In episode 100th of The Totally Indian Football Show, host Siju is joined Ashish Kothari as he co-hosts this special episode. Sushant Waydande is the guest. He played the role of Tulsidas Balaram in the movie Maidaan. The movie is based on the golden era of Indian football. Tune in to know the reel life of Tulsidas Balaram!
[00:00:04] This is new and this is big, not just because we are doing this, you can finally see us.
[00:00:11] Yeah, that's exactly why I didn't know where to look.
[00:00:15] After a lot of promises of saying you can see us, we are doing videos, but honestly,
[00:00:22] you can see us. This is the 100th episode of The Totally Indian Football Show.
[00:00:26] It took me 19 episodes to get my promise out there.
[00:00:30] The reason why it's double the excitement and the fun because we have a very special guest.
[00:00:38] Before I come to my guest, I have Ash by the ball, Ashish who is going to co-host with me.
[00:00:46] Absolute pleasure.
[00:00:48] Ashish, how does it feel from being a guest? From a fan to a guest and now you are going to co-host?
[00:00:53] Oh my God! What an absolute pleasure. Super excited for this.
[00:00:57] That's why I said it was not scripted. He was not paid for saying that. He is excited.
[00:01:01] Let me now come to our guest because that's why the 100th episode is all the more special.
[00:01:07] And I didn't want to do it for the sake of doing it. We have had a gap of two months, but this is worth the wait.
[00:01:14] So Shant is here, aka Tulsi Das Balram.
[00:01:18] The reason why I say that he was playing the role of Tulsi Das Balram, the late Tulsi Das Balram,
[00:01:23] who is a legend of Indian football in the movie Maidan.
[00:01:27] So Shant, thank you so much for making it and firstly for showing interest to come on my show.
[00:01:33] Thank you so much because I wanted this journey of me to be told also even the Tulsi Das Balram sir and this movie.
[00:01:39] A lot of things had happened like last one year has been good for me and all these things happened
[00:01:45] and then I met him of course on the premiere and I got connected to him
[00:01:50] and I thought that some football show or something is where I need to go and speak about this
[00:01:55] and it's good that I'm here and like I know that it's very natural out here just to speak out whatever you feel
[00:02:02] and that makes me feel comfortable to come here and speak my journey.
[00:02:05] Absolutely. Ashish again, we didn't pay him to say any of that.
[00:02:10] No, no, I'm glad I could make this connect.
[00:02:13] So the gift I could give him was get him on the show as well.
[00:02:16] He has his story about a shirt as well.
[00:02:19] I realized after I left my house this is the exact same outfit that I was wearing at the Maidan premiere when I met Sushant.
[00:02:27] It's a special lucky shirt.
[00:02:29] Sushant, let's start this by you're also a football freestyler.
[00:02:33] That's where your journey begins as into football.
[00:02:36] So before we come to Maidan, let's talk about behind the scenes what happened
[00:02:40] and how did you end up becoming a football freestyler?
[00:02:43] Firstly, I was also a footballer. I used to play MDFA and in the school level I used to play that
[00:02:49] but my school there's not a lot of football as such like you know before in Mumbai schools usually it is like two days before they'll just practice and they'll go
[00:02:57] and that is how it was and then later when I went after like my 9th, 10th and all
[00:03:02] I lost complete touch because there was no matches happening nothing
[00:03:05] but love for football is always there and something to do so
[00:03:09] you know they used to come these videos of people are awesome on YouTube and all
[00:03:13] like where they used to trick shots and a lot of things they used to do.
[00:03:16] So there I saw some freestyle moves like some freestyle got featured doing those things
[00:03:21] and through that surfing through YouTube knowing what is the scope for this like there's a lot more tricks
[00:03:26] so I started freestyling like juggling and then doing tricks around the world and all
[00:03:31] and I noticed that I had shifted my focus from playing to just completely towards freestyle
[00:03:36] and I did that for good one year and then later I know that there are people like me in Mumbai
[00:03:41] and this happened when I went to my college and there they were just there was a freestyle competition happening
[00:03:47] and one year prior to that I've been practicing freestyle and I didn't knew that there are free cellers
[00:03:52] I see them do and there are people who are competing and I'm able to do like you know some moves
[00:03:57] and I was so happy I felt like competing so that is how the competition journey started
[00:04:02] like I got connected with the community then again a lot of competitions were happening in Mumbai
[00:04:07] I started competing in them and apparently I also made it to becoming the national champion
[00:04:12] and that was a qualifiers for world finals again and then Red Bull you know right
[00:04:17] they host this such sports for such sports I mean they have been major supporters is what I feel
[00:04:22] because they had this national qualifiers and they took me like I had never traveled international before
[00:04:29] never had dreamt by doing freestyle I had not thought that I'll go somewhere
[00:04:34] but then I won that competition and it was qualifiers for world finals which was supposed to be conducted in Miami
[00:04:39] so that was my first international trip and also it was fully sponsored by Red Bull
[00:04:46] and I had to go as an athlete so that was like a wonderful experience and going there understanding various aspects of freestyle
[00:04:53] that whole journey was fun then I decided to take it like a more serious sport
[00:04:58] and I started playing professionally after that I mean so that is how it has been for freestyle
[00:05:04] that's phenomenal I mean I think though you put in one line I'm sure the journey that took you there to get better at it
[00:05:12] because what's the transition like you know I understand to say because you play football
[00:05:18] but then it's a craft in itself freestyle right I often I know someone called Akshay who I'm sure you would know him as well
[00:05:26] so I often say that you know isn't it like dancing with the ball and he's like no don't say that
[00:05:31] but that's how it looks like you're just having fun with the ball
[00:05:35] like I personally when I was understanding freestyle also and later when I now understand it
[00:05:40] I see the emergence of freestyle you go to the history and understanding
[00:05:44] so it usually the origins are in circus also
[00:05:47] so you would see someone doing something with football back in like you know even 200 years back
[00:05:52] you would see someone doing something with small round thing and that is what you can see on the stage also
[00:05:57] these days like spinning a ball or something like that those are not football moves as such
[00:06:01] but those are derived from circus so I see it as an art form
[00:06:06] and of course when you are competing or when you have a trick for example in a mind
[00:06:12] so that requires some athletic capability like it needs
[00:06:16] that you know you need to have that ability within your body to execute that artistic vision of yourself right
[00:06:23] so that is why you know most of the free sellers would call them artistic athletes
[00:06:28] because there's a vision out there and then there is something which your body
[00:06:32] you can't do a back flip hold the ball in your leg and
[00:06:35] you know do a handstand stall the ball on your sole of the feet
[00:06:39] so that will require imagination of course that is like something artistic visually appealing to see
[00:06:44] but it will require athletic capabilities also so that is like a you know
[00:06:49] a convergence of both things I feel like art and sport and that is why I got more interested in freestyle
[00:06:56] because it gives this both arrays you know like you have scope to explore both of them
[00:07:01] like art for art and sport for sport also so it doesn't limit yourself to
[00:07:07] and again like you said no the transition so I was a good footballer before I was a free seller
[00:07:12] and after I became a free seller I am terrible at football now
[00:07:17] I was supposed to ask you that now because do you still play and then are you tempted to do your free styling right in the middle of the game?
