Selection Day is an Indian sports drama TV series based on the 2016 novel by Aravind Adiga. It was produced by Anil Kapoor and Anand Tucker and adapted for TV by Marston Bloom, with Hindi dialogues by Sumit Arora. The series stars Mohammad Samad, Yash Dholia, Karanvir Malhotra, Rajesh Tailang, Mahesh Manjrekar, Ratna Pathak Shah, Shiv Pandit, Parul Gulati, Amrita Subhash and Akshay Oberoi. The story is about two brothers, Radha and Manjunath, who are raised by their cricket-obsessed father and meet their rival Javed. The first six episodes were released on Netflix on 28 December 2018 and the next six episodes were released on 19 April 2019.
Radha and Manjunath Kumar are brothers who are trained by their strict father to become great cricket batsmen. After defeating all the local village teams, their father decides to take them to Mumbai to play in the domestic cricket league during the selection season. The series traces his journey as he deals with his father’s high expectations, adjusts to life in Mumbai and competes with his main rival Javed. It takes a closer look at the challenges he faces in his quest to succeed in cricket.
Selection Day Series Brief Introduction
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Created by | Marston Bloom |
| Based on | Selection Day by Aravind Adiga |
| Written by | Marston Bloom, Karan Agarwal |
| Directed by | Udayan Prasad, Karan Boolani |
| Starring | Mohammad Samad, Yash Dholye, Karanvir Malhotra, Rajesh Tailang, Mahesh Manjrekar, Ratna Pathak Shah, Shiv Panditt, Akshay Oberoi, Parul Gulati, Amruta Subhash |
| Composer | Shashwat Sachdev |
| Country of origin | India |
| Original language | Hindi |
| No. of seasons | 1 (2 parts) |
| No. of episodes | 12 |
| Producers | Anil Kapoor, Anand Tucker |
| Production location | India |
| Production companies | Anil Kapoor Films & Communication Network, Seven Stories Ltd. |
| Original release network | Netflix |
| Original release date | 28 December 2018 |
Selection Day Starring Cast & Crew
| Actor | Character |
|---|---|
| Mohammad Samad | Manju Kumar |
| Yash Dholye | Radha Kumar |
| Karanvir Malhotra | Javed Ansari |
| Rajesh Tailang | Mohan Kumar |
| Mahesh Manjrekar | Tommy Sir |
| Ratna Pathak Shah | Nellie |
| Shiv Panditt | Lord Subramanyam |
| Akshay Oberoi | Anand Mehta |
| Vipashyana Dubey | Zoya |
| Parul Gulati | Monica Tandon |
| Dibyendu Bhattacharya | Gulshan |
| Pakhi Gupta | Sophia |
| Amruta Subhash | Meera |
| Hirdeyjeet Jarnail Singh | Panther’s Coach |
Selection Day OTT Release Date
The TV series was announced in August 2017. A short 16-second preview video was released on 8 October 2018.
Selection Day Storyline and Review
Arvind Adiga’s novel “Selection Day”, published in 2016, depicts the raw reality of Mumbai, a city full of expectations and hardships. The story begins with a young boy contemplating the flavors of life, including watching his brother sweat it out after cricket practice with their father. The backdrop is Mumbai, three years before “Selection Day”, a crucial event where young cricketers aim to pursue professional careers.
Manjunath Kumar, known as Manju, lives in a small apartment in Mumbai with his father Mohan and elder sibling Radha. When they moved to the city from their village, their mother left them, further adding to their struggles. Mohan considers cricket as his goal to get out of poverty and trains his sons hard. He gives priority to Radha, hoping she will become a cricket superstar, while keeping Manju second.
Despite financial difficulties, the two brothers attend a prestigious school due to their cricketing talent, where they are spotted by Tommy-Sir, a scout for the Mumbai Cricket Association. Tommy-Sir introduces them to Anand Mehta, who sponsors their family in exchange for a share of their future earnings. This assistance allows them to live in a better house in the suburbs.
Radha’s position is challenged when a talented newcomer named Javed joins their school team. Tensions arise in the family when Radha forms a relationship with a girl, leading to a violent incident with their father. Manju confides in Javed her secret desire to pursue her interests beyond cricket, but he continues to excel at the sport, fearing his father’s expectations.
As “selection day” approaches, the two brothers vie for a place in the professional teams. Manju reluctantly performs well and is selected, while Radha, driven by resentment, fails and flees to her village. Troubled by her brother’s antics and her own internal conflict, Manju finds solace with Javed for a while, but eventually returns to cricket to please her father.
Manju’s cricket career has ups and downs, from success in the junior leagues to playing for a Mumbai professional team. Despite his achievements, he never truly loves cricket, leading to a decline in his performance and eventually being fired from his job at the age of 27. He finds new purpose as a talent scout for the Cricket Association, while Radha, estranged from her father, resents Manju’s financial support. Meanwhile, Javed struggles with failed aspirations and makes a living as a thug after attempting to become an actor. The characters depict lives shaped by forced ambitions and boiling anger, facing mediocrity due to unfulfilled dreams.
Manju confides in Javed her secret desire to pursue her interests beyond cricket. The story is about two brothers Radha and Manjunath who are raised by their cricket-obsessed father and meet their rival Javed.#SelectionDay #SelectionDayNetflix #NetflixSeries #SelectionDaySeries pic.twitter.com/w0maXQ9HKt
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