If you are a crazy MSD fan and want to catch some of his spectacular pitch performance on reel, you can't help but wish you were a student of Jawahar Vidya Mandir.
The alma mater of Mahendra Singh Dhoni in Shyamali Colony, Ranchi, not only plans to declare September 30 - the day when the living cricket legend's biopic hits theatres across India - as holiday, but also to book first day, first show tickets for its 5,000 students.
MS Dhoni: The Untold Story, a film by Neeraj Pandey of A Wednesday fame and starring actor Sushant Singh Rajput in lead role, will be screened at four multiplexes in the state capital - Fun Cinemas, Carnival, Popkorn and Eylex - and together have 2,240seats on offer. Standalone theatres like Plaza Cinema and SRS Cinema have another 1,431 seats.
A.K. Singh, principal of JVM-Shyamali, said they were in talks with plex owners for concessions and things were likely to be finalised by the first week of September. " Ab Dhoni hamare school ka aan, baan aur shaan hain (Now, Dhoni is our school's pride). We deserve to watch first day, first show. However, to accommodate everyone, we may book second shows at Plaza and SRS," he said.
According to Singh, Fun Cinemas and Carnival have shown interest while they are still awaiting positive response from Popkorn and Eylex. "The school will remain closed on September 30, so that all our students and members of staff can enjoy the film. The school will sponsor the tickets," the principal added.
Manager of Fun Cinemas Vimal Kumar said they were working on the school's request for concession. "We may even offer a free show for JVM students. Let's see," Kumar added.
Enthusiasm is running so high on Dhoni's school campus that a Facebook page - JVM Shyamali Confessions - is swamped with overriding sentiments about what might happen if classes weren't suspended on September 30.
Read one post: "If I was AK Singh I would definitely keep the school closed on 30th of September as the attendance on that day will be exactly the number of wickets taken by MS Dhoni in his entire international cricketing career."
A wicketkeeper par excellence, Dhoni has bagged just one wicket in ODIs and none in Test cricket.
Other posts unleash myriad emotions. " Pure Ke Pure Theatre Bharenge Shyamlians Se", says one while another adds, "Humlog ka first day first show attendance compulsory hai". Yet another wonders who could play Navjot Singh Sidhu in the commentary box in the film with a signature line like, "aur ye Dhoni ka gagan chummi chhakka".
"The Facebook page was launched to bring all children on one platform, where they can share their feelings about life on the campus and about Dhoni, our hero," principal Singh said.
Till Tuesday, the JVM "confessions" page boasted 11,337 likes.
Class XI student Ashish Aryan, who is active on the page, said they were excited beyond words. "The trailer has been uploaded and we have watched it a thousand times. It gives us goosebumps to see Dhoni in JVM uniform. We are counting days (for the movie to release). Sushant (Singh Rajput) has done a commendable job," he added as friends Preeti and Varun nodded in consent.
Will you catch the first day first show of the movie? Tell ttkhand@abpmail.com