[00:07:26] See that's impractical honestly free size individual game football team
[00:07:30] the more you are able to sink in with the team the more better it is I mean like that's the game
[00:07:36] there's no individual yourself in the game is what I feel but with this freestyle mind said no you become self-centered is what I
[00:07:43] accepted and I hope you all will also agree because if you notice there's all the eyes are on the ball while you're juggling also
[00:07:51] and this doesn't work in the game like you have to
[00:07:55] you need to be very alert seeing what all who is there where to pass and all those things
[00:08:00] and you're this self-centeredness towards this football like once you're starting to see football and football only
[00:08:06] it becomes difficult to coordinate with other players and you know like
[00:08:10] and but the whole thing is that you'll find one cool move in a 19 minute game or something
[00:08:15] but the contribution of a free seller I feel it wouldn't make it to the team as much is what I feel
[00:08:21] so I think for freestyle is more of creative thinking and followed by execution
[00:08:27] correct art form and sport together but football in itself is supposed to be just a very simple game
[00:08:34] where you pass the ball you move ahead you pass the ball you move ahead no fancy skills that's correct
[00:08:38] playing simple football
[00:08:40] no fancy skills especially out of the deep right when you're there shoot
[00:08:44] I don't know if it is a good part or what they expect freestyle to do something cool
[00:08:49] like if we all start playing you know you are a freestyle you'll do something
[00:08:53] and then let me play simple
[00:08:55] and that simplicity is not expected first of all and then that sets a bar different
[00:09:01] like then you are also tempting to you know so whole of my game also know if I play amongst with my friends
[00:09:07] and all it will always be to you know rather than making as a team you know like doing a goal for the team
[00:09:14] or something more I'll be inclined towards doing a panna yeah because that is what is valued from
[00:09:19] and expected also from me so those expectation standards of the people around you also shape how you play
[00:09:26] I mean is what I feel
[00:09:28] yeah as the famous saying goes football is a simple game but playing football playing simple football
[00:09:35] is difficult is difficult yeah very true
[00:09:38] what was it like in Miami I mean you said it's the first time you're doing international trip
[00:09:42] and then you also now have the exposure of a larger community
[00:09:45] because the face stylers are mad across the globe
[00:09:48] correct correct
[00:09:49] what was that like for you
[00:09:51] so like being the only athlete from the India so there were this country you've Scandinavian countries
[00:09:56] or even if you see Japan for that so there were five athletes from Japan like they were qualified for the World Finals
[00:10:02] and Asia I would see like Japan another countries only but India I was the only one
[00:10:08] and rest of the country there were two two athletes because their national standards are only high
[00:10:13] like the first five players of their country are amongst top 16 in the world
[00:10:17] so that I noticed that our presence as such in freestyle is not that much
[00:10:21] and when I went there I got to see like people coming from Ghana also like the champion of Ghana
[00:10:28] who's been like you know who's been a goon I would say like he himself says that and then how freestyle has transformed him
[00:10:35] and then seeing some country like maybe a Norwegian champion where you know he's had a lot of privilege to practice freestyle
[00:10:42] with lot of things sorted around him
[00:10:44] like maybe with finances or anything or government taking care of these athletes in a real good manner or something like that
[00:10:52] or even the living standards are high out there right so it makes it's a privilege to have a good living standard to practice your art
[00:10:57] and whereas this person from Ghana and then where our context from India
[00:11:02] where freestyle is not even seen as a sport because it's difficult to even I won't call it like complete sportsport
[00:11:09] but while you're competing you are an athlete and sportsperson
[00:11:12] so those things were you know quite like that was the place where I was little confused
[00:11:17] and understanding what the sport the nature of the sport is
[00:11:21] and I really felt that India lacked a national standard
[00:11:25] because if you see other countries who's even vice champions
[00:11:30] or the first person who is the national champion has set a standard for himself
[00:11:35] being on the top five of the world or something and that elevates the national standard
[00:11:40] and I would like to relate it with Maidan also for example this 1962 era
[00:11:44] we had set a standard and still we fail
[00:11:48] so but this other sports or any country if you notice no it's very rare once the national standard is set
[00:11:54] no to fail as an athlete for that country is very difficult because
[00:11:59] the vice champions of other countries were equally good even I'm in the national champion
[00:12:02] but the vice champion of France is far better than me is what I would accept
[00:12:06] so those things were there and I feel in India also the culture is not evolved in freestyle that much
[00:12:12] so there's this idea of just doing what is done like mimicking
[00:12:17] because your sport is not evolved to a scale where you will think and create your own moves
[00:12:23] so when I went there I saw that most of even freestyle which was done
[00:12:27] was coming from their own individuality and originality
[00:12:30] and that is what made me feel like understand my own style
[00:12:34] so I'm good at acrobatics being flips and all and combining freestyle with flips
[00:12:39] or something like that became my style after that is what I would say
[00:12:42] so recognizing my style and even conversation with freestylers
[00:12:46] how they are you know taking up this sport, how they are making a living out of it
[00:12:50] are they even making a living out of it
