Roar of the Lion
{{short description|2019 Indian web series}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2019}}
{{Infobox television
| image = Roar of the Lion.jpeg
| image_upright =
| image_size =
| image_alt =
| caption = Release Poster
| alt_name =
| genre = Docuseries
| creator =
| developer =
| writer = Amardeep Galsin
| screenplay =
| story =
| director = Amir Rizvi
| creative_director = Khuzema Haveliwala
| theme_music_composer =
| open_theme =
| end_theme =
| composer = Gaurav Godkindhi
Vishal J. Singh
| country = India
| language = English
| num_seasons = 1
| num_episodes = 5
| list_episodes =
| executive_producer = Kabir Khan
Jigar Thakkar
| producer =
| news_editor =
| location =
| cinematography = Nikhil Tandon
| editor = Pradeep Singh Negi
Vinod Salhotra
| camera =
| runtime =
| company = Dhoni Entertainment
Banijay Asia
| network = Hotstar
| released = {{Start date|2019|03|20|df=yes}}
}}
Roar of The Lion is a 2019 Indian English-language documentary television series for Hotstar, co-produced by Kabir Khan, written by Amardeep Galsin and directed by Amir Rizvi, starring MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Suresh Raina, Shane Watson, Dwayne Bravo with Faf du Plessis, Deepak Chahar and Ambati Rayudu as supporting cast. The series follows the Indian Premier League team Chennai Super Kings, who returned to the 2018 edition of the IPL after serving a two-year ban for allegedly being involved in the 2013 spot-fixing scandal.{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/kabir-khan-ms-dhoni-roar-of-the-lion-hotstar-56222724/|title=MS Dhoni bared his soul in Roar of the Lion: Kabir Khan|date=2019-03-12|website=The Indian Express|language=en-IN|access-date=2019-03-12}}{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/ms-dhoni-to-feature-in-hotstar-docu-drama-roar-of-the-lion-5612155/|title=MS Dhoni to feature in Hotstar's docu-drama Roar of the Lion|date=2019-03-05|website=The Indian Express|language=en-IN|access-date=2019-03-12}}
The documentary series took three months for the completion of the writing, with the series being shot in India (Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai) and Australia. The distribution rights of the documentary were acquired by the digital platform Hotstar, and was eventually released under Hotstar Specials, the original content providing label of the streaming service, and the series is the first one to be released in the label.{{cite web|url=https://gadgets.ndtv.com/entertainment/news/hotstar-specials-originals-ms-dhoni-remake-the-office-criminal-justice-hostages-city-of-dreams-2004743|title=M.S. Dhoni and The Office Remake Part of Hotstar's First Five Originals|website=NDTV Gadgets 360|date=8 March 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-03-12}} The series premiered on 20 March 2019 and was dubbed in Tamil and Hindi languages.{{cite web|url=https://www.televisionpost.com/hotstars-original-show-with-ms-dhoni-to-premiere-on-20-march/|title=Hotstar's original show with MS Dhoni to premiere on 20 March|date=2019-03-05|website=TelevisionPost|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-12|archive-date=27 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327092713/https://www.televisionpost.com/hotstars-original-show-with-ms-dhoni-to-premiere-on-20-march/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.insidesport.co/hotstar-to-launch-docudrama-with-dhoni-on-march-20/|title=Roar of the Lion – The untold Dhoni story to come on Hotstar|last=Kansal|first=Sonal|date=2019-03-06|website=InsideSport|language=en-gb|access-date=2019-03-12}}{{cite web|url=https://www.spotboye.com/bollywood/news/ms-dhoni-s-production-roar-of-lions-to-be-the-first-big-release-on-hotstar-specials/5c7ea15f2c1b271a95990d43|title=MS Dhoni's Production Roar Of Lions To Be The First Big Release On Hotstar Specials|last=SpotboyE|website=www.spotboye.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-12}}
Background
The documentary follows the comeback of the CSK franchise in 2018 after they missed out on playing in the world's richest T20 league, the Indian Premier League, for about two years.{{cite web|url=https://www.insidesport.co/match-fixing-bigger-crime-than-murder-says-dhoni-in-soon-to-be-released-documentary/|title=Dhoni opens up about Spot Fixing scandal|last=PTI|date=2019-03-11|website=InsideSport|language=en-gb|access-date=2019-03-12}} The documentary reveals the emotional memories and experiences one of India's most celebrated cricket players, MS Dhoni. Dhoni had faced serious allegations regarding spot fixing in 2013,{{cite web|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/fans-will-see-very-personal-side-of-ms-dhoni-in-roar-of-the-lion-kabir-khan/326939|title=Fans Will See 'Very Personal' Side Of MS Dhoni In 'Roar Of The Lion': Kabir Khan|website=outlookindia|date=12 March 2019 |access-date=2019-03-12}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.in.com/sports/cricket/roar-of-a-lion-was-ms-dhoni-part-of-the-biggest-crime-that-he-could-commit-346717.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190319074931/https://www.in.com/sports/cricket/roar-of-a-lion-was-ms-dhoni-part-of-the-biggest-crime-that-he-could-commit-346717.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2019-03-19|title=Roar of the Lion: Was MS Dhoni part of the 'biggest crime' that he could commit?|website=in.com}} and then led Chennai Super Kings to a title at the 2018 IPL tournament after two years of suspension from playing in the IPL. The trailer of the documentary revealed Dhoni speaking about the bad days of the CSK franchise as it was involved in the 2013 spot-fixing controversy along with fellow team Rajasthan Royals.
