Torbaaz Is Very Close to My Heart,” Director Girish Malik

Sanjay Dutt’s long-awaited Torbaaz directed by one of Bollywood’s underrated names GirishMalik  , is  going to be  on Netflix  on 11 December.

Dutt’s fans, of whom there’s no dearth, can expect something special from Bollywood’s resident Munnabhai. This time he is in  terror-infested  Afghanistan(the  film was actually shot in the violent country) teaching little  children  the joys of football in lieu of the other favourite pastime: suicide  bombing.

While I don’t see Torbaaaz getting released in Afghanistan, the trailer most assuredly exudes an emphatic energy as  Dutt puts his all in spreading a kick-ass , rather kick-ball jadoo ki jhappi in the  strife-ridden country. The message  of peace  is most welcome at a time  of rabid hatred and communal animosity. Sanjay Dutt  is in  his  element:  a uniformed Santa spreading  love among  children in the land  of bombings and  shootouts. Not bad.

He has a well-matched  antagonist  in Rahul Dev who looks every inch the Pathani messiah of mayhem. His  Afghani  accent could  induce  a giggle  fit in the midst  of the dramatic  tension.

Sanjay Dutt is  happy to see  his film being released. Says  the actor,  “The story of Torbaaz is closely aligned with the reality of Afghanistan, and the beautiful depiction of cricket as a means of deliverance is as true for the children as it is for my character, Nasser Khan, who bounces back from personal tragedy.”

   Like his character Nasser Khan, Dutt has also bounced back recently from a  personal crisis. “ I am truly grateful for all the love and support that I have received over the past few months, and I am glad to be returning to the screen with this powerful film. We have a strong partner in Netflixand am glad that the film will reach discerning audiences around the world, where the story can resonate across boundaries.”

 Adds producer Rahul Mittra, “These kids had nothing. He brought them cricket, in the hopes of a better life. Torbaaz is a very special film and am elated that our labour of love is premiering soon on Netflix.”

Rahul Mittra  also plays a pivotal role as Afghan army general in the film.The film’s leading lady Nargis Fakhri is  nowhere to be seen in the trailer.Probably gone to another refugee  camp for girls  to teach them  basketball while Dutt coaches  the  boys in cricket.

Says  director  Girish Malik,  “Torbaaz is a film very close to my heart, a film about hope and human triumph. Based in Afghanistan, the film depicts the current issue of terrorism and children future involved , while focusing of how sports can be used as a platform to reform the reform.” Shot across various historical locations  including the  Silk Route in Central Asia,Malik says  the film has changed  his life. “Torbaaz has been an astounding journey for me. With the  immense support of Mr Sanjay Dutt, Netflix and my partners, producers, we were  able to realise this dream and we hope the audience cherishes this journey of hope. The soul of the film surely  would enthral the  audience.”