The trailer for Shaad Ali’s new biographical film, Soorma, is out. It speaks about the greatest “comeback story of the hockey legend Sandeep Singh”.
The biopic will be released on 13 July 2018 and features Diljit Dosanjh, the talented actor and singer in lead role, while Taapsee Pannu takes the role of “a daughter, a sportsperson, a brave spirit”. The choice of lead actors certainly excites us, but even more enthralling is the story of Sandeep Singh–the ex-captain of Indian national hockey team who survived a near-fatal gunshot and went on to win the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup for India just three years later.
Here is the story of Sandeep Singh in brief, although watching it on the silver screen would be a different experience altogether.
Sandeep was born in 1986 in Kurukshetra, Haryana. His elder brother, Bikramjeet Singh, is a field hockey player too. He was popularly known as “Flicker Singh” for his legendary drag-flick on the field. In 2010, he was said to be the fastest drag-flicker in the world at 145km/hr!
Soon enough, Sandeep rose up the ranks and started playing on an international platform.
In 2004, Sandeep made his international debut in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup held in Kuala Lumpur. He was part of the Indian Men’s hockey team when they took the second position in the 2010 Commonwealth Games. He even became the fifth highest-paid marquee at the inaugural Hockey India League auctions. In the same tournament, he went on to score 11 goals in the 12 games he played!
But that’s not all. His brilliance on the hockey field is evident from the kind of performance he has shown over several years.
However, one accidental gunshot could have stopped him from representing India–and prevented the country from having such a legendary player.
In 2006, Sandeep was travelling in the Delhi-Kalka Shatabdi Express to attend a national camp. A Railway Protection Force jawaan stationed on the way accidentally shot him. The bullet fractured Sandeep’s lowest rib, punctured his pancreas and damaged his kidneys and liver. To top it all, Sandeep’s spine took the force of the shot and was chipped. Flicker Singh collapsed and was on the verge of paralysis.
“A bullet wound went through all three organs and on the spot, I was paralysed, and for me it was the worst day of my life, I just wanted to go and play, whenever I saw the field, or whenever I saw the match on TV, I was crying from the inside to become a player again,” Sandeep told Free Press Journal.
His love for the game cannot be disputed.
“When I saw hockey for the first time after the gunshot, I said to my brother, bring my hockey stick, I want to sleep with my hockey stick, and I want to become a hockey player again,” Sandeep shared.
Slowly but steadily, the player recovered. Was it his determination to get on the field again, or fate or a mix of both is a matter of speculation. But, three years after the near-fatal injury, Sandeep was made the captain of the Indian hockey team. His talent on the field and as the captain of the Indian national team was reflecting right from the beginning.
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Leading a team to international victory in the same year that the captaincy was changed is no easy feat. However, Sandeep proved his worth when he led the team to victory at the Sultan Azlan Shah Sup.
Soorma is set to bring to life, the struggles and achievements of the legendary Sandeep Singh. His grit and talent certainly deserve recognition from us and the box office.
(Edited by Shruti Singhal)
Featured image sources: Instagram/ Wikipedia.
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