Characters
Main Characters:
- MS Dhoni as himself.
- Ravindra Jadeja as himself.
- Suresh Raina as himself.
- Shane Watson as himself.
- Dwayne Bravo as himself.
Secondary Characters:
- Faf du Plessis as himself.
- Deepak Chahar as himself.
- Ambati Rayudu as himself.
Supporting Characters:
- Stephen Fleming as himself.
- Matthew Hayden as himself.
Episodes
{{Episode table|background=64544C|overall=|title=|director=|writer=|airdate=|episodes={{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 1
|Title = What Did We Do Wrong
|RTitle =
|DirectedBy = Amir Rizvi
|WrittenBy = Amardeep Galsin
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|03|20|df=yes}}
|ShortSummary = It showcases the different chapters that the docudrama will focus on later. It starts with MS Dhoni recalling the spot-fixing controversy in 2013 and likened it to the 2007 World Cup, when India failed to progress from the group stage. MS Dhoni further says that in 2007, the team didn't play well, but in 2013, the scenario was completely different.
|LineColor = 64544C
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 2
|Title = We Are Back
|RTitle =
|DirectedBy = Amir Rizvi
|WrittenBy = Amardeep Galsin
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|03|20|df=yes}}
|ShortSummary = In the episode, MS Dhoni recalls the incident and revealed that he was already emotional before heading to the stage, as he was asked to address the team after a video montage of the franchise and an emotional speech by franchise owner N Srinivasan.
|LineColor = 64544C
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 3
|Title = We Start Our Journey
|RTitle =
|DirectedBy = Amir Rizvi
|WrittenBy = Amardeep Galsin
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|03|20|df=yes}}
|ShortSummary = The episode showcases the re-entry game of CSK, which CSK dramatically won, and how CSK had to leave Chennai because of Cauvery issues.
|LineColor =
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 4
|Title = We Fall. We Rise
|RTitle =
|DirectedBy = Amir Rizvi
|WrittenBy = Amardeep Galsin
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|03|20|df=yes}}
|ShortSummary = In the episode, MS Dhoni admitted that the 'Dad's Army' trolls, who were going viral on social media at the time, were worrying. "At one stage, I started wondering whether these 'Daddy's army' jibes will come back to haunt us." Another segment shows the birth of Whistle Podu Express.
|LineColor =
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 5
|Title = We Win. We Roar
|RTitle =
|DirectedBy = Amir Rizvi
|WrittenBy = Amardeep Galsin
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|03|20|df=yes}}
|ShortSummary = The episode highlights MS Dhoni's cricketing mind. During the segment showcasing a match-winning innings by Faf du Plessis, a member of CSK's social media team recalled what the CSK captain had said about the Proteas batsman in the dressing room a few months before. "As I was watching du Plessis, I was just thinking about the time when Mahi bhai had said that Faf will step up in the toughest of situations."