[00:12:52] so those things got clear for me also I did pursue as a freestyle to make a living out of it
[00:12:57] but to practice it and there are some freestylers who are making a living out of it
[00:13:01] so it was complete different state to understand all these things together
[00:13:06] and lot of learning from that entire experience
[00:13:09] I didn't sleep only I don't remember sleeping for like
[00:13:11] I spent 21 days out there 7 days of competition and the rest of the day I was roaming
[00:13:16] so I don't remember a single day sleeping like I said I was so high on energy
[00:13:21] like everywhere just walking around getting to know all the freestylers
[00:13:25] and all those things so it was fun like totally
[00:13:28] Great I think now let's talk about Maidan right
[00:13:31] I think we're all excited about that
[00:13:33] I'm fresh off recording this on 30th of April
[00:13:37] and I watched the movie on 29th so also Mumbai City goes into the finals
[00:13:42] but coming back to the movie
[00:13:46] I think since the start of the movie there was a buzz and we were all excited for it
[00:13:50] I think us being when I say all Indian football fans are excited to see something
[00:13:54] related to Indian football up on the big screen
[00:13:57] Since yours
[00:13:58] I mean you've watched sports written movies
[00:14:01] there's nothing being like Indian football out there
[00:14:03] and also mainstream Bollywood taking it up and putting it up on the big screen
[00:14:07] none of us thought about that
[00:14:09] but when we got to know even the buzz saying there's a movie coming out
[00:14:13] about the era of Indian football
[00:14:16] and we're like okay the kids now should watch it
[00:14:20] or we've only heard about it and we're all eager to watch
[00:14:24] and then I was blessed I mean Dinesh and I are being the sports choreographer
[00:14:28] shout out to him
[00:14:29] I've worked with him he's my ex boss
[00:14:31] so I've seen that journey also somewhere where he was part of it
[00:14:34] while he was training all of you guys
[00:14:37] but now to finally see the movie and then you are right in front of us
[00:14:41] you played a very key role, a very important player's role
[00:14:44] Tulsi Das Balram
[00:14:47] take us to the journey of how probably you were approached
[00:14:51] when you got the call
[00:14:53] and when you got the call what were your thoughts in your head
[00:14:57] and then finally made it to the set if you can just take us through all of that
[00:15:00] yeah so first interaction
[00:15:02] I mean my first like exposure for this project was
[00:15:07] as a trainer for the previous Tulsi Das Balram
[00:15:11] there was one guy who was casted as Tulsi Das Balram
[00:15:14] very sweet guy
[00:15:15] and we had a good training session with him for the sequence
[00:15:20] and then the whole thing happened
[00:15:22] and after that again due to some circumstances
[00:15:25] they were not able to continue with the previous Balram
[00:15:27] so in this happened first interaction happened with the entire Maidan team
[00:15:32] on 2019 September
[00:15:34] and after that everything my work was done
[00:15:37] I was off the project and everything
[00:15:39] and after that in 2021 Feb
[00:15:42] is when I get a call saying that we are auditioning for Balram
[00:15:46] if you are interested you can give the audition
[00:15:49] because we are looking forward
[00:15:50] you know the character as such
[00:15:53] and you know what this movie is about
[00:15:55] so if you would be willing to come for the auditions
[00:15:57] you please show up
[00:15:59] so then I went for the audition
[00:16:00] because even I was this whole character
[00:16:03] that time I had understood who Tulsi Das Balram is
[00:16:05] before that I didn't knew only this
[00:16:07] I didn't knew the fact that in 1962 we won something
[00:16:10] like this
[00:16:11] in the standard of football was
[00:16:14] I didn't knew
[00:16:16] and then through that I got to know
[00:16:18] so I went of course when you are working on a sequence
[00:16:20] which is supposed to be the entry sequence
[00:16:22] of Tulsi Das Balram
[00:16:23] you will go home and Google at least know who is
[00:16:25] then I went I saw some interviews
[00:16:27] and I was really happy you know like something
[00:16:30] for him this thing is happening
[00:16:32] I mean even though movie is movie
[00:16:34] but I was really happy that these people are getting
[00:16:37] you know known because of recognition
[00:16:39] recognition is coming
[00:16:41] and I was really happy
[00:16:42] and I saw his interviews and I was already
[00:16:45] flattered like you know this guy is a legend
[00:16:48] because I like this feeling you know
[00:16:51] when I am getting goosebumps because
[00:16:53] this feeling of underdog know is crazy
[00:16:56] is what I feel like you are something
[00:16:58] but the world doesn't know
[00:16:59] but you are something like you are something
[00:17:01] which is huge that person with huge potential
[00:17:04] sitting staying in this Kolkata
[00:17:06] a flat like 3 BHK flat alone
[00:17:09] he stays right
[00:17:10] he is a bachelor and 87 year old bachelor
[00:17:14] staying there
[00:17:15] and I just wanted to do as much as possible
[00:17:18] for him from my side also
[00:17:20] so I put lot of efforts in structuring
[00:17:22] training that previous Balram also
[00:17:25] and all those I was just excited
[00:17:26] and then I got to know that ok
[00:17:28] there is a possibility that I can be the face
[00:17:30] for Tulsi Das Balram
[00:17:31] so I was happy
[00:17:32] I went I gave the auditions
[00:17:34] and of course the audition was acting
[00:17:36] and then I was like
[00:17:38] ok I know football little bit
[00:17:40] freestyle I know very well
[00:17:42] but acting is something which I really don't know
[00:17:44] so and they put me a costume
[00:17:46] and everything
[00:17:47] so this and then the entire
[00:17:49] there is this audition where that
[00:17:51] in the movie you will see that tea
[00:17:53] chai biscuit scene that is the audition
[00:17:55] and then I don't know what to do
[00:17:56] how to make faces
[00:17:58] like the whole script is there
[00:18:00] in that first line is
[00:18:02] Balram hesitantly walks
