How elder brother Ajit helped shape Sachin’s statue too!

Sculpture artist Pramod Kamble and Ajit Tendulkar (right) with Sachin’s statue in Ahmednagar recently. Pic/Pramod Kamble’s Collection

Batting icon Sachin Tendulkar played several memorable innings at Wankhede Stadium during his exemplary 24-year international career. Tendulkar made batting look easy. Similarly, people may feel that making a statue of him - placed in between the Vijay Merchant Pavilion and Sachin Tendulkar Stand - was easy too. Far from it. Ahmednagar-based Pramod Kamble, who crafted Tendulkar's statue, said it was the toughest experience of his life. Kamble revealed how he overcame difficulties to give perfect shape to the statue.

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Technical issues

"There were a lot of technical things and being a common man and a sculpture artist, I never imagined those would crop up. So, to get a proper and accurate statue, and that too of a personality of Sachinji's stature, was a very tough task. Ajitji [Sachin's elder brother] came to Ahmednagar, spent time with us and helped us get the proper posture. His input and contribution in making such a beautiful statue was immense," Kamble told mid-day on Wednesday.

Tendulkar with his family and Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde

The statue was unveiled by the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Eknath Shinde, on Wednesday. It was Kamble's maiden experience of making a statue of a sportsman; a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Saibaba at Shirdi Saibaba Mandir, Prasadalaya being his previous efforts.

"I must admit that Sachinji's statue materialised because of Ajitji. He guided me on key aspects of Sachinji's batting style, how his balance should be in the pose, how his body weight should be on the front leg, at what angle should his bat be in the follow through, what should be the position of his front shoe and how much the back shoe needs to be turned to get the proper balance, how tight his batting grip should be after hitting that six, where his eyes should be, his bat measurement and shape etc. All these minute, but very important insights I got because of Ajitji," Kamble revealed.

The statue unveiling attracted many onlookers at Wankhede. Pics/Satej Shinde

Tendulkar's reaction

So, what was Tendulkar's reaction when he saw his statue for the first time? "He reckoned it was great work. ‘Wow, great, chhaan zala [it's shaped very well]'. His wonderful reaction matters a lot to us. It was my dream project," Kamble remarked.

Kamble also revealed that Tendulkar and his family had a lot of discussion before finalising his pose for the statue. Sachinji's gave his inputs mostly over the phone after seeing photos and videos of the statue. It was a big opportunity that he gave me - to make a statue that will be seen by every cricket fan at the Wankhede Stadium. I gave my 110 per cent to make this and I am 100 per cent satisfied with my work on this bronze, 1.5 ton statue," Kamble signed off.