|LineColor =
}}}}
Production
On 15 January 2019, the streaming platform Hotstar,{{Cite web|title=We are not building Hindi shows but Indian content: Gaurav Banerjee, Star India|url=https://www.exchange4media.com/amp/digital-news/we-are-not-building-hindi-shows-but-indian-content-gaurav-banerjee-star-india-100913.html|website=Indian Advertising Media & Marketing News – exchange4media}}{{Cite web|title=Hotstar announces original content under Hotstar Specials; to be out in March|url=https://www.exchange4media.com/digital-news/hotstar-announces-original-content-under-hotstar-specials-to-be-out-in-march-93987.html|access-date=17 September 2019|website=Exchange4Media}} announced its foray to original content production exclusively for the service,{{Cite web|title=Hotstar Taps 15 Indian Filmmakers for Originals Expansion, Starting March|url=https://gadgets.ndtv.com/entertainment/news/hotstar-originals-expansion-with-hotstar-specials-launch-march-1977860|access-date=2021-01-21|website=NDTV Gadgets 360|date=15 January 2019 |language=en}} with STAR India,{{Cite web|last=James|first=Nandana|title=Star India rolling out next big bet on OTT platform- Hotstar Specials|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/info-tech/star-india-rolling-out-next-big-bet-on-ott-platform-hotstar-specials/article25994434.ece|access-date=2021-01-21|website=@businessline|date=14 January 2019 |language=en}} the parent company of Hotstar, tied up with 15 Indian filmmakers for creating the shows for its label called Hotstar Specials.{{Cite web|last=Jha|first=Lata|date=2019-01-14|title=Hotstar adds to streaming drama with originals|url=https://www.livemint.com/Consumer/upheyJzwLPEBLd8Ec4c65O/Hotstar-adds-to-streaming-drama-with-originals.html|access-date=2021-01-21|website=mint|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2019-01-15|title=Hotstar Specials: Star India collaborates with Salman Khan, Kabir Khan, among others for new OTT platform |url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/hotstar-specials-star-india-collaborates-with-salman-khan-kabir-khan-among-others-for-new-ott-platform-5901221.html|access-date=2021-01-21|website=Firstpost}} The series is the first one to be released under Hotstar Specials.{{Cite web|title=Is 'Roar Of The Lion' Hotstar's way of creating more content around IPL 2019? - Exchange4media|url=https://www.exchange4media.com/digital-news/is-roar-of-the-lion-hotstars-way-of-creating-more-content-around-ipl-2019-95411.html|access-date=2021-01-21|website=Indian Advertising Media & Marketing News – exchange4media|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=M.S. Dhoni and The Office Remake Part of Hotstar's First Five Originals|url=https://gadgets.ndtv.com/entertainment/news/hotstar-specials-originals-ms-dhoni-remake-the-office-criminal-justice-hostages-city-of-dreams-2004743|access-date=2021-01-21|website=NDTV Gadgets 360|date=8 March 2019 |language=en}}
Filmmaker Kabir Khan, who served as the co-producer of the series, revealed that it took about nearly three months to make the documentary. It was his second sports film based on cricket after 83, which was based on the India's road to glory at the 1983 ICC Cricket World Cup.{{cite web|url=https://www.mumbailive.com/en/digital/hotstar-specials-releases-the-trailer-of-ms-dhoni-roar-of-the-lion-33814|title=Hotstar Specials releases the trailer of MS Dhoni's 'Roar Of The Lion'|website=Mumbai Live|date=12 March 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-03-12}} Coincidentally, former Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni made his debut in a digital platform, through this project.{{cite web|url=https://www.in.com/sports/ms-dhoni-makes-his-digital-debut-with-roar-of-the-lion-333717.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306192358/https://www.in.com/sports/ms-dhoni-makes-his-digital-debut-with-roar-of-the-lion-333717.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2019-03-06|title=MS Dhoni makes his digital debut with Roar Of The Lion|website=in.com|access-date=2019-03-12}} The series consists of five episodes, each having a runtime of around 30 minutes.{{Cite web|last=Entertainment|first=Quint|date=2019-03-05|title=Dhoni to Tell His Story in Hotstar's Docu-Drama 'Roar of the Lion'|url=https://www.thequint.com/entertainment/hot-on-web/dhoni-to-tell-his-story-in-hotstars-docu-drama-roar-of-the-lion|access-date=2021-01-21|website=TheQuint|language=en}} Portions of the series were shot in India (Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai) and Australia.{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/roar-of-the-lion-trailer-hotstar-documentary-ms-dhoni-chennai-super-kings-5619362/|title=Roar of the Lion trailer: Hotstar documentary traces MS Dhoni and Chennai Super King's journey to the top|date=2019-03-10|website=The Indian Express|language=en-IN|access-date=2019-03-12}}
Release
