Five women-led sports films: With one day to go for the release of the much-awaited sports drama, Rashmi Rocket starring Taapsee Pannu, here are five women-led sports films from Bollywood that are worth a watch:
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Sports films have always thrilled the audiences. From Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar, Lagaan to Dangal they have all made a mark. In the past few years, with increased representation of women in sports, stories of women sportspersons have also been very popular on-screen.
Taapsee Pannu's upcoming film, Rashmi Rocket is about a girl from Gujarat who rises through different levels of competition to emerge as one of the best sprinters' in the country. She has supportive parents and a husband who does not hesitate to cheer her success. However, her flight comes to a halt when she is subjected to gender verification testing and is suspended. The sports race soon turns into legal battles. The movie is about how she overcomes this all.
Ahead of Rashmi Rocket's release, here are five films that one can binge and refresh their memory on the names of some of the best sportswomen in India and their journey to success:
Saand Ki Aankh
This 2019 film is based on the lives of two sisters-in-law Chandro, played by Bhumi Pednekar and Prakashi Tomar, played by Taapsee Pannu. The duo first picked up a gun in their 60s and went on to win multiple medals as shooting champions. The films show their lives how the two shooter daadis of Uttar Pradesh's Johri village paved way for more women to step out of their homes in a state otherwise notorious for gender discrimination and violence.
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Saina
The 2021 film starring Parineeti Chopra is based on the life of Sania Nehwal, a badminton enthusiast. The Amole Gupta directorial tried to pick on the nerve of the sportswoman's life. The cast includes Manav Kaul as a coach, Eshan Naqvi, Meghna Malik and Naishaa Kaur.
Dangal
This 2016 film is about two wrestler sisters Geeta, played by Fatima Sana Shaikh and Babita Phogat, played by Sanya Malhotra, along with their father Mahavir Singh Phogat, played by Aamir Khan. In a society where women wrestlers are looking down upon, Geeta and Babita were trained by their father Mahavir. The film is directed by Nitesh Tiwari explores the back story of the Olympic athlete Geeta Phogat in a dramatised manner. The cast also includes Zaira Wasim as young Geeta, Sakshi Tiwari as Daya Kaur mother of Geeta and Babita and Aparshakti Khurana as Omkar, cousin of the duo.
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Chak De! India
The 2007 film made a return in 2021 after the extraordinary performance by the Indian Women Hockey team at the Tokyo Olympic Games semi-finals. A goal by Gurjit Kaur leading the team to its first-ever semi-finals brought tears to the eyes of viewers and many recalled the Chak De! India frames. The film starring Shah Rukh Khan as the coach of the Indian women's hockey national team is about the team's coming together, state of Indian women's hockey and ultimately their jaw-dropping win. Although the film faced criticism for its male-centric preview of a film on women's hockey.
The cast included Chitrashi Rawat as Komal Chautala, Vidya Malvade as Vidya Sharma, Sagarika Ghatge as Preety Sabharwal and many more.
Mary Kom
This 2014 film is a biography of the Manipuri boxer Mary Kom. Directed by Omung Kumar, it narrates the story of Mary Kom, played by Priyanka Chopra and traces her journey through the highs and lows of her illustrious sporting career. The film captures her life till the 2008 World Boxing Championship in Ningbo, where she won. The film's cast includes Darshan Kumar as Mary's husband Onler Kom, Sunil Thapa as M Narjit Singh.
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