huffington Post |date=18 May 2016 |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.in/ruchir-ferrero-sharma/sorry-bollywood-the-truth_b_10001876.html}}</ref>

==Plot==

The film begins with Indian cricketer [[Mohammad Azharuddin|Azhar]] ([[Emraan Hashmi]]) scoring a century in his 99th test match, but he soon faces allegations of [[Betting controversies in cricket|match-fixing]] as his name has been linked with a [[London, England|London]] based bookie M.K. Sharma aka Shaun ([[Rajesh Sharma (actor)|Rajesh Sharma]]). The Indian cricket board slaps a life-ban on him. Azhar decides to challenge the ban in court with the help of his lawyer friend Reddy ([[Kunaal Roy Kapur|Kunaal Roy Kapoor]]).

The story shifts back to 1963, when Azhar was born to a comfortable middle-class family in [[Hyderabad]]. His grandfather ([[Kulbhushan Kharbanda]]) dreamt of Azhar playing 100 tests for Team India and motivates a soft-spoken young Azhar to answer his rivals with his batting skills. Young Azhar goes for an Indian team selection match to Mumbai, where on the match day he receives the bad news of his grandfather's death. Nonetheless, he participates in the match, in accordance with his grandfather's last wish.

Azhar impresses the selectors, sealing his place in Team India and he soon becomes a national hero by scoring 3 consecutive centuries in his first 3 Test innings. Azhar soon marries Naureen ([[Prachi Desai]]) and they both begin a happy married life. After a loss against Pakistan in 1991, the President of Cricket Board calls Azhar for a one-to-one meeting. Azhar initially fears getting dropped from the team, but is surprised when he is offered the position of team Captain. Some senior players like Manoj, Ravi and Navjot, resent Azhar's appointment as Captain, not wishing to take orders from a younger and less experienced player. But Kapil ([[Varun Badola]]) supports and encourages him to focus on his duty.

While playing in an [[India–Pakistan cricket rivalry|India–Pakistan match]], [[Javed Miandad|Javed]] taunts Azhar, telling Azhar his Muslim heritage would be a better fit for the Pakistan team. Azhar leads his team to victory and soon becomes a successful Captain. At the peak of his career, Azhar's personal life takes a twist when he meets a former [[Femina Miss India|Miss India]] and famous Bollywood actress [[Sangeeta Bijlani|Sangeeta]] ([[Nargis Fakhri]]) during an advertising film shoot and instantaneously falls in love with her. Sangeeta likes him too but, aware that he is already married, she warns him to stay away from her. Nevertheless, Azhar is infatuated by her beauty and does not listen to her advice. They begin dating but keep their relationship hidden, until it is suddenly exposed by a gossip magazine.

Azhar has no alternative but to publicly announce his affair with Sangeeta. Heartbroken, Naureen asks him for a divorce and soon Azhar leaves her to marry Sangeeta. During a cricket match against the [[West Indies cricket team|West Indies]], Azhar gets in a spat with team-mate Manoj for a slow run rate in order to complete his century, letting the team lose. Manoj is dropped from the next match and Azhar leads the team to victory. Manoj is humiliated and vows to take revenge. In later years of his career, Azhar, famous for his expensive lifestyle, comes into the eyes of match-fixers. He is soon approached by a London-based bookie M.K Sharma, disguised as a diamond merchant, who later offers him 10 million rupees to under play in a match against [[Sri Lanka national cricket team|Sri Lanka]], which Azhar hesitantly accepts.

In a parallel story, after the match-fixing scandal, Azhar is now facing nationwide criticism and a prosecutor, Meera ([[Lara Dutta]]), is building up a strong case against him on the basis of sting operations done by Manoj on Ravi, Navjot and several other cricketers. She also uses the report of the inquiry commission set up by the Cricket Board and secretly meets the bookie M. K. Sharma to gather more evidence. Meera also approaches Naureen, asking her to serve as a witness, but she refuses. Meanwhile, Azhar and his lawyer Reddy are struggling to find any proof of innocence as none of his fellow cricketers are ready to help him out.

Azhar attends a gym-opening ceremony to gain back his old fame in public, but is left insulted by the owner himself. After a long, eight-year legal fight, Reddy finally makes a breakthrough by proving in court that the inquiry commission report is biased, as they were paid by Cricket Board itself. Reddy even challenges the authenticity of sting operation tapes as none of the witness was under oath and hence can not be treated as truth. Later, Azhar also reveals that he took 10 million rupees from the bookie to keep him away from other team members but later scored a match winning innings and returned all the money to the bookie.

