Rajkummar Rao has taken over the shoes of one of India's greatest captains, Sourav Ganguly, in the new biographical film Dada. In the film's first look, which is centered around Ganguly's shirt waving on the balcony of Lord's Cricket Ground following India's epic win in the NatWest Trophy final of 2002, the makers have released the film's first look, showcasing Rao mimicking Ganguly's shirt waving on the balcony of Lord's Cricket Ground after India's nerve-wracking win in the final of the NatWest Trophy 2002.
The first-look poster has already caught the attention of cricket fans and movie fans alike, and many of them felt the actor’s similarity to the former Indian captain and the recreation of one of the most iconic moments in Indian cricket history.
Recreating an Iconic Cricket Moment
The poster shows Rajkummar Rao on the Lord's balcony with his shirt raised high, as a tribute to Ganguly's emotional reaction after India scored 326 runs against England in the NatWest Trophy final.
This celebration has come to be the defining image of Indian cricket, symbolizing confidence, passion, and aggressive leadership under Ganguly.
By choosing this moment as the film’s first look, the filmmakers have highlighted one of Ganguly’s most memorable chapters in his long career.
Rajkummar Rao's Transformation
In the course of his career, Rajkummar Rao has changed so much to portray Ganguly as a person. From his hairstyle and facial expressions to his body language, he closely resembles Ganguly in his playing days.
Much of the look is back on the screen as fans on social media are grateful for the effort on the part of the filmmakers who worked to recreate the look, and many are excited to see Rao portray one of India's biggest sporting figures on the big screen.
Celebrating the Legacy of ‘Dada’
Sourav Ganguly is one of the architects of modern Indian cricket. He took over the captaincy when things got rough, and that young team emerged victorious at home and abroad.
Under his management, India reached the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup final, won some memorable overseas games, and established future legends such as MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Virender Sehwag, and Zaheer Khan.
His aggressive approach and dedication to young talent changed India’s cricketing outlook and earned him the nickname ‘Prince of Kolkata’ and the affectionate term ‘Dada.’
High Expectations for the Biopic
Sports biopics are more popular in Indian cinema these days, and expectations are high for Dada. The film is expected to chronicle Ganguly's journey from his childhood in Kolkata to becoming one of India’s greatest captains, highlighting the challenges, controversies, triumphs, and defining moments of his career.
Cricket fans will be interested to see how the film portrays key milestones of his international debut, captaincy, NatWest Trophy victory, 2003 World Cup campaign, and his return to the Indian team.
Fans Welcome the First Look
The debut of Rajkummar Rao’s first look has generated lots of excitement online. Many fans described the recreation of the Lord's celebration as nostalgic, while others felt that the production team paid attention to detail.
Dada is shaping up to be one of the most eagerly awaited sports biopics in Indian cinema that will honor the remarkable legacy of a player who changed Indian cricket.