The official teaser for the series was unveiled on 5 March,{{Cite web|date=2019-03-05|title=MS Dhoni to feature in Hotstar's docu-drama Roar of the Lion|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/ms-dhoni-to-feature-in-hotstar-docu-drama-roar-of-the-lion-5612155/|access-date=2021-01-21|website=The Indian Express|language=en}} followed by the trailer on 9 March. The documentary web series was supposed to have its special screening on 19 March 2019 at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, as it was based on the team Chennai Super Kings, but the plan was later dropped due to security concerns, as there were expectations of huge crowds for the event.{{Cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/sport/ipl/2019/mar/19/security-fear-cancels-screening-of-film-on-csk-at-stadium-1952912.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321163543/http://www.newindianexpress.com/sport/ipl/2019/mar/19/security-fear-cancels-screening-of-film-on-csk-at-stadium-1952912.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 March 2019|title=Security fear cancels screening of film on CSK at stadium|website=The New Indian Express}} The series eventually released through Hotstar on 20 March 2019, in Hindi and Tamil languages.{{Cite web|date=2019-03-20|title=Roar of the Lion: MS Dhoni speaks about CSK ban, comeback and title triumph|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/roar-of-the-lion-ms-dhoni-speaks-about-csk-ban-comeback-and-title-triumph/story-ePNLbklsf3gWbwKa0lYJvK.html|access-date=2021-01-21|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}} The documentary received praise from the CSK teammates,{{Cite web|last=Team|first=DNA Web|date=2019-03-16|title=IPL 2019: Chennai Super Kings players praise MS Dhoni's 'Roar of The Lion' documentary|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/cricket/report-ipl-2019-chennai-super-kings-players-praise-ms-dhoni-s-roar-of-the-lion-documentary-2729996|access-date=2021-01-21|website=DNA India|language=en}} along with popular actors and actresses giving support to the series.{{cite news | url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/ms-dhoni-docu-drama-hotstar-roar-of-the-lion-celebrity-pre-release-reaction-5630736/ | title= Roar of the Lion: Celebrities can't wait to watch MS Dhoni's docu-drama | date=18 March 2019 | newspaper=The Indian Express | accessdate=27 March 2019 }}
Reception
= Critical response =
Critic Priyansh of Firstpost reviewed the documentary series stating "From Roar of the Lion to the stands, cricket supporters are neglected with consummate ease. The fan experience, from the stadium to the television, is a relegated concern; the rich, the powerful, and the popular dictate the interests of those who run the game. For the privilege of the star cricketer, the iridescent lives of CSK fans are overlooked in a narrative laced with apathy and indifference. Supporters are cast as props, their voices matter only when they are heard chanting a cricketer's name. Otherwise, their bleatings is just ambient noise in the afterglow of the insuperable hero."{{Cite web|title=Roar of the Lion, CSK documentary review: Fans an afterthought in MS Dhoni's hagiography |url=https://www.firstpost.com/firstcricket/sports-news/roar-of-the-lion-csk-documentary-review-fans-an-afterthought-in-ms-dhonis-hagiography-6314781.html|access-date=2021-01-21|website=Firstpost|date=23 March 2019 }} Chandresh Narayanan of The Quint opined that "The series breezes through the middle phase of the tournament, but they don’t hold back when it comes to cracking a joke at their own expense."{{Cite web|last=Narayanan|first=Chandresh|date=2019-03-20|title='Roar of the Lion': Dhoni Talks, Yes, But He Could've Said More|url=https://www.thequint.com/sports/ipl/review-ms-dhoni-csk-hotstar-series-roar-of-lion|access-date=2021-01-21|website=TheQuint|language=en}} Vinayakk Mohanarajan of Scroll.in commented "A large part of the series is dedicated to the extraordinary connect the fans have developed with the franchise over the past decade."{{Cite web|last=Mohanarangan|first=Vinayakk|title='Roar of the Lion': Unabashed ode to CSK fans, few honest glimpses of Dhoni (but not much else)|url=https://scroll.in/field/917359/roar-of-the-lion-an-unabashed-ode-to-csk-fans-few-honest-glimpses-of-dhoni-but-not-much-else|access-date=2021-01-21|website=Scroll.in|date=21 March 2019 |language=en-US}}
= Accolades =
class="wikitable sortable" style="width: 99%;" |
Year
! Award ! Category ! Recipient ! Result |
---|
rowspan="1"|2019
|rowspan="1"|iReel Awards{{Cite web |url= https://www.news18.com/i-reel-awards/list-of-nominees/#best_awards_5d691e3c111fdb8740e0d835|title=nominations|website=News18|accessdate=2019-09-11}} | Best Non Fiction Show | Roar of The Lion |{{nom}} |
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Kabir Khan}}
Category:Disney+ Hotstar original programming
Category:2010s documentary television series
Category:Indian documentary television series
Category:2019 Indian television series debuts
Category:Indian Premier League on television
Category:Documentary television series about sports
Category:Indian sports television series