Jersey

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Jersey is a 2019 Telugu-language sports drama written and directed by Gowtam Tinnanuri and produced by Suryadevara Naga Vamsi under Sithara Entertainments. It stars Nani and Shraddha Srinath, with Ronit Kamra, Sathyaraj, Harish Kalyan, Sanusha and Sampath Raj. Released on 19 April 2019 to wide acclaim, it won the National Film Awards for Best Feature Film in Telugu and Best Editing, and was later remade in Hindi by the same director.

Story

Arjun was once a gifted cricketer whose career stalled. Now in his mid-30s, settled with his wife and young son but struggling, he decides to return to the game, driven by the dream of playing for India and by a wish to give his son the national team jersey he longs for. The film, set between 1986 and 1996 and framed by his son’s memories years later, follows Arjun’s late attempt to prove himself, and the reasons behind it.

Cast

• Nani as Arjun
• Shraddha Srinath, opposite Nani
• Ronit Kamra, whose performance was widely praised
• Sathyaraj, Harish Kalyan, Sanusha, Sampath Raj and Viswant Duddumpudi

Making the film

Announced in June 2018 as Nani’s 23rd film and Tinnanuri’s second after Malli Raava, the project was titled Jersey from its first poster. The director said the story, about “late bloomers”, is fictional and not based on the cricketer Raman Lamba. Nani trained in cricket for three and a half hours a day and, because of budget constraints, worked without a fee on a profit-sharing basis. The film was launched on 17 October 2018 and shot in Hyderabad until March 2019; the main match was filmed over 24 days on seven grounds with 130 professional cricketers as extras.

Music and crew

Anirudh Ravichander composed the songs and score, his second Telugu film after Agnyaathavaasi, with lyrics by Krishna Kanth. Sanu John Varghese was the cinematographer, Naveen Nooli the editor and Avinash Kolla the art director.

Release and acclaim

The film was released worldwide on 19 April 2019 without cuts. Critics praised its direction, screenplay, editing, music and emotional power, and especially Nani, whose performance Film Companion listed among the 100 greatest of the decade; several reviewers named it one of the best Telugu films of the decade. Besides its two National Awards, it won four SIIMA Awards and was screened at the International Indian Toronto Film Festival in 2020. Tinnanuri directed its Hindi remake, also titled Jersey, in 2022.

Sources: Wikipedia and Wikidata.