The film takes you on an emotional story, discussing the details of Sachin’s life bit by bit. As soon as the film starts, there's the time he gets a bat from Kashmir, as a gift from his sister. Then there's the time Sachin's elder brother Ajit Tendulkar takes him to the legendary coach Ramakant Achrekar. On the field, the very first ball Sachin faces, destroys his stumps. Ajit tries to reason with Achrekar that Sachin will pick up the correct techniques — and then comes the straight drive that was to become Tendulkar's signature move in the years to come. Impressed, Achekar asks of Ajit: 'Naam kya bataya tumhare bhai ka?' Cue commentator Tony Grieg announcing in his inimitable voice: 'Sachin Tendulkar'!
The story till this point, manages to capture all the trials, tribulations, hopes and desires of a boy from a middle-class family — a boy fired by India's 1983 World Cup triumph, to repeat the feat for his country. You get goosebumps when you see the menacing Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis charging at Sachin on the field, during a match. It's awe-inspiring to see Sachin get hit on the nose by a nasty Younis bouncer, but gamely carrying on. 'I could not let my country down and leave the crease,' Sachin says at the time. This isn't just the story of a sporting icon though. There are several flashback scenes in the film, set in the '90s, that remind you of a time when the country was facing all sorts of issues.
Sachin narrates the events of his life with unbelievable frankness. He shares the utter disappointment he felt on being removed as the captain. His conviction comes through when he says that the captaincy can be taken away from him — but not cricket. Next up is a bout of absolute cricket nostalgia as we see India's battle with Australia and a match up with spin wizard Shane Warne: Visuals of an epic battle from that high voltage series in 1997-98 have punches and counter punches that make for a sumptuous treat. The biggest moment of all comes when Don Bradman compares Sachin with himself! Inevitably references to 'Desert Storm' and the innings against Pakistan in the Chennai Test in 1999 come up. Sachin speaks of his father's death, news of which he got while he was with the Indian team for the World Cup in England in 1999.
Sachin returned to England after attending his father's last rites and hit a hundred straight away. By his own admission, it was his mother who goaded him to return and play for the country as that was what his father would have wanted. Post-interval, the film resumes with the birth of Sachin and Anjali Tendulkar's son, Arjun. We see Sachin working hard on his son to make him a hardened cricketer. The Tendulkar family believes that Sachin's father has returned in a new incarnation, in Arjun. From this domestic scene, we move on to one of the most difficult times in Sachin's career — when he was made captain for the second time. And then comes one of the murkiest times in Indian cricket history... The match fixing saga is at its peak. Every cricket playing nation is being investigated and fans' anger is threatening to boil over. Sachin is utterly disappointed and angered by it all. In these dark, hard times, we see Sachin perhaps find some solace in the company of his friends.
We also get to see his love for fast cars. Beyond these troubled times, the new millennium brings hope in the form of Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, VVS Laxman and of course, Sachin. The mighty Australians come here for a tour, and it is the turning point for Indian cricket. India gets hammered in the first match and has its back back to the wall in the second match, but then Eden Gardens is witness to an unbelievable comeback — and possibly the match of the century. Sachin slams a century in the next match and India pockets the series! The 2002 Natwest Trophy win gives— Ganguly taking his shirt off and twirling in the air. The Film shows the toils of Sachin’s life with great detail.