Selection Day

"Selection Day" is a riveting sports-drama series from Netflix which first aired in 2018. The series stars the talented young Indian actor Mohammad Samad, amongst other excellent cast members. The narrative is underpinned by the universal passion for cricket within India, weaving this into a compelling narrative of ambition, determination and family dynamics.

The story revolves around the life of a fourteen-year-old boy named Manju who is different from others from his age group and has different aspirations. His journey, played by Mohammad Samad, makes for an interesting and gripping narrative. Manju's father is a cricket-obsessed chauvinist who forcefully pushes his younger son to become a cricket superstar. The drive to fulfill his father's ambition takes two brothers, Radha and Manju, to Mumbai, the city of dreams. The forceful entrance into the cricketing world largely sets in motion the premise of Selection Day.

The narrative is spiced up with multiple side plots involved. Manju's older brother Radha is a promising cricket swift who is confined under the shadow of his father’s unrealistic expectations. While the father imagines his sons to be the best cricketing duo, Manju has other dreams. As well as the external pressures he faces, Manju is also confronted with a series of internal conflicts. The rebellious youngster has interests that lie in the sanctuary of science, and he dreams of becoming a forensic scientist instead of a cricketer.

Co-produced by Anil Kapoor Film and Communication Network, Selection Day is a successful attempt to display the distortion of childhood dreams under parental ambitions. The life of these two teenager boys is depicted in a spectacular way as they are expected to shine nationwide under the aggressive training of their domineering and cricket-obsessed father. The plot deepens as the boys discover the dark side of the cricketing world and its unseen aspects.

Taking the lead role, Mohammad Samad has made an excellent mark by portraying the character of Manju in a convincing way. Despite facing his father's compelling behavior and his brother's overbearing shadow, Manju manages to display the essence of courage and determination. Alongside this, Samad skilfully alights Manju's interests in forensic science and his unremitting struggle to make his own identity.

Selection Day is based on the book of the same name which is written by Arvind Adiga, the Man Booker Prize-winning author. The series portrays an appealing and intense struggle between ambition and reality, and this is what sets the series apart. Through the lens of cricket, Selection Day investigates the domestic complexities of an Indian family and also exposes the remarkable socio-economic divides of Mumbai, India's biggest city.

There is a steady blending of numerous socio-cultural issues, tipping from caste hierarchies to economic disparities, into the narrative. These, intertwined with the larger narrative of cricket, make for viewing that is equally thought-provoking as it is gripping.

While the series is set against the backdrop of Mumbai’s extensive cricket mania, an absolute devotion to cricket is not requisite for viewers to enjoy Selection Day. The narrative is broader than the sport itself; it's about dreams and aspirations, about the struggle and sacrifice, about the familial and societal pressures, and above all, it's about finding one's own identity in a world filled with expectations.

Selection Day beautifully captures the Indian setting with its vibrant colors, crowded streets, and bustling markets; giving the viewers vivid visuals that do justice to the appealing and complex storyline. The series is undoubtedly a tear-jerking, heartfelt, and powerfully presented story of love, dreams, and cricket, all combined with a tug of paternal and societal pressures.

The emotional heft of the series tackles the viewer's heartstrings via a series of unpredictable events. Sharp, diligent, and thrilling, Selection Day encapsulates cricket, ambitions, relationships, dreams, and realities into a compelling, heart-tugging tale that is sure to leave a mark on its viewers' minds. With its rich narrative, intriguing plot, authentic settings, and compelling performance by Samad, Selection Day makes for a captivating watch.