Paan Singh Tomar
Encyclopedia
Paan Singh Tomar is a 2010 Hindi-language film is based on the true story of a runner who turned into a rebel. It is directed by Tigmanshu Dhulia
and produced by UTV Motion Pictures
. Irrfan Khan plays the lead character. Paan Singh Tomar premiered at the 2010 British Film Institute
London Film Festival
. According to Mahi Gill
, the film will release in theatres in early 2012.
, Paan Singh Tomar joins the Bengal Engineers
to escape poverty. He then becomes a runner and wins the steeplechase
event at the Indian National Games
for seven years in a row. He gives up running and his post as a subedar
in the Army
and goes on to become a baaghi
who wreaks havoc in the Chambal Valley
.
first learned about Tomar while working on the set of Bandit Queen
in Chambal. Intrigued that Tomar was largely forgotten despite holding several records, he resolved to make a film about his life. Dhulia researched the film's background for two years, interviewing Tomar's surviving family members and visiting his native village in Bhind
.
The film was shot in Chambal and in the actual barracks Tomar lived in at Roorkee
. To prepare for his role, Irrfan Khan trained rigorously with steeplechase coaches, even breaking his ankle at one point during filming. He called the experience "the most physically and mentally demanding film of my career".
The film has also been shot in the uphills of one of the oldest army cantonments in India, Roorkee. The Dramatics Team, Bhand, of the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, has also contributed to several scenes shot in the cantonment including the race sequence.
Tigmanshu Dhulia
Tigmanshu Dhulia is an Indian film director, actor, screenwriter, and casting director. Dil Se, for which he wrote the screenplay, was the first Hindi movie to chart in the UK top ten.-Early life and education:...
and produced by UTV Motion Pictures
UTV Software Communications
UTV Software Communications Ltd., also known as United Television or UTV, is an Indian media and entertainment company owned by The Walt Disney Company India Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company.-History:...
. Irrfan Khan plays the lead character. Paan Singh Tomar premiered at the 2010 British Film Institute
British Film Institute
The British Film Institute is a charitable organisation established by Royal Charter to:-Cinemas:The BFI runs the BFI Southbank and IMAX theatre, both located on the south bank of the River Thames in London...
London Film Festival
London Film Festival
The BFI London Film Festival is the UK's largest public film event, screening more than 300 features, documentaries and shorts from almost 50 countries. The festival, , currently in its 54th year, is run every year in the second half of October under the umbrella of the British Film Institute...
. According to Mahi Gill
Mahi Gill
Mahi Gill is an Indian actress, working in the Bollywood industry. She is best known for her role of Paro in Anurag Kashyap's critically acclaimed Hindi film Dev.D, a modern take on Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's Bengali novella Devdas for which she also won the 2010 Filmfare Critics Award for Best...
, the film will release in theatres in early 2012.
Plot
From a small town of Madhya PradeshMadhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....
, Paan Singh Tomar joins the Bengal Engineers
Bengal Engineer Group
The Bengal Engineer Group or the Bengal Sappers or Bengal Engineers as they are informally known, are remnants of British Indian Army's Bengal Army of the Bengal Presidency in British India; now a regiment of the Corps of Engineers in the Indian Army. The Bengal Sappers have their regimental...
to escape poverty. He then becomes a runner and wins the steeplechase
Steeplechase (athletics)
The steeplechase is an obstacle race in athletics, which derives its name from the steeplechase in horse racing.-Rules:The length of the race is usually 3000 m; junior events are 2000 m, as women's events formerly were. The circuit has four ordinary barriers and one water jump. Over 3000 m, each...
event at the Indian National Games
National Games of India
The National Games of India is a sporting event held in India. It comprises various disciplines in which sportsmen from the different states of India participate against each other. It was in 1924, in erstwhile Punjab, that the Indian chapter of the Olympic movement was born. The founder was G.D....
for seven years in a row. He gives up running and his post as a subedar
Subedar
Subedar is a historical rank in the Indian Army, ranking below British commissioned officers and above non-commissioned officers. The rank was otherwise equivalent to a British lieutenant and was introduced in the East India Company's presidency armies, to make it easier for British officers to...
in the Army
Indian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...
and goes on to become a baaghi
Rebellion
Rebellion, uprising or insurrection, is a refusal of obedience or order. It may, therefore, be seen as encompassing a range of behaviors aimed at destroying or replacing an established authority such as a government or a head of state...
who wreaks havoc in the Chambal Valley
Chambal River
The Chambal River is a tributary of the Yamuna River in central India, and forms part of the greater Gangetic drainage system. The river flows north-northeast through Madhya Pradesh, running for a time through Rajasthan, then forming the boundary between Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh before turning...