[00:18:04] I don't know how to walk
[00:18:05] what is hesitantly walk
[00:18:07] so then I am just curious
[00:18:09] so I do some
[00:18:11] some of the other way I just do that
[00:18:13] and next day is football auditions
[00:18:15] so football audition you had to
[00:18:17] yeah so I did some skills
[00:18:19] and dribbles like they wanted
[00:18:21] so Balram was known as Pelle of Asia
[00:18:23] so first thing
[00:18:25] I mean if you see the
[00:18:27] style in which Brazil plays it is
[00:18:29] mostly air balls they will have
[00:18:31] the dribbles will be little cool
[00:18:33] accordingly I tried to design some dribbles
[00:18:35] and just you know some
[00:18:37] balls where I can take air ball or something like that
[00:18:39] so all those things I planned and
[00:18:41] gave a video to them and that is when
[00:18:43] I got a final call saying that I have been
[00:18:45] casted as Tulsi Das Balram
[00:18:47] what a feeling that must have been
[00:18:49] you went for the premiere
[00:18:51] yeah and you also
[00:18:53] done thesis
[00:18:55] yeah as you are in Indian football
[00:18:57] correct so this thesis that I wrote
[00:18:59] was part of my college project
[00:19:01] in 2021 I interviewed
[00:19:03] Balram sir
[00:19:05] for that on call
[00:19:07] and that conversation
[00:19:09] still gives me
[00:19:11] the chills to this date
[00:19:13] last night I was actually seeing that
[00:19:15] video only where
[00:19:17] I mean the video where the voiceover of Balram sir
[00:19:19] is there right and
[00:19:21] that gave me goosebumps like
[00:19:23] it's all over
[00:19:25] so that was a very very
[00:19:27] interesting or deep conversation
[00:19:29] like a 10 minute phone call
[00:19:31] I think where he spoke about
[00:19:33] the old times and how they won
[00:19:35] things that they won without
[00:19:37] much support from
[00:19:39] the people that were
[00:19:41] supposed to help them 0 support you can say
[00:19:43] I mean much support you are giving credit to
[00:19:45] the yeah
[00:19:47] so that was a very interesting
[00:19:49] and I'm glad that I took
[00:19:51] that project on and did
[00:19:53] justice I think
[00:19:55] to the story and the golden era
[00:19:57] just one part of my thesis
[00:19:59] and when I heard about Maidan I was
[00:20:01] like super super excited
[00:20:03] to see what it
[00:20:05] would look like on screen because I've written
[00:20:07] things about it but
[00:20:09] I never pictured it
[00:20:11] like me watching the
[00:20:13] golden era of Indian football on screen
[00:20:15] with Ajay Devganand
[00:20:17] with all these amazing
[00:20:19] actors so I was
[00:20:21] very excited from the day that I
[00:20:23] knew about Maidan to then
[00:20:25] looking at the trailer and
[00:20:27] going to the premiere
[00:20:29] finally that was that was
[00:20:31] a crazy crazy night
[00:20:33] what can I say about it
[00:20:35] no but I was really happy
[00:20:37] after meeting him right after the premiere
[00:20:39] because I saw they were all actors
[00:20:41] of course you were happy you knew you were coming to the show right
[00:20:45] yeah that is one thing but secondly I was
[00:20:47] happy for this guy
[00:20:49] out of all the people
[00:20:51] out there so very rarely you
[00:20:53] find someone who knows the backstory
[00:20:55] of this so even
[00:20:57] when I was in like I'm studying so in my
[00:20:59] college also when I went there was this one guy
[00:21:01] who I got to know that I
[00:21:03] have worked in this film and he says that
[00:21:05] I know Tulsidas Baltham and it
[00:21:07] gives us immense happiness I feel
[00:21:09] once someone knows the backstory
[00:21:11] and this guy had a whole
[00:21:13] thesis with like he had
[00:21:15] got a hard copy of it and he was showing
[00:21:17] and I felt really nice you know like
[00:21:19] lot of these people are also and they
[00:21:21] have him on premiere which is what he
[00:21:23] can be I mean that is these are the people
[00:21:25] who should be got right to see and
[00:21:27] understand what the film is so
[00:21:29] I felt really good seeing
[00:21:31] especially him yeah and I also
[00:21:33] in the thesis I
[00:21:35] have a chapter about the whole eternity
[00:21:37] where I'm talking where I'm like I wrote
[00:21:39] about Chunni
[00:21:41] PK and Tulsidas
[00:21:43] and I got all their signatures right
[00:21:45] next to the pictures so that was
[00:21:47] that was a really really sweet
[00:21:49] I mean first of all I didn't
[00:21:51] know if I hold a position to sign
[00:21:53] something which is like
[00:21:55] I mean of course you have played
[00:21:57] role and all but that is something
[00:21:59] different is what I mean the real players
[00:22:01] are we are real players
[00:22:03] honestly speaking the real players
[00:22:05] are players and to sign something
[00:22:07] as first confidant are you really asking
[00:22:09] me a sign like what I've done
[00:22:11] like what I have done to
[00:22:13] sign that's true that's true but I
[00:22:15] never had the chance to meet any of
[00:22:17] those real players so meeting you guys
[00:22:19] was like a I mean
[00:22:21] yeah it was a dream come true for me
[00:22:23] and by the way
[00:22:25] talking about the thesis the thesis is inspired
[00:22:27] by this book right here by
[00:22:29] the late Novikapadia Barefoot to Boots
[00:22:31] do read that
[00:22:33] book if you haven't it's beautiful
[00:22:35] even like many of the players in Maida
[00:22:37] and also had went through this book
[00:22:39] to understand their own characters also
[00:22:41] so I mean it's given
[00:22:43] in brief I read
[00:22:45] what you see that's from this book and
[00:22:47] some YouTube videos very less material is
[00:22:49] there first of all and anything that
[00:22:51] adds to the literature is always
[00:22:53] good including this book and I would
[00:22:55] also suggest people to watch his
[00:22:57] read his thesis also because it's available
[00:22:59] he has sent me the PDF and I also had
[00:23:01] privilege to go through it but as much
[00:23:03] information is there it becomes easier for
[00:23:05] people to understand there's no literature
[00:23:07] so right now anyone
[00:23:09] who is contributing to literature
[00:23:11] big ups yeah absolutely I think
