Bhag Milkha Bhag

Bhag Milkha Bhag – where? And to where? 

The movie has caused a ripple in India. And I didn't see a worthy drop in its ocean. What is the director wanting to express? The story of a die hard sportsman? Or is it about the rise of a star from humble background? Or is he narrating the larger-than-life story of a survivor from the India-Pakistan partition? Is he wanting to inject some spirit in a society that is dry of leadership? Or is it about celebrating India? – a name that wants to cry out loud its presence in the world.

Good that I went to see the movie with my 10 year old son, as he could laugh out most scenes as he would do in a 3-D animation thriller. However, I had bargained to see what the critics acclaimed it for.

Well, Milkha Singh did not come out as a die hard sportsman. He was caught up with far too many innuendos of life to have a soldier like dedication. I cannot imagine Michael Jordan, Robert Federer, Muhammad Ali or Pele go through the grind with so much emotions if they were to live their passion for success. 


Milkha showed more emotion than robust passion to succeed. Melodramatic life story cannot cast a genuine worshipable hero. Rising from a humble background I can understand. Then, I did not see him succeed wholesomely. He ended up with marginally superior humble background. 


That is not a benchmark for success in the year 2000. If there is a genuine example for rags to riches in the Indian context – it is only Kapil Dev, who learnt to move with the world from straight out of the street, improved his game to succeed at the top level, stayed committed to his health and physique despite being a much in demand socialite, led the country to a surprise, unthinkable victory – India's first solid launchpad to cast a longer term position as a leader in the cricketing world. He also made his bucks and drove the best cars. Dhoni may be a very close second. 

Survivor from India-Pakistan partition? Whereas there will be such a story in many Delhites and those who loved to the UK, I think there was more visual drama than genuine content in that plot.

Injecting spirit? Among whom? A generation that is growing in 24x7 world knowing where the world is running, and knowing in depth genuine success. 


A generation that says enough about 1947, please tell us about your heroics in 2013. In fact they say, it is not about the one-off heroics but scaling the height successively. 


Like my son, who went back to his computer to find Milkha Singh only on Indian web links. Running bare feet, with injured legs is a mockery of the sports than any celebration of success. 


And, what success? Did Milkha win a few Golds in consecutive Olympics? 


If you tell me it is about reviving the faith in India as a nation of achievers and about its spirited people. Wasn't the reference as another Indian relic? Like the Purana Qilla (Old Fort) remains in Delhi as an evidence of what India was.