Mohun Bagan’s victory over East Yorkshire Regiment in the 1911 IFA Shield final is one of the biggest milestones in the history of the club and also in Indian football. A movie about the historic incident — Egaro — was also made in 2011 and the former and current players of the green and maroons and also the supporters of the club are excited that a Bollywood movie has now been conceived about the event with John Abraham playing the role of Shibdas Bhaduri. “The incident will be even better publicised to the entire nation, which will further enhance the prestige of Mohun Bagan. The younger generation will get to know about the performance of the Bagan team in 1911,” said Mohun Bagan and Indian football legend Chuni Goswami, adding, “John has taken up a challenge and I am sure he will do a good job as Shibdas Bhaduri.”
Satyajit Chatterjee, who played for Mohun Bagan for a decade before coaching the team and is now a club official, feels such a movie at the national level was overdue. “It should have been made before. This is a national-level initiative and I thank John and others for this. It will not only highlight a great history of Mohun Bagan but also reflect the importance Indian football used to hold. I feel it is a very relevant movie which will inspire many youngsters,” he said.
Defender Pritam Kotal, who represented Mohun Bagan for four seasons and now turns out for Delhi Dynamos in the Indian Super League, feels proud after he heard that a Bollywood movie is being made about the Kolkata club. “I had seen Egaro. I feel proud that I was player at a club about which a movie is being made in Bollywood with John Abraham in it. John loves football,” he gushed.
Equally excited on hearing about the news of the movie is a descendant of Shibdas Bhaduri. “I am delighted to know about it. The fact that a Bollywood movie will depict the 1911 match and Shibdas Bhaduri makes me emotional. I am definitely looking forward to watching the movie,” said Gouri Bhaduri, granddaughter-in-law of Shibdas Bhaduri.
Apart from being a landmark victory for Mohun Bagan, it also played a role in the country’s freedom struggle. Somnath Sengupta — a Mohun Bagan fan working in Pune right now — hopes that movie encompasses that aspect well. “It is really good that a movie is being made on the incident which will reach the national audience. I also hope the movie upholds the real significance that the incident entailed,” Sengupta opined.
Another die-hard supporter of the club, Sumanta Chakraborty, feels that a movie with sports and patriotic fervour will be well received. “This is awesome news. Egaro was a huge hit but it was at a regional level. We are seeing a trend of sports-based movies in Bollywood and this is an opportunity for Mohun Bagan’s glorious history to be told to the entire nation,” he said.
Arun Roy, who directed the movie Egaro, is also looking forward. “They have seen Egaro. If a history of Bengal is told to the people of the country and also outside, nothing can be better than that. But, the movie needs to be well made and stick to the incidents,” Roy feels.
This is a very good thing for Mohun Bagan and Indian football. I am extremely happy and I feel all players who have been associated with the club will also feel the same
— Dipendu Biswas, former Mohun Bagan player
It is a historic event that is part of our freedom struggle. The movie is great news for Mohun Bagan and Indian football. It can have a huge impact. As a former Mohun Bagan player who has also received the Mohun Bagan Ratna, I feel really proud
— Pradip Choudhury, former Mohun Bagan player
When Egaro was released, the entire Mohun Bagan team then went to watch it. Since this is a Bollywood movie and John Abraham is involved, this will also interest people who don’t follow football regularly. It is a proud moment for us
— Shilton Paul, Mohun Bagan goalkeeper
This movie will tell Mohun Bagan’s history and tradition to the entire country. The movie will be something to learn from for the younger generation and it can also inspire them
— Subrata Bhattacharya, former Mohun Bagan player
Source: Times of India
