Badrul Duja
Rakesh Omprakash Mehra’s ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’ is not a movie. It is an inspiration .It is an inspiration of standing against falsehood. The movie is based on the life of Milkha Singh, India’s first post-independence athlete who won gold at the commonwealth games.
Farhan Akhtar, the protagonist, plays the role of Milkha Singh in the movie appreciably resembling the athlete in appearance and demeanor. The Sikh athlete played by Farhan not only appeals the masses but it inspires many people with the emotions of patriotism. Farhan’s role in the movie is excellent. Farhan playing the role of Milkha Singh steals the show. There are many transitions in his role-sometimes playing a shy Sikh boy romancing his sweetheart to a serious athlete who believes there is no tomorrow.
Sonam kapoor’s role though small is equally appreciable. She flows with the theme. The cameo played by her was really touching to say the least. She acts as if belonging to that decade. The actress has many hits to her name this year as 2013 was a year of resurgence for the daughter of Anil Kapoor.
Divya Dutta plays the role of Milkha’s sister and yet again Divya known for her lively roles has marked her name in the movie and among the audience.
Rest of the actors are Pawan Malhotra (the coach of Mikha),Yograj Singh(India team coach) and Prakash Raj (Army teacher) have justified their inclusion in the movie.
The movie starts with 1960 Olympic Games in which Milkha is called by his coach and he says ‘Milkha Bhaag’ which evolves the everlasting sufferings of Milkha singh in partition time. He remembers the last words of his father as Bhaag Milkha Bhaag .While running; all these memories are frolicking in Mikhas mind thus resulting in Milkhas 4th place at Olympic Games.
The movie evolves Milkhas life with the partition .How his whole family gets killed and he is left alone with his sister in Delhi. He spends his childhood by playing with knifes and stealing. Then he falls in love with a girl Meera played by Sonam Kappor. He promises Meera that he will live a respectable life and will live happily. For that reason he joins Indian Army to live a respectable and happy life with Meera. After joining Army Milkha gets enrolled into Sports Category because In Sports you could get milk and eggs to eat (a cue from Paan Singh Tomar) but for that you have to run in a race and secure a position in top 10. And for the greed of Milk and egg Milkha’s life changes from that particular race. He then goes on to win 400 metre race, anoter race in tokoyo etc etc.Thus becoming a Known Indian athlete in the world receiving Success all over but the wounds of partition have not been healed yet.
And finally Indo-Pak meet is to be held at Gaddafi stadium. Somehow Milkha singh is motivated by Jawahar Lal Nehru to visit Pakistan. Milkha’s days with his past homeland Pakistan and the miseries he and his family suffered from Pakistan to India. He had to forcibly migrate to India from Pak. So the race begins and Milkah overtakes all of his opponents easily and wins the historic race against pakistan droping all of his past grievances with this land. Pak Army Premier Gen.Ayub Khan then gives him the title as ‘Flying Sikh’.
Filled with patriotism, BMG is an historic movie, it will steal National Awards,Flimfare and Farhan Akhtar with his gripping performance has sealed his name among the leading actors of Bollywood and the movie deserves to get Tax Free. The movie goes with Mikha Singh’s life and the consequences of Partition on his life. After watching the movie you will get inspired by the life of Milkha Singh. And guess what ,you will even run!!!