Adil Hussain on '52 Blue': Why he said yes to the London Indian Film Festival film
Synopsis
Adil Hussain's pull toward '52 Blue' wasn't just professional — it was personal. A story about a boy chasing Lionel Messi from India to Qatar, and a father who was once a rebel Bharatanatyam dancer turned dream-crusher, hit close to home for the actor. The film screens at the London Indian Film Festival in July 2026.
Key Takeaways
Adil Hussain 's film '52 Blue' will screen at the London Indian Film Festival from 9 to 19 July 2026 .
The film follows a boy from India who travels to Qatar to meet Lionel Messi , inspired by his elder brother's fandom.
Hussain plays the boy's father — a former Bharatanatyam dancer from Kerala who suppresses his son's dreams after a personal tragedy.
Hussain said he is drawn to stories of underdogs who 'break free from all kinds of shackles of circumstances to fulfil their dreams.' The London Indian Film Festival is one of the leading platforms for South Asian cinema in the United Kingdom .
Actor Adil Hussain, whose upcoming film '52 Blue' is set to screen at the London Indian Film Festival from 9 July to 19 July 2026, has opened up about what drew him to the project — a story rooted in defiance, dreams, and the quiet courage of underdogs.
The Story That Pulled Him In
Hussain said the film's premise resonated with him on a deeply personal level. 'I have always been a big fan and admirer of people who would like to break free from all kinds of shackles of circumstances to fulfil their dreams. I'm one of them,' he said. He added that he felt a strong affinity for characters who rise from underprivileged backgrounds to challenge societal and economic norms.
The narrative centres on a boy from India who travels to Qatar to meet football legend Lionel Messi — inspired by his elder brother's admiration for the Argentine icon. Hussain described the boy's innocence and single-minded resolve as a compelling hook for the story.
The Role: A Father With a Complicated Past
Hussain plays the boy's father — a man who once pursued Bharatanatyam as a dancer in Kerala, a pursuit that carried its own social weight. 'In those days, in a society in Kerala, who had been a Bharatanatyam dancer, as a man — there are challenges there. So he's also had been a rebel,' Hussain explained. Following a personal tragedy, however, the father turns around and suppresses his own son's aspirations, creating the central dramatic tension of the film.
Hussain noted that this contradiction — a former rebel becoming the very obstacle he once defied — is something he has 'grown up with', lending the role an authenticity that he found hard to resist.
London Indian Film Festival 2026
The London Indian Film Festival is scheduled to run from 9 July to 19 July 2026, and '52 Blue' is among the films selected for its lineup. The festival is one of the most prominent platforms for South Asian cinema in the United Kingdom, offering Indian films international visibility beyond the domestic theatrical circuit.
For Hussain — known for critically acclaimed work across Indian and international productions — the selection marks another opportunity to bring nuanced, character-driven Indian storytelling to a global audience. How '52 Blue' is received in London will be closely watched.
Point of View
And Hussain's articulation of it suggests the film has more depth than its logline implies. Whether it translates for a London audience — and whether the festival exposure opens a wider theatrical window — is the real question worth watching.
NationPress
29 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the film '52 Blue' about?
'52 Blue' follows a young boy from India who travels to Qatar to meet football star Lionel Messi, driven by his elder brother's admiration for the Argentine icon. The film also explores the story of his father, a former Bharatanatyam dancer from Kerala whose personal tragedy leads him to suppress his son's dreams.
Where and when will '52 Blue' be screened?
The film is set to be screened at the London Indian Film Festival, which runs from 9 July to 19 July 2026.
Why did Adil Hussain agree to do '52 Blue'?
Hussain said he was drawn to the film's underdog narrative and its portrayal of people who defy social and economic constraints to pursue their dreams. He also identified with the complexity of his character — a man who was once a rebel but ends up stifling his own son's ambitions.
What role does Adil Hussain play in '52 Blue'?
Hussain plays the father of the protagonist — a man who was once a Bharatanatyam dancer in Kerala, a socially challenging pursuit for a man of his era, but who later, following a tragedy, becomes an obstacle to his son's aspirations.
What is the London Indian Film Festival?
The London Indian Film Festival is one of the most prominent showcases for South Asian cinema in the United Kingdom, offering Indian and diaspora films a high-profile international platform. The 2026 edition runs from 9 to 19 July.
