Page 36 - The Indian EYE 072222

BOLLYWOOD SPEACIAL JULY 22, 2022 | The Indian Eye 36

Syed Kirmani, Rahul Mittra and Aasif Karim

bat for sports for social change

A special panel discussion organized as part of the outreach tour of filmmaker Ajay

Govind’s award-winning Malayalam sports-based film Madappally United

OUR BUREAU
New Delhi
egendry former Indian wicket-
keeper-batsman Syed Kirma-
Lni, award-winning filmmaker
and branding specialist Rahul Mittra
and former Kenyan cricket team cap-
tain Aasif Karim came together for
an engaging interaction on ‘Sports
for social change’ in the capital city
on July 13, 2022.
This special panel discussion was
organized as part of the outreach tour
of filmmaker Ajay Govind’s recently
released award-winning Malayalam
sports-based film Madappally United.
Ajay Govind moderated the discus-
sion and began by asking each of the
speakers what they felt about the way
in which sports can create social im-
pact. Syed Kirmani shared several
personal anecdotes from his illustri-
ous career in a very heartfelt manner
and the experience of being part of (From left to right): Govind, Kirmani, Mittra and Karim at the New Delhi event
the film ‘83. Kirmani also spoke of
his upcoming autobiography. Aasif proved critical in India being able
Karim spoke on the challenges faced to continue their run in the tourna-
by sportspersons in Kenya and the mentRahul Mittra is an Indian Film
reasons that led him to start a sports producer & actor and founder of
film festival in the country. Rahul Mittra Films, Brandsmith &
Rahul Mittra spoke about the Brandsmith Motion Pictures. He has
element of ‘hope’ in his film Torbaaz produced Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster
starring close friend Sanjay Dutt that (2011), Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster
premiered on Netflix and how he was Returns (2013), Bullett Raja (2013),
inspired to make a film that’s differ- Revolver Rani (2014), Sarkar 3
ent from his earlier action thriller (2017), Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster 3
films. Mittra went on to add that it’s (2018), Cabaret (2019) and Torbaaz,
the story and characterization that at- starring Sanjay Dutt, Nargis Fakhri,
tract and inspire him to back a film. A Rahul Dev & Rahul Mittra which
former table tennis, archery & shot- was premiered on Netflix by Rahul
put state level player, Mittra spoke Mittra Films. Aasif Yusuf Karim is
about the importance of sports in a former Kenyan cricketer and a for-
one’s life and its role as an agent of so- mer ODI captain. Of Indian ancestry,
cialization, something that was beau- Karim made a reputation for himself
tifully captured in his film Torbaaz. as a useful lower-order batsman but
This special event was followed predominantly as a left-arm spinner.
by a question-and-answer session Karim retired from internation-
from avid sports and cinema buffs al cricket following the 1999 World
who had come to meet the celeb- Rahul Mittra and Syed Kirmani Cup in England but was persuaded
rities.Syed Kirmani played cricket to return to add experience to Ken-
for India and Karnataka as a wick- best wicket keeper in the 1983 Crick- liable batsman and another example ya’s squad for the 2003 World Cup in
et-keeper. In 2016, he was award- et World Cup, his highlight of which is the unbroken 126 for ninth wicket South Africa where he helped Ken-
ed the Col CK Nayudu Lifetime was the catch of Faoud Bacchus that with Kapil Dev against Zimbabwe in ya become the first non-Test match
Achievement Award for Cricket in he took in the final against the West the 1983 World Cup with Kirmani playing nation reach the semi-finals
India. Kirmani won the award for the Indies. Kirmani was a lower order re- contributing 26 and that partnership of the World Cup.

www.TheIndianEYE.com