The coach is the one who is most pleased when the players’ efforts pay off. The world of the coach, who honed their skills, has also been presented in detail in films that showcase the players’ passion. National Sports Day falls on August 29.
A player’s success on the pitch is a result of both his own diligence and the coach’s direction. The coach inspires the athletes to perform better and push themselves beyond their comfort zones. Hindi cinema has also produced films on the coach’s devotion, perseverance, and hard work. In these, well-known actors have portrayed the roles of coach and manager, while lesser-known or unknown actors have primarily portrayed the roles of players.
The movie ‘Chak De! India’ is the first name on this list. In this movie, which came out roughly 17 years ago, the dejected, dispersed, and weak Indian women’s hockey team eventually wins the World Cup. Coach Kabir Khan, who is actually Mir Ranjan Negi, the custodian for the Indian women’s hockey team that won the gold medal at the 1998 Asian Games, put in a lot of work to get the squad this success. ‘I am the coach of the Indian National Women’s Team,’ says Shah Rukh Khan, who portrayed Kabir Khan in the movie. States’ names escape my ears and eyes. All I hear is the name of one nation: India!
Dangal is another instance. The movie “Dangal” features another instance of a coach spotting a female player’s ability. The life experiences of national wrestling champion Mahavir Singh Phogat and his daughters Babita and Geeta served as the inspiration for this movie. The film stars Aamir Khan as Mahavir Singh Phogat, the former national wrestling champion of Haryana, who decides to take a job instead of pursuing his wrestling career because of his family’s financial struggles. Then, thanks to his daughters, he realises his dream of winning a gold medal for the nation.
The journey of Geeta and Babita to become champions, as well as conservative views on daughters, the value of athletics, discipline, and patriotism, are all extensively examined in this movie. It demonstrates how crucial the coach’s forward-thinking ideas and perspective are to helping daughters advance. Coaches put in just as much work as players do. ‘Dangal’s’ success inspired many parents to push their daughters’ athletic careers.
Won with fervour, In the Akshay Kumar movie “Gold,” a genuine story was also shared. This is the tale of 1948’s inaugural triumph for an independent India in the London Olympics. The players had no government assistance or resources at the time. In spite of this, Akshay Kumar, who plays Tapan Das in the movie (Dr. A.C. Chatterjee, the real-life team manager at the time), assembles talent from around the nation and starts a hockey team.
This year’s film “Maidan” features a sequence identical to this one, with Ajay Devgan’s character (Syed Abdul Rahim, the real-life coach of the Indian football team from 1950 to 1963) getting ready for a football game. Both have about the same circumstances. Though they are concerned about the state of the athletes, the sports industry, and resource scarcity, their enthusiasm does not waver. The players surprise everyone by giving it their all on the pitch, demonstrating their understanding of the coach’s commitment and hard work.
Heartwarming message from the movie “83,” which is centred on the Indian cricket team’s world championship run, is a good illustration of getting even for someone who has insulted you. At that point, the British had been out of the nation for some time, but their attitude towards colonialism remained unchanged. ‘Where did you go, Maan bhai?’ is a really poignant sequence in the movie, Kapil Dev says. In response, he says, “To be insulted.” Thirty-five years after we gained independence, we still don’t have respect.
Respect is instilled in people by films. In a similar vein, the true story-based movie ‘Budhia Singh: Born to Run’ is equally shocking. The movie demonstrates Manoj Bajpayee’s (really instructor Biranchi Das) desire to develop a child’s gift and see it through to the end. In actuality, viewers get respect for coaches from these kinds of movies that highlight their dedication to their craft. They realise that the player’s skill is enhanced by his technique and plan. The good news is that these videos that portray coaches don’t make speeches; therefore, they are heartfelt!
