Review: A ‘Mary Kom’ in every heart!

Some find it over the top while others feel Priyanka Chopra was not the right choice to play the title role. But boxing champ MC Mary Kom is happy with Omung Kumar's directorial venture “Mary Kom” and says that the biopic has captured the true essence of his life.
It had a successful run at the box office and Mary Kom says that the movie would not have been a hit if any look-alike had played her role. “What makes me happy is that my story and whatever it may contain to inspire younger generations would now be taken far. Now the story of my struggle has gone to every corner of India,” she said.
Mary Kom represents not only the life and struggle of Mary Kom the boxer and five times world champion, it depicts a lot more. It
successfully shows various shades and elements of an Indian woman’s life, and most importantly how well she manages everything and outshines as a champion.
The movie also subtly makes a picture about the turmoil going on in north-east and the fact that despite of all mayhem people there believe in their indianness. The story moves around
Mary Kom’s dream of becoming a boxer and how she fulfills it. A rice farmer’s daughter who hails from a small village in Manipur fights against all odds, social, personal and economical, to become an international boxing champion. But then, being a woman, she chooses to play other roles too in her life and her career eventually comes to a hault. The roles of a wife and a mother are quite demanding and Mary does not find any way out to pay attention to her career. The movie actually begins from here as we watch why she is known as ‘Magnificent Mary’ as she again fights against her own emotions, social stigma of not accepting a mother into a profession like boxing and dirty politics of the federation to become the world champion again.
The script, screenplay and dialogues are well written and powerfully executed. Priyanka looks and sounds convincing for the role of Mary Com. After Barfi, her outstanding acting in Mary Kom makes her one of the finest actresses in the industry. However, it is also her husband in the movie ‘Onler’ (played by Darshan) who draws everybody’s attention with his excellent acting skills. After watching his sacrifices and support for his wife Mary (which is real) I believe that a man too stands behind a successful woman. The climax is bit exaggerated, however can be ignored. The end too seems to be bit stretched. However, overall, Mary Kom as a movie proves to be as focused and admirable as Mary Kom as a boxer.
If watching circling-round-the trees songs and melodrama is not you cup of tea, you will certainly like this movie. Sublime and subtle, Mary Kom is the movie that generates a feeling that there is a Mary Kom in every heart.              –Anshu Joshi