[00:23:13] I mean Ashish Jauri did that I was supposed to
[00:23:15] do that only because
[00:23:17] the reason why we know or
[00:23:19] even the little that we know of Indian
[00:23:21] football or the golden era of whatever is
[00:23:23] about Indian football out there is because of
[00:23:25] Novikapadia we used to call him
[00:23:27] he's was known as the living encyclopedia
[00:23:29] of Indian football like you call him
[00:23:31] at any time of the day and he would
[00:23:33] tell you he'll have stories to tell
[00:23:35] you right so I think this book
[00:23:37] that he's left us with is his
[00:23:39] blessing through a lot of stories
[00:23:41] I'm sure
[00:23:43] I would have loved to see in his
[00:23:45] reaction watching this movie
[00:23:49] I'm sure he would be happy with what
[00:23:51] I'm sure he still would come up and say
[00:23:53] this was yours but I'm sure
[00:23:55] because he'll be like facts are facts
[00:23:57] and I know it
[00:23:59] you know but I think he would be very
[00:24:01] happy even he would have been happy to see
[00:24:03] something like this on the big screen
[00:24:05] so shout out to I mean
[00:24:07] yeah he's no more with us but I think
[00:24:09] he's played such a big role
[00:24:11] when Sushant Menstra was in the literature
[00:24:13] for football he's the one who's
[00:24:15] documented and thanks to him
[00:24:17] moving on coming back to the movie
[00:24:19] Sushant
[00:24:21] I mean Ajit Devgan
[00:24:23] I think none of us thought
[00:24:25] a big actor like him would play
[00:24:27] an Indian football coach you know that's
[00:24:29] how again a big
[00:24:31] thing happened for I think for all of us
[00:24:33] fans your first
[00:24:35] day shot was about the chai
[00:24:37] and biscuit thing that's your opening
[00:24:39] sequence after the
[00:24:41] opening sequence you have what is it
[00:24:43] like when you're one on one interactions
[00:24:45] with Ajit Devgan but he's
[00:24:47] also Rahim Saab and Rahim Saab
[00:24:49] is also
[00:24:51] one of the biggest characters
[00:24:53] in Indian football so what was that like
[00:24:55] yeah so if you notice the ender
[00:24:57] scene also so it has to do
[00:24:59] something which was happening to me in real
[00:25:01] also honestly speaking being
[00:25:03] an on actor out there
[00:25:05] and you'll already walk
[00:25:07] like
[00:25:09] so that was natural to me it was
[00:25:11] happening
[00:25:13] so that was
[00:25:15] it was default
[00:25:17] I'm a misfit here
[00:25:19] I mean I won't come in the chaud
[00:25:21] so that was
[00:25:23] then again a little bit of
[00:25:25] of course they took me through
[00:25:27] acting workshop and that chai biscuit scene
[00:25:29] is the last day of the shoot also
[00:25:31] like the entire schedule of Maidan
[00:25:33] so after everyone is left
[00:25:35] all my team players are left
[00:25:37] matches are being shot and then last 3 days
[00:25:39] they had to do this
[00:25:41] sequence of that gully sequence
[00:25:43] shoot and whatever was left over
[00:25:45] patchwork and everything they had to do and in that
[00:25:47] last day was this
[00:25:49] and imagine the pressure was so much because
[00:25:51] I was supposed to give that shot
[00:25:53] and throughout
[00:25:55] the entire set because it's the last
[00:25:57] day so everyone is gathered you know
[00:25:59] so everyone's watching
[00:26:01] and my last shot is happening
[00:26:03] matches were shot
[00:26:05] in a way where
[00:26:07] it required lot of resources
[00:26:09] from hair make up to everything
[00:26:11] like 22 players then
[00:26:13] for sweat to give different bytes
[00:26:15] so it was a set of
[00:26:17] I don't know the number but
[00:26:19] there will be 300 people on set
[00:26:21] and that day
[00:26:23] in the evening I'm sitting and these people are there
[00:26:25] because it's last day they're some celebration
[00:26:27] going to happen so everyone is just
[00:26:29] waiting and
[00:26:31] that hesitation is
[00:26:33] there was fun so sitting
[00:26:35] then
[00:26:37] I think we got it in less takes
[00:26:39] only because
[00:26:41] he's a really good director
[00:26:43] he would not talk much
[00:26:45] not let anyone
[00:26:47] interrupt with the artist also
[00:26:49] so that was the thing
[00:26:51] and one
[00:26:53] preparatory thing I did for this
[00:26:55] thing was even the shot was at
[00:26:57] the evening I
[00:26:59] dressed up at around
[00:27:01] 10 am in the morning
[00:27:03] and I was just staying next to
[00:27:05] the set so I went in the morning
[00:27:07] costume team because some other things were
[00:27:09] being shot so I took my costume
[00:27:11] from the costume team
[00:27:13] and I got dressed up in that all
[00:27:15] you know the t-shirt where it is
[00:27:17] lot of stitches are there and everything
[00:27:19] so wearing all that as a roaming
[00:27:21] full day to get comfortable
[00:27:23] and then I realized when I was going back
[00:27:25] to sleep the watchman is not recognizing me
[00:27:27] and he's saying me
[00:27:29] where are you coming from
[00:27:31] I said sir my sister
[00:27:33] and then I had to show him that access
[00:27:35] card and then they gave me the entry
[00:27:37] and then I go and in
[00:27:39] the evening when I was coming they watered
[00:27:41] the stadium so it was
[00:27:43] going on and so till then
[00:27:45] set wind up was getting done some contractor
[00:27:47] who had given this whole
[00:27:49] task of doing that guy
[00:27:51] confused me with the guy who is supposed
[00:27:53] to be the one who is going to do that
[00:27:55] so whole of that
[00:27:57] I realized that it is good
[00:27:59] like it is happening
[00:28:01] looking very real
[00:28:03] looking very real so I just walked
[00:28:05] and I went and the whole of the thing happened
[00:28:07] like the scene only got
[00:28:09] winded up I want to ask you Sushant
[00:28:11] when you said that when you reached
[00:28:13] your hotel and your guard was like not
[00:28:15] letting you in didn't you want to say
[00:28:17] that hey I am coming to you
[00:28:19] something like that I would not want
[00:28:21] to say such humbleness like
[00:28:23] may it be anything while
[00:28:25] reading and understanding Tulsaida's Balram
