Milkha Singh movie set to entertain and inspire

Legendary Indian athlete Milkha Singh (right) with producer and director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra during the shooting of the film. Right: Actor Farhan Akhtar, who is portraying Milkha Singh, is seen on the poster of the movie.

By ND Prashant/Doha

Sometimes you get impatient waiting for a movie to hit the screens. Especially so, if you are a fan of biopics in which the exploits of heroes of a few generations past are brought to life on celluloid. With creative licence allowing for a little bit of fiction to be thrown into the mix, you often have a product that is inspiring as well as entertaining.

Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (Run Milkha Run), which is due for release today, is one such movie. An ideal tribute to one of India’s greatest athletes, Milkha Singh couldn’t hold back his tears when he watched the movie at its London premiere this week.

“I attended the premiere in London with two of my daughters but my wife couldn’t join me due to ill-health. I was touched as it brought back memories. I was in tears and so was everyone present there. I must say the movie has lived up to my expectations,” the legendary athlete told Gulf Times in a telephonic interview on the eve of the film’s release in Qatar.

“They (the makers) have done a brilliant job and managed to document 90% of my life. I’m sure it would be a huge inspiration for the youth,” added the 77-year-old, popularly known as ‘The Flying Sikh’. 

The movie depicts the life of Singh and the hardships that he went through after having lost his family in the communal bloodletting that followed the Partition of India in 1947.

With the premiere gaining tremendous response, the family is now eagerly awaiting its worldwide release.

“There is lots to learn for everyone from the struggle and perseverance of my father. He is an institution on his own. Everyone in the family is excited about the movie,” said Milkha’s golfer son Jeev Milkha Singh.

“And the way Farhan Akhtar (lead actor) has worked hard for the movie is simply phenomenal. If you are watching the teasers, you will know,” added Jeev. 

Akhtar, who is portraying the Indian Olympian, spent 18 months training rigorously to resemble Singh. Producer and director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra wanted Akhtar made sure that the actor learnt how to sprint like an Olympian. An athletics coach and a fitness trainer were appointed to help Akhtar complete his transformation.

The title of the film that translates as ‘Run Milkha Run’ were the last words said to Singh by his father during the Partition riots: his father’s last words saved his life.

Singh, in a recent interview said, “There are two things that I can’t forget till the time I die. The night when my parents, my brother and sister were murdered and the Rome Olympics race that I lost.”

Son Jeev also endorsed his father’s feelings saying, “Yes, there are certain things in life that you just can’t let go. It was just a struggle for my father after the Partition and those memories are still fresh in his mind. You know, he used to stay in a mud house, it was years of struggle after that. He has seen the worst,” said Jeev, who revealed that his family readily approved of the movie project when approached.

“When Farhan approached us, we had no hesitation but I wasn’t sure how much justice he would do. However the way he has worked hard, I have no doubts it would be a smash hit,” says Jeev adding that it was not his father but he himself who went through the script and discussed the finer points with Akhtar and his team.

“I watch a lot of movies but not my father. But his consent was of course a must. He was all for it as he felt it would inspire the youth. He has always wanted to see our youth do well and if he can contribute to that anyway he would.”

Jeev did not follow in his father’s footsteps and become a track and field star, instead going on to make it big in golf having won several titles on the European and Asian Tours.

“My father has always been an inspiration but he never put that burden on me to follow his footsteps or the sport he chose. He has been encouraging though and it is because of his presence in my life that has transformed me into a good golfer. The determination and fighting spirit in me to keep going is all because of the values he has taught us.”

The last sports biopic that created waves in the Bollywood was Pan Singh Tomar, a Rajput Indian soldier and renowned steeplechase athlete who was forced by circumstances to become a dacoit and was killed by the police in 1981.

“Yes, Pan Singh Tomar was a brilliant movie and my father knew him very well. He rates him very highly and even told me ‘I would have done the same if I was in his place’.

“These men are of a different breed all together and they will stand up against anything that is wrong. My father was very happy to see Pan Singh life’s story come out in the open and I’m sure the movie on my father will touch many a heart,” added Jeev.

So what are you waiting for? Book you tickets in advance and be ready to get inspired by Bhaag Mikha Bhaag.