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As Neeraj Chopra Wins Gold At World Athletics, Here Are 5 Movies That Every Athletics Fan Must Watch
Updated on: 28 August, 2023 12:20 PM IST |Shweta Shah
Neeraj Chopra made India proud as he became the first Indian athlete to win gold at the World Athletics Championship. Just like his stellar performance at the Tokyo Olympics, Neeraj stole the show in the second attempt, launching the javelin at 88.17m at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest. While the world was awaiting Chopra to tick the gold for India, let`s take you through some cinematic experiences that showcased the lives of athletes.
If you loved Neeraj Chopra`s gold-worthy performance at the World Athletics Championship in javelin throw, these seven movies are a must-watch for every athletics fan.
The Academy Award-winner focuses on British sprint duo Eric Liddell and Harald Abrahams` journey to winning gold at the 1924 Paris Olympics. What makes Chariots of Fire iconic is Vangelis`s incredible soundtrack.
The Hollywood classic showcases Liddell`s glorious 400-meter win. Abraham, a British Jew, overcomes all the prejudice to secure the gold medal in 100 meters. The 1981 release set high standards in every way for how a sports biopic should be made.
Every athletics fan`s favorite and an ode to the Indian running legend, Milkha Singh, the movie is based on the life of the Commonwealth Games and several Asian Games medal-winning Indian sprinter.
The resemblance between Farhan Akhtar and Milkha Sungh was uncanny. The film has no drama or fictional shosha. In fact, it shows the vulnerable side of the sprinter, his ups and downs, his emotional trauma dating back to the partition days, and his journey to becoming one of India`s most cherished athletes.
The film on the life of an army man turned runner turned dacoit has so much to admire. The film focuses on the turbulent life of Paan Singh Tomar and his incredible life story.
It all started as a punishment when Tomar was made to run the parade ground while in the army, which led to discovering his potential as a runner. After going on to become a record-holder national champion for a decade, escalating disputes in his village forced Paan Singh Tomar to become an infamous dacoit.
Irrfan Khan showcased his effortless and spectacular acting, almost convincing us that he was the original Tomar.
This stands to be one of the highly-rated Indian sports movies that made us scream every time the Indian Women`s Hockey Team scored a goal. It was loosely inspired by the Indian Women`s Hockey Team`s win in the 2002 Commonwealth Games.
Headlined by Shah Rukh Khan, a ruthless yet dedicated coach is an emotional rollercoaster of wins, losses, and everything in between. Coinciding with India`s 60th Independence Day, Chak De! India strikes all the right patriotic chords.
If you loved Neeraj Chopra`s gold-worthy performance at the World Athletics Championship in javelin throw, these seven movies are a must-watch for every athletics fan.
1. Chariots of Fire: 1981
The Academy Award-winner focuses on British sprint duo Eric Liddell and Harald Abrahams` journey to winning gold at the 1924 Paris Olympics. What makes Chariots of Fire iconic is Vangelis`s incredible soundtrack.
The Hollywood classic showcases Liddell`s glorious 400-meter win. Abraham, a British Jew, overcomes all the prejudice to secure the gold medal in 100 meters. The 1981 release set high standards in every way for how a sports biopic should be made.
2. Bhaag Milkha Bhaag: 2013
Every athletics fan`s favorite and an ode to the Indian running legend, Milkha Singh, the movie is based on the life of the Commonwealth Games and several Asian Games medal-winning Indian sprinter.
The resemblance between Farhan Akhtar and Milkha Sungh was uncanny. The film has no drama or fictional shosha. In fact, it shows the vulnerable side of the sprinter, his ups and downs, his emotional trauma dating back to the partition days, and his journey to becoming one of India`s most cherished athletes.
3. Paan Singh Tomar: 2012
The film on the life of an army man turned runner turned dacoit has so much to admire. The film focuses on the turbulent life of Paan Singh Tomar and his incredible life story.
It all started as a punishment when Tomar was made to run the parade ground while in the army, which led to discovering his potential as a runner. After going on to become a record-holder national champion for a decade, escalating disputes in his village forced Paan Singh Tomar to become an infamous dacoit.
Irrfan Khan showcased his effortless and spectacular acting, almost convincing us that he was the original Tomar.
4. Chak De! India: 2007
This stands to be one of the highly-rated Indian sports movies that made us scream every time the Indian Women`s Hockey Team scored a goal. It was loosely inspired by the Indian Women`s Hockey Team`s win in the 2002 Commonwealth Games.
Headlined by Shah Rukh Khan, a ruthless yet dedicated coach is an emotional rollercoaster of wins, losses, and everything in between. Coinciding with India`s 60th Independence Day, Chak De! India strikes all the right patriotic chords.
5. Run FatBoy Run: 2007
Not every movie based on sports needs to be serious. Some add a spoonful of humor, like Run FatBoy Run. It is not difficult to guess what the movie is about, as the title says it all.
Simon Pegg plays Fatboy Dennis, the typical middle-aged loser who attempts to run a marathon to prove his worth to his ex-fiancée Thandie Newton, whom he abandoned at the altar on their wedding day.
If you`re a runner, you will relate to the comic references about hitting the wall, painful blisters, and everything in between.
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