[00:28:27] I had realized that he would not
[00:28:29] boast about anything at all
[00:28:31] or even want his name to be in front
[00:28:33] even when I heard
[00:28:35] the direction team also speaking
[00:28:37] like what Tulsaida's Balram is so
[00:28:39] every time they spoke that he always
[00:28:41] spoke about Rahim Sahib only
[00:28:43] even any of the interviews if you see on
[00:28:45] YouTube or anywhere his presence is there
[00:28:47] he will speak highly about those
[00:28:49] everyone other than him
[00:28:51] so that is something which I wanted
[00:28:53] to practice like and
[00:28:55] for that reason only I decided
[00:28:57] to not that
[00:28:59] there's also this one little
[00:29:01] anecdote that I have read about I am not
[00:29:03] sure if it was Chunni or
[00:29:05] PK but one of these guys were
[00:29:07] selected for an award Arjuna
[00:29:09] or Padmasri
[00:29:11] and Tulsaida's
[00:29:13] name was also there but
[00:29:15] his Padmasri was holding it back
[00:29:17] and then they selected him
[00:29:19] to present
[00:29:21] the award and
[00:29:23] I mean that's really sad but
[00:29:25] he was happy to do it for
[00:29:27] Chunni or PK both
[00:29:29] Chunni and PK both
[00:29:31] so that shows how
[00:29:33] I mean he doesn't care about that
[00:29:35] this is real I feel this certain
[00:29:37] sense of absenteeism
[00:29:39] and humbleness is being practiced by
[00:29:41] individual but it can be counter
[00:29:43] productive for their growth also is what I know
[00:29:45] but if you see there's very less literature
[00:29:47] about Tulsaida's ball drums are already
[00:29:49] and the awards which
[00:29:51] the other players had got his equivalence
[00:29:53] to the awards is also less
[00:29:55] the major part Padmasri
[00:29:57] he doesn't have like
[00:29:59] the other players equal contribution only
[00:30:01] but I mean then again
[00:30:03] I really like such personality and I was
[00:30:05] really grateful to play such a character because
[00:30:07] there's so much of truth
[00:30:09] in him and I really
[00:30:11] enjoyed you know like understanding
[00:30:13] his whole journey and that
[00:30:15] I think even after Maidan has reflected
[00:30:17] in me like this core qualities of him
[00:30:19] no have stayed by they stay
[00:30:21] and like I know that
[00:30:23] when this first time I got
[00:30:25] any I mean when I was
[00:30:27] even training this
[00:30:29] previous ball Ram for
[00:30:31] the whole of the freestyle sequence and everything
[00:30:33] that time I just one month before I won
[00:30:35] in the national championships
[00:30:37] and I could see
[00:30:39] you know everything I was conducting
[00:30:41] there was certain sense of you know pride
[00:30:43] and understanding that okay I'm something and
[00:30:45] the way I conducted but after
[00:30:47] this understanding Sir Tulsaida's
[00:30:49] ball drum throughout it made a
[00:30:51] entire shift in me also towards bringing
[00:30:53] more humbleness in me is what I feel
[00:30:55] that's lovely I mean
[00:30:57] taking some values from the character and
[00:30:59] I think that's the beauty of playing a real
[00:31:01] life character right to you
[00:31:03] tell me a bit maybe
[00:31:05] in short and brief that you can say what was
[00:31:07] the camaraderie between the players like
[00:31:09] you guys are actors on set but all of
[00:31:11] you are mostly acting for the first time
[00:31:13] maybe apart from Madhura and
[00:31:15] a couple of them but no there are
[00:31:17] a good number of actors
[00:31:19] footballers are there
[00:31:21] I would name like three good footballers
[00:31:23] okay so first is Manandip
[00:31:25] who has been a former striker
[00:31:27] for the country and
[00:31:29] there's this Amanthi Thakur and Arun Ghosh
[00:31:31] who played his name is Aman Munshi
[00:31:33] so these three they've
[00:31:35] played for Santosh Trophy
[00:31:37] and there's a lot of talent of course in
[00:31:39] these leagues like we all
[00:31:41] absolutely and these are like really class
[00:31:43] players so I want to learn a lot from them
[00:31:45] in terms of football there are actors
[00:31:47] the south
[00:31:49] Indian guys like there's this
[00:31:51] Arumaini Gamhoop
[00:31:53] again Chandrasekar Manan who has played
[00:31:55] Vishnu you might have
[00:31:57] met these guys so all these
[00:31:59] guys they're really good actors like they are
[00:32:01] really I mean
[00:32:03] I remember so I knew that the hesitant
[00:32:05] walk is there so I went to Macha
[00:32:07] like we call him Macha
[00:32:09] Jayanthi is his name he's playing Arumaini Gamhoop
[00:32:11] and I went to his hotel room and I said
[00:32:13] bro tell me how do I hesitant
[00:32:15] walk and this guy
[00:32:17] knows acting no saying Macha
[00:32:19] there are a lot of ways to hesitant walk
[00:32:21] which one you want
[00:32:23] there are a lot of ways I thought there's at least one
[00:32:25] bro teach me I want to walk like this
[00:32:27] it was fun interaction you know
[00:32:29] learning football understanding
[00:32:31] there's some of them wanted to
[00:32:33] understand freestyle some dribble so it was good
[00:32:35] exchange of
[00:32:37] ideas and a lot of learning also
[00:32:39] and like you said
[00:32:41] to be a part of the team
[00:32:43] initially it was for me
[00:32:45] because all these players have been together
[00:32:47] for three years before me
[00:32:49] and I was casted after
[00:32:51] the 65% film has been shot
[00:32:53] so getting
[00:32:55] and mingling with them was a little bit
[00:32:57] task initially because all
[00:32:59] all of them had created certain bonds and everything
[00:33:01] so but within like we are all players only after all
[00:33:03] so for players
[00:33:05] even though they are actors but
[00:33:07] for players and
[00:33:09] it is really easy to because football
[00:33:11] is there one common thing is
[00:33:13] football and there's a lot of interaction
[00:33:15] that can happen through that also
[00:33:17] so through that I got mingled and then made a good team
[00:33:19] basically he's just like a football team
[00:33:21] a new signing comes in and there's already a bond
[00:33:23] now who is this
[00:33:25] let's meet
[00:33:27] but about the comrade
