There are many untold stories that are buried in repositories, but when presented on the silver screen, like Chandu Champion, a biographical sports drama, they reflect the spirit of perseverance, resilience, and triumph.
The story is about the extraordinary undefeated hero, the protagonist’s real-life unsung hero Murlikant Petkar, who made his nation proud by achieving the country’s first Paralympic gold medal in freestyle swimming in Heidelberg, Germany (1972).
The protagonist had a childhood dream of achieving the Olympic gold medal in wrestling, joined the army, and changed his sport to boxing, he was a veteran of the 1965 war.
In spite of partial paralysis, he showed a spirit of conviction and perseverance to surpass innumerable odds and compete the international Paralympics to win a gold medal in swimming.
It is a journey from adversity to triumph; one which motivates and inspires.
The morale resonates far beyond the idea of winning in sports but teaches invaluable lessons about the power of the human spirit and resilience, which this op-ed attempts to capture.
This captivating film focuses on the narrative of the journey and life of Murlikant Petkar, a child who is discouraged by fellow mates to be a looser “chandu”, not a “champion”.
Usually, children are told to dream within the confines of their means and ability, which limits their objectives and fall short of reaching out to fulfil their respective dreams.
Some youth break these shackles with perseverance when life surrounds them with hurdles. This is the essence of the untold saga where youth must choose between the options available to determine their future goals.
Real life is full of challenges like a battlefield, and only a few are able to conquer the peak of their dreams, and many make compromises to choose a substitute profession.
The individual’s expedition serves as a reminder that true greatness cannot be only determined by achievements such as medals and records.
Instead, it is defined by the bravery to get up again after each failure, the fortitude to persist in the face of adversity, and the ability to transform setbacks into opportunities for progress.
The relentless pursuit of excellence and never losing heart in front of challenges should be the spirit of every individual.
It is crucial to realise one’s potential to decide on dreams and make inroads to achieve them, irrespective of any career.
This inspires generations to believe in the spirit of determination and strive to achieve excellence.
The message is simple: to keep the spirit alive despite challenges and to make the nation proud.
After teaching for half a decade in prestigious overseas colleges, I commenced teaching Fijian students, where I felt this unwavering determination in many students.
Not everyone is in the same position to financially support their living and studies, but despite these odds, some students of Fiji continue to follow their struggle to achieve success with perseverance.
The passion for achieving the goal is significant to triumph over adversity and defy all expectations.
The setting up of goals is part of life, and long-term plans will be useful steps to image the journey and execute it.
Staying focused and having unwavering faith in one’s own abilities equips the road map towards achieving the goals.
Teachers and mentors play a significant role in the journey of inspiring students.
Chandu became a champion, the movie reflects the pathbreaking contribution of his mentor, a boxing trainer, and later, a para-athlete swimming trainer.
The punch line by Chandu was “Mai bhi champion banega” (I will also become a champion).
If every student makes resolutions to become a champion and continues to work towards its achievement, then it is most likely to achieve glory and make their family, friends, and nation proud.
I believe it is a must-watch flick that reflects the emotion of perseverance and licence. Fiji has produced many such champions in various fields on international platforms.
They may not have thought they came from a small Pacific nation in the Global South and competed with advanced Global North nations, but their spirit towards achieving success with hard work and practice brought glory to their nation.
- n Dr Sakul Kundra is an Associate Dean (Research) and Associate Professor at the College of Humanities and Education at Fiji National University. The views expressed are his own and not of this newspaper or his employer. Email dr.sakulkundra@gmail.com
