Actor Irfaan Khan is in news these days for his Brain disease. As reported, he is all set to travel abroad for treatment. An awesome actor, who has carved his niche in both Bollywood as well as Hollywood.
It reminds me of his movie PAAN SINGH TOMAR where he has done a commendable role playing the leading character Paan Singh -a class IV drop out from the Badlands of Chambal, who joins the Army where his passion for running is recognized by his Superiors.
Yes, Indian Army in 1950s was part of a system which was was still honest and efficient at a time only a few years after our independence. We then still retained the old school of ethics inherited from the British (Corruption hardly existed during the British days, but slowly crept in when we owned our own nation).
In that movie Paan Singh's talent was recognized by his Sardar (Sikh) superior as he makes him run for arriving late during the perfunctory military drills. A la Forrest Gump from the iconic Hollywood movie, he never turns back to stop running. Soon he crashes into limelight as he breaks the National record in Steeplechase at the 23rd National Athletics Meet in Cuttack, Odisha. It earns him a ticket to the Asian Games held in Tokyo a few year later, where he ran in the 3000m Steeplechase race.
A heart touching saga of a person whose sacrifice to the nation as a Sportsman and an Army man never came to his rescue, when circumstances turned a hard working, proud patriot into a dacoit-cum-kidnapper. It was 1970s when Corruption well aided by the high handedness of Indian bureaucracy did everything possible to turn the man to take to guns for his own survival. The system failed him big time.
In this movie, Paan Singh is a straight shooter, both from his mouth and gun. When a newspaper reporter interviewed him asks why he became a dacoit, the fugitive retorts back - DAKAIT TO PARLIAMENT MEIN MILTE HAIN, HUM TO SIRF BAGHI HAI (Dacoits are found in Parliament, I am just a rebel). He wasn't far from the truth.
Another monologue from Irfaan Khan needs some reflection - "After crossing 28 barriers to be the Steeplechase champion, no one cared about me. Now that I have become a Baghi - a thorn in the flesh of the tri-state (UP, MP and Rajasthan) Police, I am getting some fame. I ran and won medals for my country nobody took a note, now when I became a BAAGHI (rebel) on run I make news."
Quite a story and kudos to Irfaan Khan for his remarkable role. You crossed 28 barriers as Pan Singh Tomar. I sincerely wish you to get ahead of this Brain tumor you are suffering from as reported by the media back home and get well soon.
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