[00:33:29] dude at the premiere
[00:33:31] I was in a different hall
[00:33:33] and then after our
[00:33:35] show ended we went into the
[00:33:37] to the hall where these guys the players were watching
[00:33:39] and the moment it
[00:33:41] ended everyone like just
[00:33:43] they broke into tears they're celebrating
[00:33:45] yeah and
[00:33:47] a little bit of like the theory
[00:33:49] show and then after that
[00:33:51] slow cheetah pk
[00:33:53] who played pk he just started
[00:33:55] a random chant
[00:33:57] it was so good
[00:33:59] it's from the movie itself right
[00:34:01] this chant was created before of course
[00:34:03] I was castrated so that everyday practice
[00:34:05] we used to follow that
[00:34:07] that gives you goosebumps
[00:34:09] and to be there and everyone's just crying
[00:34:11] and like hugging each other and it's such an emotional
[00:34:13] deep state that everyone is in
[00:34:15] and this random chant comes out of nowhere
[00:34:17] and everyone's just following along
[00:34:19] it feels like
[00:34:21] it feels like team India has just
[00:34:23] come home from the 1962
[00:34:25] oh my god it was so good to see
[00:34:27] for the team also you know 5 years on one project
[00:34:29] and
[00:34:31] all of them are some of them are actors
[00:34:33] players and everything even some is
[00:34:35] starting or something like today's education breaks
[00:34:37] and all and it was a huge
[00:34:39] like it got
[00:34:41] prolonged you know if you see like we
[00:34:43] when I was signing the contract
[00:34:45] it was just 3 months in 3
[00:34:47] months of time everything will be done
[00:34:49] and then it took me more 2 and
[00:34:51] half years and these guys also
[00:34:53] plus 3 years before them so 5
[00:34:55] 5 and half years of journey
[00:34:57] that day was the when we saw
[00:34:59] like what we have created so it was
[00:35:01] whole emotional turmoil also
[00:35:03] to be together and you know
[00:35:05] be together and experience all of this
[00:35:07] like whole journey like 5 years is a
[00:35:09] huge thing it's not like
[00:35:11] a small time
[00:35:13] every time we are off the shoot
[00:35:15] we know that ok there's something
[00:35:17] we are associated with and now
[00:35:19] there's like it's gone
[00:35:21] like now the film is come
[00:35:23] now we are finally free also but
[00:35:25] that freedom every mixed emotions
[00:35:27] all together so it shows
[00:35:29] I mean I've seen it and
[00:35:31] I was lucky that I had my camera on
[00:35:33] while this chance started
[00:35:35] and I have that on video I keep going
[00:35:37] back to it and I keep getting goosebumps
[00:35:39] it really shows how much these guys are
[00:35:41] having their effort into it
[00:35:43] everything into it and how much it means
[00:35:45] for them that they represented
[00:35:47] the team
[00:35:49] I think I can sit here for another 5 hours
[00:35:51] but I have a team
[00:35:53] that's you know keeping a check
[00:35:55] of how much I speak
[00:35:57] finally I think I'm going to ask
[00:35:59] similar question I think all of us can share something
[00:36:01] but Sushant for you
[00:36:03] for having been part of the set
[00:36:05] from your journey into the movie to seeing
[00:36:07] the big screen what has the movie
[00:36:09] or probably the journey throughout the movie
[00:36:11] left an impact one you already
[00:36:13] said that you're taking values from the role
[00:36:15] that you've played but otherwise
[00:36:17] how big of an impact has this movie
[00:36:19] played in your life?
[00:36:21] so right now amongst my people
[00:36:23] who know me and all this new
[00:36:25] array of acting which I feel
[00:36:27] like exploring
[00:36:29] after the workshops and everything
[00:36:31] last day of my shoot also
[00:36:33] I realized that it's again
[00:36:35] like an art form on there just like freestyle
[00:36:37] and everything and once you
[00:36:39] practice certain kind of art like
[00:36:41] in freestyle also there is this thing called
[00:36:43] show flow
[00:36:45] so where you
[00:36:47] do a kind of
[00:36:49] show which is like an act so it can be
[00:36:51] where it's an act where you are
[00:36:53] doing a performance but at the same time
[00:36:55] you're also showing certain emotions
[00:36:57] or you know sharing a story
[00:36:59] through your act and that requires
[00:37:01] certain skill of acting also which before I
[00:37:03] would have never thought so I would like to bring such
[00:37:05] thing in freestyle maybe
[00:37:07] and these are the things which I
[00:37:09] really learned and again
[00:37:11] exploring acting and another thing is
[00:37:13] I have also
[00:37:15] like filming sports
[00:37:17] so if you see Maidan
[00:37:19] is short real well and over there
[00:37:21] I remember even if I was
[00:37:23] having even
[00:37:25] if I was as an actor over there
[00:37:27] I used to go behind the camera talk
[00:37:29] to assistant cinematographers as much as possible
[00:37:31] how they are filming I used to
[00:37:33] this observation was a whole different
[00:37:35] learning so like sitting there
[00:37:37] and observing so sports
[00:37:39] choreography and sports direction is
[00:37:41] something which I am interested now
[00:37:43] acting is something which I'm interested
[00:37:45] and this is all post film
[00:37:47] before that it was majorly freestyle
[00:37:49] and maybe my academics
[00:37:51] so these whole things this I mean
[00:37:53] few things and when you're building a crew
[00:37:55] you know who to call
[00:37:57] two of us are right here
[00:37:59] Sushant went there as an actor to play
[00:38:01] Sushant came out as an
[00:38:03] entire movie
[00:38:07] and for many I think
[00:38:09] you will be for a good amount of time
[00:38:11] certain things you will take away
[00:38:13] and for all the actors if you ask
[00:38:15] I think they will have a different journey
[00:38:17] great I think
[00:38:19] for you Ashish was someone who is
[00:38:21] probably following Indian football as a fan and then now
[00:38:23] you also create content
[00:38:25] and also being on my show
[00:38:27] but what is it like
[00:38:29] as you mentioned you've done thesis
[00:38:31] you saw this movie come up on big screen
