Bollywood has no dearth of well-directed sports movies. However, in this article, our focus is on the ones inspired by real incidents
This year, India celebrates its 79th year of independence from its British colonisers after decades of revolution. The country achieved its independence on August 15 – a historic day that has been depicted in various movies, including the struggle movement and the lives of several freedom fighters.
Since gaining independence, the country has achieved accolades in various fields, including sports. Therefore, to celebrate India’s 79 years of sporting achievements, we have narrowed down a few Bollywood sports movies that are worth watching this month.
Note that we only listed those movies that are inspired by real-life events.
Paan Singh Tomar sits at the top for us despite the fact that Tomar did not win any international accolades. However, the story of his life is worth watching because it shows that an athlete had to deal with a system that did not fight for his justice, despite Tomar being a military man. The late Irrfan Khan did justice to the character of the late Subedar Paan Singh Tomar.
Known as the ‘Flying Sikh’, the late Milkha Singh was one of the greatest runners India ever produced. A sprinter of the highest order, Singh’s life was torn apart due to the partition and poverty. However, he rose above all odds and won multiple accolades for India. Farhan Akhtar did not act in the film; he lived the life of Singh for a few months and nailed it.
Despite many films on women athletes, only Dangal managed to break records. The story of the Phogat sisters, renowned wrestlers, was brought to the big screen by Aamir Khan, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Sanya Malhotra, Zaira Wasim, and Suhani Bhatnagar. The story demonstrates how Mahavir Singh Phogat defied societal norms and stereotypes to transform his daughters into champion wrestlers.
A forgotten chapter of Indian football history, Maidaan portrayed Indian football’s golden era under the legendary manager, the late Syed Abdul Rahim. Starring Ajay Devgn, the film did not perform well at the box office but is a gem of a watch. Even though India is cricket crazy, this movie is a must-watch so that people realise how great football was in our country but is presently in a dire situation.
Actor Shreyas Talpade gave one of the finest performances in ‘Kaun Pravin Tambe?’ playing the role of Pravin Tambe, a Mumbai-based cricketer who made his IPL debut at 41. The movie showcases the resilience of Tambe, who, despite being rejected again and again, never gave up his passion for cricket. Finally, at the age of 41, he was picked by the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL. Watching Shreyas in a cricketer’s role took us back to the time when Talpade made his Bollywood debut in ‘Iqbal’, another powerful sports drama.
Apart from the above-mentioned movies, one can also watch M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story, 83’, Mary Kom, Rashmi Rocket, and Chandu Champion.
