Shabaash Mithu is a 2022 Indian Hindi-language biographical sports drama film directed by Srijit Mukherji and produced by Viacom18 Studios. The film based on the life of former Test and ODI captain of the India women's national cricket team, Mithali Raj, stars Taapsee Pannu in title role. It chronicles ups and downs and moments of glory of Mithali's life. The film was released on 15 July 2022. It received mixed to positive reviews from critics but was a major box-office disaster, grossing just under a tenth of its budget at the box office.
Synopsis
Mithali Raj is former Test and ODI captain of women's national cricket team. She led India to finals of 2017 Women's Cricket World Cup.
The film based on her life chronicles the events of her life's journey in the world of women cricket. It presents her struggles and euphoric rise in the women cricket.
Cast
Taapsee Pannu as Mithali Raj aka Mithu
Inayat Verma as Young Mithali Raj
Mumtaz Sorcar as Jhorna Ghosh, character based on Jhulan Goswami
Vijay Raaz as Sampath, Mithali's coach
Brijendra Kala as BCCI Main Person
Devadarshini as Leela Raj, Mithali's mother
Swayam Joshi as an unnamed young boy
Sameer Dharmadhikari as Dorai Raj, Mithali's father
Aditi Aryan as Sresha Badyal
Nirali Oza as Preeti Valhar
Priya Kumari as Roma Kwatra
Ramya Suresh as Himakshi Ganeshan
Titeeksha Tawde as Khushi Anvekar
Kajal Shishodia as Kajal Sutar
Manashree Gavande as Manashree Gavande
Vaishnavi Desai as Vaishnavi Madiga
Ramsingh Falkoti as Peon Bala
Shilpi Marwaha as Sukumari Marwaha
Anushree Kushwaha as Noorie
Kasturi Jagnam as Young Noorie
Nishant Pradhan as Mithun Raj, Mithali's brother
Kalyani Jha as Perizad
Sampa Mandal as Nilu Paswan
Vishak Nair as Chandan ji (Nilu's Fiance)
Production
Development
After the 2017 Women's Cricket World Cup, Viacom 18 Motion Pictures acquired the rights to make a feature film on Raj's life. She said, "Hoping that this movie inspires more people, especially young girls to take up sports as a career."
The biopic was planned to shoot in 2019. Raj said, "I think Priyanka Chopra will be a great choice (to play me in the biopic). Our personalities match a lot. I am not a movie buff, so I'd love the experts to do their job." Finally it was Taapsee Pannu who was chosen to play the role of Mithali Raj in the biopic named as Shabaash Mithu, to be directed by Rahul Dholakia in 2020.
Preparation and training
On 3 December 2019, coinciding with the birthday of Mithali Raj, the film was finalized with Taapsee Pannu in the title role and Rahul Dholakia as director. In January 2021 Pannu posted her training photos from 3 December 2019, 29 January 2020 and 27 January 2021. In March 2021, Taapsee Pannu again posted photos of her preparation and training for the film. She trained under Nooshin Al Khadeer, a former cricket player and Mithali Raj's friend. The film earlier was anticipated to be released on 5 February 2021 under direction of Rahul Dholakia, but filming was delayed due to COVID-19.
In June Srijit Mukherji replaced Rahul Dholakia as director of the film due to change of schedule.
Filming
Principal photography began on 5 April 2021 after being delayed due to COVID-19. Filming was finally wrapped up on 9 November. The film was shot on Lord's Cricket Ground in London, and across domestic and international locations to bring real feel of actual events that happened in Mithali's life.
Soundtrack
The music of the film is composed by Amit Trivedi, Salvage Audio Collective and Charan. Lyrics are written by Swanand Kirkire, Kausar Munir and Charan. The background score is composed by Salvage Audio Collective.
Release
Theatrical
On 3 December coinciding with birthday of Mithali Raj releasing a teaser poster the producer announced the release date of the film as 4 February 2022. The date clashed with Rajkummar Rao's comedy film Badhaai Do, which was postponed to 11 February. Subsequently the film was not released and finally it was released on 15 July 2022.
Home media
The film digitally streamed on both Voot and Netflix in Hindi and dubbed versions of Tamil and Telugu languages from 12 August 2022.
Reception
Box office
Shabaash Mithu earned 0.40 crore at the domestic box office on its opening day, 0.55 crore on the second day and 0.70 crore on third day.
, the film grossed in India and overseas, for a worldwide gross collection of . Film was declared disaster at box office after end of its theatrical run.