On the final day of judgement, both Naureen and Sangeeta attend the court hearing, showing their support for Azhar. Kapil also states in a television interview that he believes Azhar is innocent. In its final verdict, the court lifts the India cricket board ban imposed on Azhar.

==Cast==

{{colbegin}}
* [[Emraan Hashmi]] as Azhar Mohammad (Based on [[Mohammad Azharuddin]])
* [[Lara Dutta]] as Meera Verma, a lawyer
* [[Nargis Fakhri]] as Sangeeta, the second wife of Azharuddin (Based on [[Sangeeta Bijlani]])
* [[Prachi Desai]] as Naureen, the first wife of Azharuddin
* [[Kunaal Roy Kapur]] as Advocate Ramakanth Reddy
* [[Gautam Gulati]] as Ravi Goyal (Based on [[Ravi Shastri]])
* [[Manjot Singh]] as Navjot Singh Bachar (Based on [[Navjot Singh Siddhu]])
* [[Karanvir Sharma]] as Manoj Shinde (Based on [[Manoj Prabhakar]])
* [[Rajesh Sharma (actor)|Rajesh Sharma]] as M. K. Sharma aka Shaun (Based on M. K. Gupta)
* [[Varun Badola]] as Kapil Jain (Based on [[Kapil Dev]])
* [[Kulbhushan Kharbanda]] as Wajihuddin, Azhar's Grandfather
* Hemant Choudhary as Samar (Ad Film Director)
* [[Veerendra Saxena]] as Mohammad Azizuddin
* [[Jameel Khan]] as Jay Patil (Based on [[Ajay Sharma]])
* Ashok Mandanna as Judge
* [[Shernaz Patel]] as Yousuf Sultana
* Ashish Pathode as Ajay Kapur (Based on [[Ajay Jadeja]])
* [[Shweta Kawatra]] as Film Magazine journalist (Cameo)
* [[Rajit Kapur]] as Raj Singh Puri (Cameo)
* [[Navdeep]] as Meera's boyfriend
{{colend}}

==Production==
As early as June 2013, producer [[Ekta Kapoor]] had spoken of her plans and signed a contract with [[cricketer]] [[Mohammad Azharuddin]] to make this film based on certain well known and highly talked about incidents and facts of Azharrudin's life. At that time actors [[Saif Ali Khan]], [[Ranbir Kapoor]], and [[Ranveer Singh]] were on her wish list.<ref name="The Times of India 1">{{cite news |title=Ekta Kapoor plans to make film on Azharuddin's life |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Ekta-Kapoor-plans-to-make-film-on-Azharuddins-life/articleshow/20600648.cms |access-date=25 May 2015 |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=15 June 2013}}</ref> Azharuddin was quizzical over the film until after he had read a copy of the script presented to him by director D'Souza.<ref name="Mid-Day 1">{{cite news |last1=Kamat |first1=Mayur |title='Azhar' is about my God, my marriage & match-fixing: Azharuddin on biopic |url=http://www.mid-day.com/articles/azhar-is-about-my-god-my-marriage--match-fixing-azharuddin-on-biopic/16231168 |access-date=25 May 2015 |publisher=[[Mid-Day]] |date=22 May 2015}}</ref> Pakistani actress [[Urwa Hocane]] was earlier offered the lead female role of [[Sangeeta Bijlani]], however, she refused saying that she didn't want to do bold scenes.<ref name="indiatimes.com">{{cite web |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Pakistani-actress-Urwa-Hocane-refuses-Ekta-Kapoors-Azhar/articleshow/47523762.cms |title=Pakistani actress Urwa Hocane refuses Ekta Kapoor's 'Azhar' |work=The Times of India}}</ref> The role was later played by [[Nargis Fakhri]], who herself is of Pakistani ethnicity. Actress [[Nyra Banerjee]] worked as an assistant director for this film.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bhatnagar |first1=Rohit |title=One Night Stand actress Nyra turns assistant director for Azhar |url=http://www.asianage.com/bollywood/one-night-stand-actress-nyra-turns-assistant-director-azhar-757 |work=The Asian Age |access-date=24 June 2016 |date=12 May 2016}}</ref> The sports action was done by stunt director Rob Miller.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hollywood stunt director Robert Miller roped in for Azhar |work=Bollywood Hungama |date=31 August 2015 |access-date=22 May 2016 |url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/16079366/Hollywood-stunt-director-Robert-Miller-roped-in-for-Azhar}}</ref> Prachi Desai was signed to play the role of Naureen, the first wife of Azharuddin and she met her personally to get into the skin of character. Lara Dutta played the role of lawyer Meera.

