5 august 2019 http://www.openthemagazine.com 15
in 2007, Soorma in 2018) to running (Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
in 2013, Paan Singh Tomar in 2012) to wrestling (Dangal
in 2016).
Sport heroes make ideal subjects for the structure of the
film biopic. the ‘first cycle’ of film biopics which became
hugely popular in mainstream hindi cinema in the 2000s
were historicals about national leaders, such as Asoka
(2001), Rang De Basanti (2006), Mangal Pandey: The Rising
(2005) and Jodhaa Akbar (2008). the second cycle of biopics
were semi-fictionalised biopics, depicting figures who
are part of living memory; not rulers or leaders, nor those
committed to public service, but figures whose success
was achieved mostly in business or entertainment, and
who have become the heroes and heroines of an emergent
social group: india’s new middle classes.
Sport heroes are popular with the new indian middle
classes, as stories of success, of ‘ordinary’ people who have
a talent that they nourish through hard work as they
struggle to prove themselves to themselves, their families
and the world. they also enjoy the nationalist ethos which
surrounds sport and which has become increasingly vocal
in hindi cinema as i discussed in my recent column (‘the
National Spirit’, May 6th).
there was a wonderful sign at lord’s during the final:
‘indian cricket supporters for hire.’ the ‘tebbit test’, which
asked how loyal British people of South Asian origin are
based on which cricket team they support, is irrelevant
today. British Asians not only support england and india/
Pakistan but also play for the england team. My three-
year-old ‘nephew’, the son of a Pakistani-indian couple
who live in london, is a cricket-obsessive who has to be
persuaded to take off his helmet and gloves at the table and
to go to bed. he has a soft spot for Sri lanka although he
happily supports every team, having decorated the wall at
home with the flags of all the countries playing. he thinks
national anthems are ‘cricket songs’, singing along to them
all with great gusto. he represents what i hope is the spirit
of the World Cup in london and, if his talent develops at
the rate it is now, perhaps we’ll see him play in it one day—
team yet to be decided.
i still don’t watch the matches. i love gentle walks to
complete my 10,000 steps a day. My daily rounds of the
local park are delightful and i see the changing seasons
and begin to recognise various dogs and their walkers.
runners go past speedboats to my stately galleon in full
sail, looking forward to my well-earned reward of a cup of
tea on return. hardly sports but exercise fit for my age and
traditional figure without having to wear silly clothes. nSport heroeS are
popular with
the new indian
middle claSS eS,
aS S torieS of
SucceSS , of
‘ordinary’ people
who have a
talent that they
nouriSh through
hard work aS
they Struggle to
prove themSelveS
to themSelveS,
their familieS and
the world
A scene from Lagaan (2001)
alamy