Amit Sharma shares 'Maidan' at IAMGAME.

Held at the Pullman Aerocity in Delhi, the IAMGAME Sports Conclave was not only an assembly of sports persons, very much like a ‘family gathering’ with all the sports aficionados narrating and implementing their wisdom, rather an energetic affair. The gathering was alive and organized sessions that spoke to the core of the aspirations and problems of sports in India. The two young partners, Mandeep Malhotra and Karan Chettri, were able to carry on these dialogues in such a manner that emotional tether allowed the speaker to make even the most complex of details seem comprehensible and relevant. The conclave also served, in the world dominated by numbers, we do not forget that there are phrases behind the numbers, work and passion.

Into this space walked Amit Sharma, the man who brought Maidan to life—a film that does more than tell the story of a football team; it captures the spirit of a nation finding its place on the global stage. As he took the stage, Sharma's eyes lit up, and he began sharing not just the process of making the film but the very soul of it. He spoke of how every casting decision was a nod to history, every prop a connection to a time long past. He reminisced about the responses he had preserved, the cherished moments he savoured during production. His words weren’t rehearsed; they were a raw glimpse into the heart of a filmmaker deeply in love with his craft.

Then there was Syed Abdul Rahim, the legendary football coach whose life the film chronicles. Sharma described Rahim as a quiet yet resolute figure whose spirit remains embedded in Indian football’s legacy. Speaking of Rahim, he didn’t just recount achievements; he painted a portrait of a man whose passion for the game changed lives. Sharma’s voice softened, and you could feel his admiration, as if Rahim’s presence was there in the room, guiding him. By the end, the audience was spellbound—not just by the story of Rahim but by Sharma’s own reverence for the man.

It was moments like these that defined the IAMGAME Conclave. More than just a conference, it became a tapestry woven with tales of endurance, love, and the very human drive to connect through sports and storytelling. In Amit Sharma’s words, the audience didn’t just hear about Maidan; they felt it, as though they had been on the field, under those same lights, with history unfolding around them 

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