===Filming===
Filming started in May 2015. Various scenes for the film have been shot at [[cricket ground]]s including [[Lord's]], [[The Oval]], [[Edgbaston Cricket Ground|Edgbaston]], [[St Lawrence Ground]] and [[County Cricket Ground, Derby|County Ground, Derby]], as well as other places in the United Kingdom including [[Harleyford Manor]], [[Virginia Water]], [[Carshalton#Lavender Fields|Mayfield Lavender Farm]], and [[Windsor, Berkshire|Windsor]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrities/news/type/view/sort/What's_New/id/15166377 |title=Anthony Dsouza to shoot Azhar bio pic at Lords | Bollywood News | Hindi Movies News | Celebrity News |website=BollywoodHungama.com |date=21 July 2015 |access-date=13 January 2016}}</ref>

The first schedule of the film was completed in October 2015 in London and the second schedule also completed in [[Hyderabad]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://m.koimoi.com/bollywood-news/emraan-hashmi-gears-up-for-the-2nd-schedule-of-azhar-in-hyderabad |title=KoiMoi – Emraan Hashmi Gears Up for the 2nd Schedule Of 'Azhar' In Hyderabad |website=M.koimoi.com |date=14 October 2015 |access-date=13 January 2016}}</ref>

===Controversy===
The film has generated controversy prior to its release over a storyline that absolves the protagonist Mohammad Azharuddin from charges of fixing matches in return of money.<ref name="Samiuddin"/><ref name="Ferrero Sharma"/> M A Ganapathy the former Superintendent of Police in CBI who was the chief investigating officer in the match-fixing case has refuted the movie's clean chit to Azharuddin claiming that his confession is on tape with the CBI.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/is-reel-close-to-real-ex-cbi-official-to-keep-an-eye-on-azhar-the-movie/story-hofabCsVApfF7terJEFuJO.html |title=Is reel close to real? Ex-CBI official to keep an eye on Azhar the movie |work=Hindustan Times |access-date=11 May 2016}}</ref> Azharuddin's involvement in match fixing was also accepted by Rakesh Maria, the former head of the Crime Branch and Commissioner of Mumbai Police. In a conversation recorded by the news magazine [[Tehelka]], Maria claims that Azhar had "a criminal bent of mind".<ref>{{cite AV media |people=[[Rakesh Maria]] (former Mumbai Police Commissioner) |date=16 May 2013 |title=Fallen Heroes: The first sting on match fixing- Part 1|medium=[[YouTube]] |language=en |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBI4figu67c|access-date=16 May 2016|location=Mumbai |publisher=Tehelka}}</ref>

==Music==
{{Infobox album
| name = Azhar
| type = [[Soundtrack]]
| artist = [[Amaal Mallik]], [[Pritam]] and DJ Chetas
| cover =
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|2016|04|19|df=y}}
| recorded = 2016
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = [[Film soundtrack|Feature film soundtrack]]
| length = 23:16
| language = [[Hindi]]
| label = [[T-Series (company)|T-Series]]
| producer =
}}

The soundtrack of ''Azhar'' has music composed by [[Amaal Mallik]]. [[Pritam]] and DJ Chetas have composed one song each as guest composers. Lyrics are penned by [[Kumaar]], Manoj Yadav and Rashmi Virag. The [[Film score|background score]] has been composed by [[Sandeep Shirodkar]]. The Album consists of four original songs by Amaal Mallik & Pritam and one recreation by DJ Chetas.

