The Zee5 docu-series 'Breaking Point' takes an in-depth look at the ups and downs of Indian tennis stars Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupati.
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When it was announced that a docu-series on the careers of Indian tennis legends Mahesh Bhupati and Leander Paes would hit the internet soon, people were naturally excited. The duo, nicknamed ‘Lee-Hesh’, were an unstoppable pair in their heyday. Their success in doubles tennis kept India on the global tennis map for years. Yet their story is more than just about what they did on the court. For as much as they won on court, the fault lines – no pun intended – were opening up behind the scenes. Their subsequent multiple falling-outs and history is the key focus of Break Point, a docu-series on OTT streaming platform Zee5.
Given the subject matter at hand though, the series does tend to fall a little short. That’s not to say that the series isn’t worth a watch though; far from it.
It’s hard to believe given how long their careers went, but the Lee-Hesh peak came in the late 1990s and early 2000s. They separated as a pair in 2002, before coming back and splitting up numerous times thereafter.
In that sense, Break Point does a wonderful job recapping their story. From letting fans know their personal back-story and how they met, teamed up, conquered the world, and then fell apart, the series spares little in terms of detail.
It helps, of course, that both Bhupati and Paes are so candid in admitting where it is they fell short. In the past, the two were known to snipe at each other on a regular basis when not on talking terms.
And while they don’t necessarily strike a conciliatory tone, it does help they address their feelings. Bhupati said he always felt too emotionally attached to Paes, admitting that going back to partner him afterwards was a bad idea.
Paes, meanwhile, doesn’t miss chances to remind the viewer of what sacrifices he made to play alongside Bhupati. It can be somewhat jarring – as can lines like ‘a few million dollars won’t change my life’ when Paes referenced slashing his own sponsorship deals to ensure Bhupati made more money – but it is, at least, honest.
The two also admit that the pressure from the outside world got the better of them. Indeed, they both believed that if they tuned out the noise and were left to their own devices, they’d be better off.
All in all, if you’re a new fan unfamiliar with the story, it is refreshing to watch the series.
The reasons for their rift – egos, heresay, and even women issues – are also addressed. Paes recollects accusing Bhupati of trying to get with his then-girlfriend when the two sat down for mediation talks. Who the person in question is remains unclear, but it is still brutally hard to watch.
Ironically, their biggest successes came when the two were absolutely not talking. 1999 saw them reach the finals of all four Grand Slams – yet the two were barely talking to each other.
“It was our worst year in terms of communication but our best year in terms of performance,” was Paes’ summation on the situation.
Paes also spoke about someone in Bhupati’s camp spreading false stories to the media. An old rumor suggested Paes threw the bronze medal doubles match at Athens because he didn’t want Bhupati to win a medal winner too.
Paes, it is worth remembering, is a singles tennis bronze medallist – he won the medal at Atlanta in 1996. But the accusation he would throw a match seems as strange now as it did then.
But there are places where the show misses the mark.
Perhaps the one thing missing from the documentary is the lack of information that is somewhat unknown. It is fair to assume that a lot of people who watched this would be partially familiar with the Lee-Hesh drama.
Yet, while the retread of old stories is a fun nostalgia trip, it doesn’t tell us things we didn’t already know. What’s worse, there are two key aspects of their story that are almost ignored.
The first is their Davis Cup record. They won an amazing 23 doubles matches on the trot as a pairing – a record that, incidentally, still stands. Their Grand Slam glory is covered in great detail, but this doesn’t get much love from the filmmakers.
The other is the complicated relationship Paes and Bhupati shared with the All India Tennis Association (AITA). The tennis body would often try and reunite the pair using a stick rather than carrot approach.
All it did, in the long run, was further sour the relationship not only between the players but the governing body officials too. Yet this gets little air time in the series.
And look, we get it – there’s only a limited number of episodes. But the show could have found some time for the facts and maybe removed some of the fake news headlines. The story being told is dramatic enough without added spice.
In conclusion, watch Break Point if you’re looking to relive the glory days or learn about two Indian tennis legends. But if you’re an old fan wanting new information, it’s best to stay away.
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
