Overview
M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story is an Indian Hindi-language biographical sports drama film based on the life of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the former captain of the Indian national cricket team. Directed by Neeraj Pandey and produced by Arun Pandey under the banner of Inspired Entertainment in association with Friday Filmworks and Fox Star Studios, the film was released theatrically on 30 September 2016. It traces Dhoni's journey from his childhood in Ranchi to his role as a ticket collector with the Indian Railways, and his eventual rise to leading India to victory in the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup.
Key Facts
| Title | M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story |
|---|---|
| Director | Neeraj Pandey |
| Producer | Arun Pandey |
| Production companies | Inspired Entertainment, Friday Filmworks, Fox Star Studios |
| Distributor | Fox Star Studios |
| Language | Hindi (also dubbed in Tamil and Telugu) |
| Release date | 30 September 2016 |
| Genre | Biographical sports drama |
| Subject | Mahendra Singh Dhoni |
| Lead actor | Sushant Singh Rajput |
| Music | Amaal Mallik, Rochak Kohli, Sandeep Shirodkar |
Cast
- Sushant Singh Rajput as Mahendra Singh Dhoni
- Disha Patani as Priyanka Jha
- Kiara Advani as Sakshi Singh Rawat (Dhoni's wife)
- Anupam Kher as Pan Singh, Dhoni's father
- Bhumika Chawla as Jayanti Gupta, Dhoni's sister
- Rajesh Sharma as Banerjee Da
- Kumud Mishra as Keshav Banerjee, Dhoni's coach
- Herry Tangri as Yuvraj Singh
Background and Production
The film was developed with the cooperation of Dhoni himself, who shared personal accounts and memorabilia with the filmmakers. Sushant Singh Rajput reportedly underwent extensive cricket training to replicate Dhoni's batting and wicket-keeping style, including his signature "helicopter shot." Several scenes were shot in real locations connected to Dhoni's life, including Ranchi, Jharkhand, and the Kharagpur railway station in West Bengal, where Dhoni worked as a Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE) for South Eastern Railway between 2001 and 2003.
Principal photography took place across multiple Indian cities, and parts of the film were shot abroad. Real archival footage of Dhoni's matches, including the 2011 World Cup final at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, was integrated into the narrative.
Plot Summary
The narrative follows Dhoni's early years in Ranchi, where he initially played football as a goalkeeper before being introduced to cricket by his school coach Keshav Banerjee. The film depicts his struggles to balance a railway job with his cricketing aspirations, his selection into India A and the senior national side, his rise as a wicketkeeper-batter, and his appointment as captain. Personal aspects, including his relationship with Priyanka Jha and later his marriage to Sakshi, are also depicted. The film concludes with India's victory in the 2011 World Cup.
Music
The soundtrack album was released by T-Series. Songs include "Besabriyaan," "Kaun Tujhe," "Phir Kabhi," and "Jab Tak." The lyrics were written by Manoj Muntashir, Kumaar, and others. The track "Kaun Tujhe," sung by Palak Muchhal, became particularly popular.
Release and Reception
The film opened in over 4,000 screens domestically and was simultaneously released in Tamil and Telugu dubbed versions. It received generally positive reviews, with particular praise directed at Sushant Singh Rajput's performance and physical resemblance to Dhoni. Commercially, the film was a major box-office success in India and overseas, ranking among the highest-grossing Hindi films of 2016.
Awards and Recognition
Sushant Singh Rajput received several nominations and awards for his performance, including a Filmfare Award nomination for Best Actor. The film also received recognition for cinematography and music at various Indian film award ceremonies in 2017.
Significance
The film is regarded as one of the prominent Indian sports biopics of the 2010s, alongside works such as Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013), Mary Kom (2014), and Dangal (2016). It contributed to public interest in cricket biographies and brought renewed attention to lesser-known aspects of Dhoni's pre-international career, particularly his time with Indian Railways and his domestic cricket journey with Bihar and Jharkhand.
Related Topics
- Mahendra Singh Dhoni
- Sushant Singh Rajput
- Neeraj Pandey
- 2011 Cricket World Cup
- Indian Cricket Team
- Ranchi
- Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
- Dangal (film)
- Indian Sports Biopics
References
- Central Board of Film Certification records, 2016.
- Film publicity material released by Fox Star Studios.
- Contemporary Indian press coverage of the film's release, September–October 2016.