The filmmaker’s next is about a talented but visually challenged boy from the slums of Mumbai who doesn’t let his means dictate his dreams
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 7, 2017)

Ronnie Screwvala is hooked on real life stories. After announcing a film on the 2016 Uri attack, featuring Vicky Kaushal and Meghna Gulzar’s biopic on Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, Mirror has learnt that the filmmaker is now producing a film set in the world of blind cricket. “It is partly based on the Indian team’s landmark victory in the 2012 T20 Blind Cricket World Cup when they won the final against Pakistan. This was the first time India was experimenting with the T20 format in blind cricket,” informs Ronnie.

World Blind Cricket Council (WBCC) is the governing body for blind cricket worldwide and has 10 full-time international teams, including India, Australia, Bangladesh, England, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, West Indies and Nepal. Team India is run by the Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI). The film traces the journey of a talented young boy from the slums of Mumbai who doesn’t let his means dictate his dreams.

“Through our protagonist’s story, we delve into the world of blind cricket and explore how the CABI was set up, how it changed the way this sport was viewed in India and put our country on the global map. We want the audiences to see that no disability can come in the way of one’s true passion. In a nation where cricket is the heartbeat of many, blind cricket will resonate as a unique form of the game that all Indians love so dearly,” informs the producer.

Ronnie is in the process of scouting for a director who feels just as passionately about the subject. He believes any of the younger actors can do justice to the role, but would like to wait till they have a director on board before approaching anyone. He reasons that sports films and biopics have become popular as such stories inspire the youth to dream big and that is the need of the hour in a country which has plenty of young sporting talent, but often very little encouragement or infrastructure to see them achieve their true potential.

He goes on to add that the CABI and WBCC are helping them research the script and guiding him on how to enhance the authenticity of the story by letting them study actual techniques of players and watch blind cricket matches. “We will definitely have coaches, players and other sports consultants on board working closely with the actors to bring out the mannerisms and techniques of visually-challenged players. We start shooting mid next year,” he concludes.