===Production===
Earlier, Pritam was supposed to compose music for the complete album but due to health issues, he was not able to follow the deadline.<ref>{{cite web |title=Amaal Mallik steps in place of Pritam |url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/17986679/Amaal-Malik-steps-in-place-of-Pritam |website=Bollywood Hungama |access-date=11 April 2016}}</ref> Amaal Mallik was then roped in to compose music for the film.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Baddhan |first1=Raj |title=Amaal Mallik replaces Pritam as music director of 'Azhar' |url=http://www.media247.co.uk/showbiz/amaal-malik-replaces-pritam-as-music-director-of-azhar-2016 |access-date=11 April 2016 |work=www.media247.co.uk |date=26 March 2016}}</ref> [[T-Series (company)|T-Series]] has acquired the [[Music licensing|music rights]] of the film. DJ Chetas recreated the song "Oye Oye" from [[Tridev]] (1989 film) originally composed by [[Viju Shah]]. This song was picturised on [[Sangeeta Bijlani]], who has been portrayed in the film by [[Nargis Fakhri]].

===Release===
The first single, "Bol Do Na Zara", sung by [[Armaan Malik]] was released on 8 April 2016.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chandel |first1=Rajani |title='Azhar' song 'Bol do na zara' – Emraan Hashmi and Nagris Fakhri's sizzling chemistry leaves us breathless! |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Azhar-song-Bol-do-na-zara-Emraan-Hashmi-and-Nagris-Fakhris-sizzling-chemistry-leaves-us-breathless/articleshow/51740721.cms |access-date=11 April 2016 |work=The Times of India |date=8 April 2016}}</ref> Following it, the second Single, "Itni Si Baat Hain", sung by [[Arijit Singh]] and [[Antara Mitra]], with music by [[Pritam]] was released on 15 April 2016.<ref>{{cite news |title=Second song of Azhar 'Itni si baat hain' will stir your heart's chords |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Second-song-of-Azhar-Itni-si-baat-hain-will-stir-your-hearts-chords/articleshow/51843060.cms |access-date=16 April 2016 |work=The Times of India |date=15 April 2016}}</ref> The complete album consisting of 5 tracks was released on 19 April 2016.

===Track listing===
{{track listing
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| total_length= 23:16
| title1= Bol Do Na Zara
| extra1= [[Armaan Malik]]
| music1= [[Amaal Mallik]]
| lyrics1= [[Rashmi Virag]]
| length1= 4:53
| title2= Itni Si Baat Hain
| extra2= [[Arijit Singh]], [[Antara Mitra]]
| music2= [[Pritam]]
| lyrics2= Manoj Yadav
| length2= 4:55
| title3= Oye Oye
| extra3= Armaan Malik, [[Aditi Singh Sharma]]
| music3= Dj Chetas (Recreated)
| lyrics3= [[Anand Bakshi]]
| length3= 3:53
| title4= Tu Hi Na Jaane
| extra4= [[Sonu Nigam]], [[Prakriti Kakar]]
| music4= Amaal Mallik
| lyrics4= [[Kumaar]]
| length4= 5:33
| title5= Jeetne Ke Liye
| extra5= [[KK (singer)|KK]]
| music5= Amaal Mallik
| lyrics5= Kumaar
| length5= 4:02
}}

== Reception ==
{{empty section|date=February 2020}}
Azhar got an average rating 3 out of 5 stars.It collected around 3 billion at the box office.{{cn|date=July 2021}}

==See also==
* ''[[Paan Singh Tomar (film)|Paan Singh Tomar]]''
* [[Mary Kom (film)|Mary Kom]]
* [[M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story]]
* [[Bhaag Milkha Bhaag]]
* [[Sachin: A Billion Dreams]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb title|4906984|Azhar}}

{{Balaji Telefilms}}

[[Category:2016 films]]
[[Category:Indian biographical drama films]]
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:2010s Hindi-language films]]
[[Category:Indian sports drama films]]
[[Category:Indian films based on actual events]]
[[Category:Films set in Telangana]]
[[Category:Sports films based on actual events]]
[[Category:Films set in Hyderabad, India]]
[[Category:Biographical films about sportspeople]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of Indian men]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of cricketers]]
[[Category:Indian nonlinear narrative films]]
[[Category:Films about corruption in India]]
[[Category:Films about cricket in India]]
[[Category:Films featuring songs by Pritam]]
[[Category:Films scored by Amaal Mallik]]
[[Category:Films shot in England]]
[[Category:Balaji Motion Pictures films]]
[[Category:Sony Pictures Networks India films]]
[[Category:Hindi-language films based on actual events]]
[[Category:Films set in the 1980s]]
[[Category:2010s biographical drama films]]
[[Category:Sony Pictures films]]

Azhar (film) - Revision history

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