.
Cast
- Irrfan Khan as Paan Singh Tomar
- Mahi GillMahi GillMahi Gill is an Indian actress, working in the Bollywood industry. She is best known for her role of Paro in Anurag Kashyap's critically acclaimed Hindi film Dev.D, a modern take on Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's Bengali novella Devdas for which she also won the 2010 Filmfare Critics Award for Best...
as Indra - Vipin SharmaVipin SharmaVipin Sharma is an Indian actor born in New Delhi. He is a graduate of National School of Drama, New Delhi, India and the Canadian Film Centre, Toronto, Canada. His first major role was as Nandakishore Avasti in Taare Zameen Par . For his role, he was nominated for a 2009 Star Screen Award for Best...
as Major Masand - Imran HasneeImran HasneeImran Hasnee is an actor who has worked in Hollywood films A Mighty Heart and Slum Dog Millionaire, played lead as well as character roles...
as Matadeen Singh Tomar - Nawazuddin SiddiquiNawazuddin SiddiquiNawazuddin Siddiqui is an Indian actor. He is particularly known for his role as Zilgai in Kabir Khan's 2009 film, New York.-Selected filmography:*Munna Bhai MBBS - As a pick pocket at railway station*The Bypass-*Elephant Boy-Baggar Master...
- Rahul SharmaRahul SharmaRahul Sharma may refer to:* Rahul Sharma * Rahul Sharma , Indian classical musician* Rahul Sharma...
as Shaggy - Ankur JainAnkur JainAnkur Jain is a philanthropist and entrepreneur, with a focus on leveraging innovation and entrepreneurship as a means to solve global problems....
as Jaxy - Ankur Garg as Baadshah Bhai
- Neeraj Jain as Jain Saab
- Varun Kumar Garg as Chidi
- Vikas Pachauri as Pach
Production
Director Tigmanshu DhuliaTigmanshu Dhulia
Tigmanshu Dhulia is an Indian film director, actor, screenwriter, and casting director. Dil Se, for which he wrote the screenplay, was the first Hindi movie to chart in the UK top ten.-Early life and education:...
first learned about Tomar while working on the set of Bandit Queen
Bandit Queen
Bandit Queen is a 1994 Indian film based upon the life of Phoolan Devi. It was directed by Shekhar Kapur and starred Seema Biswas as the title character. It was produced by Bobby Bedi's Kaleidoscope Entertainment.The Music was Composed by Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.- Plot :The film opens in the...
in Chambal. Intrigued that Tomar was largely forgotten despite holding several records, he resolved to make a film about his life. Dhulia researched the film's background for two years, interviewing Tomar's surviving family members and visiting his native village in Bhind
Bhind
Bhind is a town in Bhind District, Madhya Pradesh, India.The chhatri of Malhar Rao Holkar at Alampur is great archaeology chhatri in Bhind district-Demographics:...
.
The film was shot in Chambal and in the actual barracks Tomar lived in at Roorkee
Roorkee
Roorkee is a city and seat of a municipal council in Uttarakhand, in far northern India. It is located on the banks of the Ganges canal on the national highway between Delhi and Dehradun. Roorkee is known for Roorkee Cantonment, one of the country's oldest cantonments, and the headquarters of...
. To prepare for his role, Irrfan Khan trained rigorously with steeplechase coaches, even breaking his ankle at one point during filming. He called the experience "the most physically and mentally demanding film of my career".
The film has also been shot in the uphills of one of the oldest army cantonments in India, Roorkee. The Dramatics Team, Bhand, of the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, has also contributed to several scenes shot in the cantonment including the race sequence.