From Jhund To Maidaan: 5 Must Watch Bollywood Movies Revolves Around Football

Maidaan is a Hindi biographical sports drama directed by Amit Ravindernath Sharma, starring Ajay Devgn as legendary football coach Syed Abdul Rahim. Based on a true story, the film captures the golden era of Indian football between 1952 and 1962, showcasing Rahim’s relentless efforts to build a formidable national team despite bureaucratic challenges, political interference, and personal health struggles, ultimately leading India to its historic gold medal victory at the 1962 Asian Games. It also features Priyamani and Gajraj Rao in key roles. 

Jhund is a Hindi biographical sports drama inspired by the life of social activist Vijay Barse, founder of Slum Soccer. Directed by Nagraj Manjule, the film stars Amitabh Bachchan as Vijay Borade, a soon-to-retire sports teacher who transforms the lives of underprivileged slum children by introducing them to football. What begins as a simple initiative, offering them money to play, evolves into a powerful movement that steers them away from crime and addiction, eventually leading to the formation of a national-level slum soccer team. The film also features Ankush Gedam, Akash Thosar, and Rinku Rajguru in key roles. 

Jaadugar is a Hindi sports comedy-drama directed by Sameer Saxena and written by Biswapati Sarkar, blending magic, romance, and football in a quirky small-town setting. The film follows Meenu Narang, played by Jitendra Kumar, a magician with no interest in sports who falls in love with Dr. Disha Chhabra, portrayed by Arushi Sharma. To win her hand, he must fulfill her father’s unusual condition, leading a struggling local football team to victory in a major tournament, despite the team being a group of misfits with a long losing streak. The film also features Jaaved Jaaferi in a key role, adding charm and humor to this underdog story. 

Tu Hai Mera Sunday is a critically acclaimed Hindi slice-of-life comedy-drama directed by Milind Dhaimade that follows five friends navigating the chaos of Mumbai while finding solace in their weekly Sunday football games at Juhu Beach. When an unexpected ban disrupts their routine, their search for a new place to play turns into a heartfelt and humorous journey of self-discovery and friendship. The film features a talented ensemble cast including Barun Sobti, Shahana Goswami, Avinash Tiwary, Vishal Malhotra, Nakul Bhalla, and Rasika Dugal. 

Chidiakhana is a contemporary coming-of-age sports drama produced by the National Film Development Corporation of India (NFDC) and directed by Manish Tiwary. The film follows Sooraj, a teenage boy from Bihar who relocates to a Mumbai chawl and faces bullying from local gangs, ultimately earning respect and acceptance through his determination and football skills. It features a strong cast including Ritvik Sahore, Avneet Kaur, Rajeshwari Sachdev, Prashant Narayanan, and Ravi Kishan, and was released on June 2, 2023.