Jhund trailer: Amitabh Bachchan teaches a wild bunch how to play football 

The trailer of Nagraj Popatrao Manjule's Jhund captures the spirit of subaltern rebellion while promising an exciting drama around a popular sport. The film will see Amitabh Bachchan step into the shoes of Vijay Barse, founder of the NGO Slum Soccer.

Manjule's films tend to portray the uncomfortable aspect of caste that is linked directly to poverty and violence. While Jhund is perhaps a little bit more about poverty, the filmmaker does not shy from leaving markers throughout the trailer. Bachchan's coach arrives at a college, seeking to find a place for kids from the slum to play football. He is scoffed at. 'Don't bring this dirt into the college,' says a character. 

The line reflects the connection between alienation, ostracism and the resulting violent behaviour. This is precisely what Barse, and Bachchan's character in the film, seek to change. The energies of these kids, now stereotyped and villainized, are channelized through football.

Manjule's film promises some hard-hitting lines that reflect reality. The trailer does have some familiar sights such as the presence of Rinku Rajguru and Akash Thosar, the Sairat (2016) finds while the music by Ajay-Atul possesses a hypnotic rhythm.

The closing shot of a child asking 'What does India mean?' underlines the subtle but powerful potential of Manjule's script. Another similar shot is that of Bachchan's profile dwarfed by images of Shahu Maharaj, Jyotiba Phule and Dr Ambedkar.

Jhund has been produced by Manjule, Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, Savita Raj Hiremath, Raaj Hiremath, Gargee Kulkarni, Meenu Aroraa and Sandeep Singh, and is set to release in theatres on 4 March. 

Check out the trailer below, and let us know if you are keen on watching the film.