The enthusiasm for sports biopics in Hindi films is fairly young. Maybe the success of Shah Rukh Khan’s Chak De India convinced the directors that the genre would find a fanbase. We haven’t seen many sports films based on real-life in the short time that Hindi cinema has been producing them, and we haven’t seen many that can manage to produce nail-biting suspense while also covering all aspects of their subject’s life. Most of the time, these are hagiographies that tend to gloss over a sportsperson’s scandals, disputes, and difficult patches, giving us just a sanitized view of their life. There have, however, been a few that have set new standards for the biographical genre. Here are a few biopics you must watch.
1. Azhar
Since the release of the trailer for Azhar, it has been difficult for viewers to believe in the narrative of the film, which essentially dismisses the match-fixing controversy. We’re also told in the movie that Azhar took the money to keep the gambler away from the rest of the crew. That one storyline aspect was enough to bring an already terrible film down. We understand that Bollywood biopics are loaded with fictional aspects, but at the very least offer us something that seems plausible. The events that prompted this film occurred only a few decades ago, making it difficult for audiences to understand this bizarre scenario.
2. Mary Kom
Soon after the first images of PC in the starring part in this biopic of boxer Mary Kom were released, it sparked controversy. Many people argued that the protagonist should have been played by a Manipuri actor rather than someone who didn’t look like the protagonist at all. Despite the criticism, the film was able to sway a large number of people because the story was unfamiliar to the general public. Darshan Kumar ably supported Priyanka Chopra in a sincere performance. The scenes in which the protagonist was effectively parenting her children while also attempting to manage her work brought the film to life.
3. Budhia Singh Born To Run
Budhia Singh’s story astounded us and convinced us that truth is darker than fiction. Manoj Bajpayee plays Budhia’s instructor Biranchi, while Mayur Patole plays the marathoner in this Manoj Bajpayee-directed film. Even if it was contradictory in many spots, the film’s heart was in the right place. Several topics are introduced but never addressed, such as drug tests and child exploitation. Despite having many flaws, the picture was named Best Children’s Film at the National Film Awards.
4. Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
Milkha Singh is well-known for selling the rights to his story to the filmmakers for Rs 1. Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, featuring Farhan Akhtar, is a standard sports biopic that fits the rhythms of most popular biopics, which is presumably why it has a classic charm. Partition, pain, and suffering suffered by Milkha Singh make for an amazing story, which Bhaag Milkha Bhaag recognizes from the beginning. The film does not gloss over his losses, nor does it glorify the Flying Sikh, which is one of its strongest points.
5. Paan Singh Tomar
Paan Singh Tomar, starring Irrfan Khan, takes the top slot on this list, and is, in our view, not only the greatest sports biopic but also the best biographical movie ever done in Hindi cinema. Paan Singh Tomar is a movie directed by Tigmanshu Dhulia about a steeplechase athlete who becomes a dacoit following a family feud. Although Paan Singh Tomar did not feature a traditional ‘hero,’ the novel did feature an intriguing grey-shaded character who made his trip feel real. Under Dhulia’s direction, Irrfan carried the film on his shoulders, and viewing it today is just as satisfying.