[00:38:33] you were part of the premiere and stuff
[00:38:35] what an impact has this movie made on you
[00:38:37] firstly
[00:38:39] I would like to mention that it's an absolute
[00:38:41] pleasure and I'm not kidding it's an absolute
[00:38:43] pleasure to be the first co-host
[00:38:45] that you had on this show in the 100th
[00:38:47] episode along with Sushant
[00:38:49] so thank you so much for that but
[00:38:51] about the movie and about Indian football
[00:38:53] so the reason that I started creating
[00:38:55] content
[00:38:57] on Indian football and specifically
[00:38:59] around Indian football was that
[00:39:01] it needs to be shown
[00:39:03] what Indian football was before
[00:39:05] and
[00:39:07] the place that it's at
[00:39:09] right now does not match
[00:39:11] I mean it's just difficult to
[00:39:13] explain how we've come here
[00:39:15] we've visited another five hours talking about that
[00:39:17] okay yeah
[00:39:19] so I'll just keep it short it feels great
[00:39:21] that there has been a movie about
[00:39:23] Indian football the golden era
[00:39:25] and I hope that this movie has
[00:39:27] I mean I know that this movie has the capability
[00:39:29] to inspire
[00:39:31] many more generations
[00:39:33] after this but
[00:39:35] one
[00:39:37] goal that this movie I think
[00:39:39] should have is to
[00:39:41] for a kid who's watching the movie right now
[00:39:45] maybe that kid starts playing football
[00:39:47] because of this movie and then
[00:39:49] goes on to play for the national teams
[00:39:51] I would like to add just one thing
[00:39:53] which I feel even when I was freestyling
[00:39:55] so the motivation factor for me
[00:39:57] was mostly movies only
[00:39:59] you see this whiplash or any sort of
[00:40:01] movie you see where there's kind of
[00:40:03] obsession towards this any kind of art form
[00:40:05] talent or sport or whatever
[00:40:07] and that is a motivation one for
[00:40:09] I feel most of the teenagers or anyone
[00:40:11] who is in that zone where there's no much life
[00:40:13] I mean you're not thinking about this other
[00:40:15] life problems but that time
[00:40:17] there's a huge movies are driving
[00:40:19] forces what I feel or even small
[00:40:21] YouTube videos or something and this
[00:40:23] movie again like I said you know how
[00:40:25] these books add to the literature movie
[00:40:27] adding up to this
[00:40:29] whole quote of motivation for the
[00:40:31] upcoming generations and
[00:40:33] that is one thing like he said
[00:40:35] I mean I completely agree to it
[00:40:37] I think for me I've
[00:40:39] not been able to meet the players
[00:40:41] but I must say that
[00:40:43] I have met Frank Osser
[00:40:45] and we had I had the pleasure
[00:40:47] of meeting him for spending time
[00:40:49] in his house for two hours
[00:40:51] and I
[00:40:53] have a small note from him as well
[00:40:55] couldn't get on the show but probably
[00:40:57] I would do a whole thing
[00:40:59] separate thing about it
[00:41:01] and I am so blessed to have done
[00:41:03] that the whole story behind it also
[00:41:05] how I ended up meeting him but
[00:41:07] another day for that
[00:41:09] to see the movie and then in the
[00:41:11] end I know this
[00:41:13] I will give you a disclaimer
[00:41:15] saying that this has
[00:41:17] spoilers so you better go watch the movie
[00:41:19] in the end that are visual
[00:41:21] to stay till the end if you haven't watched it yet
[00:41:23] and you plan to watch
[00:41:25] those are beautiful shots it is going to
[00:41:27] overwhelm you and for someone
[00:41:29] who's met Frank Osser to see him
[00:41:31] and he's no more none of them are anymore
[00:41:33] unfortunately they've all went together
[00:41:35] as there's another beauty
[00:41:37] about the friendship they were close
[00:41:39] they all went in a similar period
[00:41:41] in the time frame they were old yes
[00:41:43] during Covid that we all lost
[00:41:45] them but those shots
[00:41:47] are beautiful and I think
[00:41:49] Kudos to Amit the entire team of Maidan
[00:41:51] for doing this
[00:41:53] big ups to Tushar
[00:41:55] I don't remember the second name
[00:41:57] but brilliant cinematography
[00:41:59] yeah I think
[00:42:01] I had to give a shout out to all of them
[00:42:03] I think thank you I think for me
[00:42:05] when I was watching it there are regrets at times
[00:42:07] why am I working in India
[00:42:09] things that are happening now
[00:42:11] when I watched them like I know this
[00:42:13] this is why
[00:42:15] and I'm also like people are like
[00:42:17] I wish I could just stand up and say
[00:42:19] I know this is what it is
[00:42:21] I was so tempted to tell everyone
[00:42:23] who I was watching like
[00:42:25] we are doing a show
[00:42:29] but I think I hope
[00:42:31] there are a lot of other things
[00:42:33] I think Indian football is marred with
[00:42:35] things off the ground which is not in our control
[00:42:37] but I hope all of us
[00:42:39] have a role to play and I think
[00:42:41] someday things will get better
[00:42:43] we will probably some way
[00:42:45] with not gold era, silver era
[00:42:47] something that comes where
[00:42:49] I will shout out again but
[00:42:51] Sushant thank you
[00:42:53] thank you so much
[00:42:55] for doing this and for coming all the way
[00:42:57] it means a lot I may
[00:42:59] not be great to express it
[00:43:01] in fact I am really happy that something
[00:43:03] is happening
[00:43:05] you are being rambling that's what
[00:43:07] that's how excited I am so
[00:43:09] thank you so much
[00:43:11] and Ashish
[00:43:13] what should I say
[00:43:15] absolutely one pleasure
[00:43:17] congrats on your 100th episode
[00:43:19] yes guys
[00:43:21] so thank you once again
[00:43:23] for all the love support that you guys have been
[00:43:25] showing 2 months of gap
[00:43:27] sorry for that there will be another
[00:43:29] as an unintentional gap
[00:43:31] Abhishek said it will be an intentional gap
[00:43:33] but we are going to get back
[00:43:35] doing bigger better things
[00:43:37] we will continue the storytelling
[00:43:39] we will continue doing this and
[00:43:41] humans of Indian football, the 14th football show
[00:43:43] episode number 100
[00:43:45] thank you so much