Chandu Champion has received immense acclaim and Sumit Arora, one of the writers on the Kartik Aaryan-starrer, is obviously on cloud nine. Those who followed his work were confident that the talented writer would score with Chandu Champion. After all, his body of work includes The Family Man, 83, Dahaad, Guns & Gulaabs and above all, Shah Rukh Khan’s blockbuster, Jawan! His upcoming works are as exciting in the form of Citadel: Honey Bunny, Baby John, The Family Man 3 to name a few. Bollywood Hungama exclusively spoke with Sumit Arora on Chandu Champion and a lot more.
EXCLUSIVE: Chandu Champion writer Sumit Arora reveals why Murlikant Petkar’s wife was not shown in the Kartik Aaryan-starrer; also expresses the desire to show the film to Jawan’s director Atlee
How has life changed after Chandu Champion was released on June 14?
A lot of love has been pouring in. And interestingly, people are writing very long messages to me. I can sense their feelings in these messages. Yesterday night, my friends wanted to see Chandu Champion. So, I joined them; it was a sold-out show in Juhu. Some of my friends, meanwhile, were watching the film at PVR, Oberoi Mall in Goregaon. I then realized that many more friends were simultaneously watching the film at theatres near them. I had no idea about it, and they informed me.
Meanwhile, there’s a friend who took his mother, who’s in a wheelchair, to watch the film. My friend had already seen it last week and she decided to take her mother as she felt that the film depicted people with special abilities in a dignified manner. She appreciated the fact that we didn’t have a sympathetic view. Her mother especially thanked me. It was the longest feedback I have ever received! You feel vindicated as this was the intent – to give hope and motivation. We just want to ask people – if nothing could stop Murlikant Petkar, what is stopping you? You should turn around and ask people, ‘Hasta kaayko hai?’!
You and director Kabir Khan had worked earlier on a sports film, 83. How did you both ensure that Chandu Champion’s sports track stands out not just from 83 but from the rest of the sports films of Bollywood?
There were a couple of factors that attracted us which made it different from a regular sports film. Visually, it does look like a sports flick. But it’s the story about a man’s dream and his undying spirit. Also, you see, he was not driven by any particular sport. Usually, we see characters who are passionate about say cricket or football or hockey. But Murlikant was driven by his dream of winning an Olympic medal. Through his dream, he aspired to have a life of dignity and respect. He wanted to go beyond the circumstances.
It’s not a one-sport film. He kept changing sports as per the challenges or situations in his life from wrestling to boxing to eventually swimming.
In the second half, the story goes back and forth, and it makes for an intriguing watch. Was this intended from the first draft or was it an afterthought?
This was always planned. We always had thought that the film should start from the point when he’s trying for the Arjuna award. It allowed us to go from one big chapter of life to another while making it seamless about the dream. There was no need to go to in-betweens, that is, chapters of his life which perhaps had less drama. Instead, we chose events that could depict him trying to achieve his dream. As we reached the climax, we decided to have a layered narrative jump timelines and even a linear structure.
We never see Murlikant Petkar’s wife in the film. Did you and the team never have the desire to add that to the script?
No. Kabir was a firm believer that we must not push for it. I was relieved as I had the same opinion. That’s the sensibility of Kabir as a filmmaker – he didn’t want to unnecessarily insert a romantic track for the sake of it. This is because Murlikant did not have time for anything else till he achieved his dream. He did get distracted in between when he went to Tokyo. But even in real life, he got married only after the events of 1972. And since our story ends in 1972, there was no reason to add the marriage track.
Did Nayanthara exist in real life?
No. Nayanthara represents the young boy who saw the glitzy life for the first time when he went abroad for the first time.
How did Murlikant Petkar react when he saw the film?
He was moved and was in tears. Even his family members were present. We used to talk to him 2 ½ or 3 years back on Zoom while writing the film. It was very surreal to meet him that too during the screening of his biopic. It was more surreal for him as he had lived this life. Also, Kabir has made a faithful adaptation. Hence, he loved the way Kabir made him.
Have you spoken to Kartik Aaryan about the reaction after the film’s release? His performance was terrific…
I haven’t spoken to him. I am so happy to see how Kartik has pulled off. He gave his blood and sweat to it. He ventured into unchartered territories, and he came out with flying colours.
Has Jawan’s lead actor Shah Rukh Khan and director Atlee seen Chandu Champion? Did you talk to him about it?
I haven’t spoken with Shah Rukh sir. Atlee is busy working on his next. So, I am not sure if he has seen it. I’ll talk to him and maybe, I’ll take him to the theatre to show Chandu Champion!
Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Chandu Champion writer Sumit Arora talks about Javed Akhtar’s touching feedback: “I’ve taken a screenshot of this message and will cherish it for the rest of my life”
More Pages: Chandu Champion Box Office Collection , Chandu Champion Movie Review
BOLLYWOOD NEWS – LIVE UPDATES
Catch us for latest Bollywood News, New Bollywood Movies update, Box office collection, New Movies Release , Bollywood News Hindi, Entertainment News, Bollywood Live News Today & Upcoming Movies 2024 and stay updated with latest hindi movies only on Bollywood Hungama.
Source Agencies
