India likes cricket and ditto for movies. The two, together, are considered far reaching, deeply loved and widely celebrated subjects where it comes to everyday life. They are a part and parcel of the common household in the country and that is nearly forever the unchanged scene- irrespective of the changes that have happened in both the much loved sport and the movie industry over all these decades.

While the leading stars may have birthed new faces on the films horizon from Mr Bachchan to Shah Rukh Khan to a host of other new present day actors, the cricketing world too, has unfurled a string of interesting and powerful new faces, the era of Tendulkar changing to that of Kohli to the present day lot that includes an Iyer, Gill, Pant, Kishan and Sooryavanshi.

But one thing that hasn’t changed in all these years in the die hard adoration that some of the legendary names command even to this very day, years after their retirement. And one such name is that of Sourav Ganguly, the iconic and famous former Indian cricket captain.

Now the big question in this context is- what happens when Bollywood and Cricket come together in a creative capacity to raise a tribute to a living legend of a cricketer?

The answer is the forthcoming and hopefully successful and entertaining movie on the life of none other than Sourav Ganguly himself.

Releasing the first look of the movie’s poster on the birth anniversary of cricket legend Ganguly, one of Indian film industry’s much awaited forthcoming film “Dada” the story of Sourav Ganguly has its poster doing rounds on social media.  

And truth be told, is that even that big a surprise?

Fact is that one of the most admired and versatile actors of the present crop of acting talent is playing the titular role of Ganguly in the film. And it’s that man in the central spotlight: Raj Kumar Rao.

A seasoned character actor known for films like Newton, Omertà, Kai Po Che among the others, Raj Kumar Rao is expected to pack a punch at the box office in his central role as Ganguly, indian cricket’s much loved Dada, whose inspiring captaincy and committed leadership of Indian cricket birthed an era of amazing success, emotional performances and spirited leadership that transformed cricket in the country during the late 90’s and throughout the 2000’s.

Ganguly has been known for his classy, accomplished and graceful batting across the two formats (as T20I’s weren’t yet a part of that era). He’s also known for being a great pillar in the amazing trinity of Indian cricket with Tendulkar and Dravid as the other names.

The left hander introduced new courageous faces to Indian cricket like Sehwag, Harbhajan, Zaheer among the others and inspired the country play a fierce and brave brand of cricket.

The poster of the forthcoming release, that’ll hit cinema halls mid next year has the famous Lord’s balcony scene with a shirtless and impassioned Indian captain celebrating the big and thrilling Natwest one day series win.

Let us hope the Raj Kumar Rao helmed film can entertain and inspire in equal measure as is expected and can throw a worthy tribute to a great cricketer from our nation.