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July 8, 2022 – Calabasas Movies + Media and Sterling Street Movies are partnering to supply the primary official documentary movie on tennis legend, Vijay Amritraj, thought of the best Indian and Asian participant of all time.
Directed by Oscar®-nominated filmmaker Sami Khan (“St. Louis Superman,” “The Final Out”), the function movie is being government produced by Calabasas Movies + Media companions Kapil Mahendra and Paul Beahan, alongside Prakash Amritraj and Dhaval Desai.
The documentary charts Amritraj’s rise from his childhood in India, overcoming severe well being points, to his emergence as probably the most thrilling gamers of the Seventies and Eighties – defeating Jimmy Connors, Bjorn Borg, and John McEnroe of their primes.
Together with older brother Anand, Vijay Amritraj was an integral a part of the Indian crew that boycotted the 1974 Davis Cup Finals towards South Africa to protest apartheid. That boycott was instrumental in isolating the apartheid authorities within the sports activities world.
Within the mid-Seventies, Vijay, Anand, and youngest brother Ashok moved to Southern California the place they turned key, early members of World Crew Tennis – the all-star league co-founded by Billie Jean King. Amritraj performed for Jerry Buss’ colourful Los Angeles Strings crew earlier than Buss took over the Los Angeles Lakers.
Amritraj gained a legendary popularity through the years for his type, magnificence, and sportsmanship. However he wasn’t with out critics. Regardless of being billed as one of many high younger gamers of the Seventies, together with Borg and Connors, Amritraj by no means received a significant championship. Some detractors claimed he was “too good to win.” In a tradition that usually celebrates ruthless victory over sportsmanship, the documentary explores the toll that takes on everybody.
After tennis, Amritraj would go on to have, arguably, a fair larger affect on society. Amritraj was probably the most vocal world athletes combating injustice, culminating in a 1988 speech on the United Nations denouncing apartheid. The documentary will discover how he used his platform for a larger good: within the title of political activism to additional India’s seat on the world desk, struggle for these much less lucky beginning together with his humanitarian efforts as a messenger of peace for the United Nations, in addition to his huge philanthropic works.
Amritraj turned one of many first Indians on American tv and shook up the Hollywood leisure house changing into one of many first South Asian actors to have roles written particularly for him — the 1983 James Bond automobile “Octopussy,” “Star Trek IV: The Voyage Residence” and his personal TV present in 1986, “What A Nation.”
Audiences can count on a stranger than fiction story of ardour and hope and maintaining household shut. With on-screen testimonials from a few of tennis’ brightest stars, former opponents and several other Hollywood legends, the movie will tackle the unforgettable journey of Vijay Amritraj’s life.
Director Sami Khan mentioned, “Vijay Amritraj was a legend and inspiration in my home rising up and it’s an absolute honor to assist inform his story. Amritraj was a pioneer for South Asian athletes, and I do know our movie could have pressing resonance in the present day. Kapil, Paul, Prakash, and Dhaval are superb companions on this journey, and I can’t wait to share Amritraj’s story with audiences quickly.”
“Telling Vijay’s story after so a few years of doing charity work collectively is really thrilling,” mentioned Kapil Mahendra. “The anecdotes he shares of his life on and off the courtroom together with his encounters and relationships with legends of the game and Hollywood are distinctive.”
Prakash Amritraj added, “For thus lengthy individuals of shade have been advised ‘you may’t,’ and ‘you received’t,’ Vijay has all the time been an emblem of ‘I can’ and ‘I’ll.’ And he did it maintaining God in his coronary heart, and his household and India on his again. He’s been my biggest instance of what it’s to be a person and a hero. It’s a dream to convey his story to the display screen with Calabasas Movies and the good Sami Khan on the helm.”
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