'Beyond All Boundaries' Gripping But Lacks Historical Essence

Hailing from a rural village in Muzaffarpur, Bihar, this wiry lean man is an oft seen face on television during cricket matches. While he travels penniless across the country to catch a glimpse of the matches, he makes a spectacle of himself by adorning his torso and face with the tri-colours of the Indian flag and a turf on the head that replicates the Indian map.

What makes Sudhir’s tale interesting is his close proximity to the cricketers. His anecdotes about them touch a raw nerve which without much ado glorifies them further.

But what’s interesting is that he has a fan following too! During his journey, he has people who look forward to his arrival and cheer him on his trip. He calls them, “Fans of a Fan”. And this craziness is hard to believe.

With the adrenaline-chasing drumbeats, the blowing of the conches and wild enthusiastic dances on the street — the documentary captures snatches of the excitement after a successful match. But prior to that, the director offers glimpses of the intense hope that lingers on the lips of the fans praying for success, which is hard to miss.

Structurally, the film is more than a documentary. Laced with a voiceover by Kunal Nayyar, a prominent Los Angeles-based television actor who is seen in the sitcom “The Big Bang Theory”, the documentary has a definitive narrative arch that consists of the set-up, conflict and a resolution that keeps you hooked.