Film conversations: Mary Kom

First things first, I dislike boxing.  Like golf, I do not consider it to be a sport; it is too violent, it involves hurting a fellow player, and its practitioners have ended up with neurological complications later in life (for e.g. Muhammad Ali developed Parkinson's disease).  

Yes, as a self-defence technique it may be acceptable, but I would not consider it a sport or a game that one could pursue as a career.   

Having said that, there is always something to be learnt from the struggles of a high-achiever, who in this case happens to be a boxer, and that would be the reason why one would want to watch Mary Kom.

We all now know about Mangte Chungneijang Mary Kom, or in other words, MC Mary Kom.  But to see her achievements on celluloid is a different experience in itself.  

After Milkha Singh, it was only to be expected that Mary becomes the subject of another biopic - she had everything going for her to make this possible: a rousing career, five times world champion, a mother who fought against odds, a person from the north-east region which is often neglected in the Indian scheme of things, a sport which is seen as a male preserve, initial lack of amenities or finances, etc.  No wonder the makers saw enough potential in the story to make it into a commercial film.

One problem that I have with biopics is that one is uncertain if what is being shown is authentic or not.  Consider Bhaag Milkha Bhaag: wasn't it Naseeruddin Shah who called it a 'fake film'?  I did some background check on Mary's career and found that a few changes have been made to the story.  Cinematic liberty - whatever that is - is a filmmaker’s prerogative, we are told, which they can take recourse to each time they need to enhance the commercial viability of the film.  Perhaps, so it is with Mary's film.

• Did Mary's father oppose her taking to boxing so vehemently that he burnt her gloves?
• Did Mary have to fight a giant of a street fighter to make some money in her early days?
• Was she as feisty and short-tempered in real life as she is portrayed in the film?
• Did her coach make her sit on the bench everyday to find out if she is 'ziddi' or not?
• Did she have to fight a corrupt system and bear insults at the hands of the federation's chairman?
• Was she told by her chief nemesis; the German boxer, to 'go home Momma' when she was knocked down?
• Was she fighting a climactic battle in the square even as her child was battling for life in the hospital?

These are the questions that arise in your mind as you watch the film.  I haven't found any convincing answers to any of these.

The content of the film, as one would expect, is good; performances are first rate.  Many are already touting Priyanka Chopra as the likely winner in the myriad award ceremonies to be held early next year.  

After all, biopics usually bring accolades to the lead actor; as in Ben Kingsley for Gandhi, Russell Crowe for Beautiful Mind, Philip Seymour Hoffman for Capote, and more recently Farhan Akhtar for Bhaag Milkha Bhaag.  Get the picture?

All in all, just like Nadia, based on Nadia Comaneci's 'perfect 10' in the Montreal Olympics inspired many a young girl who wanted to make it big in sports, so does Mary Kom.  

Make sure your child, if he/she is interested in sports, watches it; but also make sure the child understands the perils involved in boxing.    

Image source: https://s01.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/large/674782-9314d779-6cd4-4822-8773-e24b6d292407.jpg