The 56-minute documentary film Four on Eleven: The Fading Glory of Parsi Cricket has been well received when screened at 15 film festivals and has already won "10 awards nationally and internationally,” stated its researcher, writer, director and producer Shrikaran Beecharaju. However it is yet awaiting its "official public screening,” he added, hoping he gets an opportunity to show it to the Parsi community and the cricketing fraternity.
Shrikaran Beecharaju and poster of the film
Nari Contractor (r) being interviewed for the film Four on Eleven
The title Four on Eleven denotes the Indian cricket team in 1961 when four of the 11 players were Parsis. The quartet of Polly Umrigar, Nari Contractor, Rusi Surti and Farokh Engineer showed their supremacy at the pitch in the 1960s-70s. Through archival footage and insightful interviews, the film traces the journey of Parsis learning this game during British rule, forming the first Indian team to tour England in 1886, producing outstanding players, and their enduring passion for the game.
Narrated by former Doordarshan broadcaster and international cricket commentator Fredun Devitre, the film features Contractor and Engineer along with other legends who have made their mark like erstwhile captain of the Indian women’s national team Diana Edulji, International Cricket Council umpire Shahvir Tarapore, Tanzania national team bowling coach Vispi Mehta, under 16 Mumbai team selector Kersi Pavri and rising talent Arzan Nagwaswalla.
The documentary shows the iconic Parsee Gymkhana on Marine Drive and the Late Maneck Golvala T10 Cricket Tournament as witnessing the rise and decline of Parsi presence. To indicate that all hope is not lost and that Parsis may once again rise in this game, the film covers the efforts of the community to revive the sport through coaching camps and all India cricket tournaments.
Beecharaju mentioned that while studying for his postgraduate diploma in Film, Television and Digital Video Production at the Xavier Institute of Communications (XIC), he first undertook a 15-minute film on this subject, being passionate about cricket. Hoping to find financial sponsors from the Parsi community, he decided to convert his passion into a full-length documentary. When funds did not materialize, he self-financed it with savings from his internships and family support. "It took me around a year to start and (reach here)… There is still a lot of finance that is required to finish the film… My goal is to find a sponsor and release it on any OTT (over the top) platform for the story to reach a larger audience,” conveyed the young director.
Members of the cricket fraternity associated with the film have "appreciated the efforts that have gone into it. Filmmakers who have watched (it) really liked the technical aspects of the film, its editing, music and the story itself... The music composers for the film are from the Berkeley School of Music, USA, and the sound designers are from Leeds School of Music,” said Beecharaju who is currently working in the Telugu film industry as an assistant director on two feature films.