Showing posts with label Fauja Singh. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fauja Singh. Show all posts
Mary Kom director Omung Kumar to helm biopic on Fauja Singh, the world's oldest marathoner
8:18 AM
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; January 21, 2021)
How did a man who couldn’t walk until the age of five, run 26.2 miles at 100? Some term it a miracle; the more discerning ones understand the sheer power of determination and self-discipline at play. Either way, the story of Fauja Singh — who put on his running shoes at 81, and at 100, became the oldest marathoner by completing the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in 2011 — is one that deserves to be told. Mary Kom (2014) director Omung Kumar B has decided to bring the centenarian’s journey on screen with Fauja. The movie will be based on Khushwant Singh’s book, Turbaned Tornado.
“His story depicts the insurmountable odds stacked against him, and what sheer will-power can make of someone who is challenged medically, by age and by society,” says Kumar. The film is expected to go on floors by mid-2021.
Born in Punjab, Singh couldn’t walk or go to the local school in the early years as his legs were weak. While he began walking shortly after turning five, his love for running blossomed decades later when he, then 81 and staying in England, saw a marathon on television. He participated in several races thereon, including those in London. His participation in the New York City Marathon, at the age of 93, was personally important — Singh viewed it as a means to combat the misdirected hate against Sikhs after the 9/11 attacks.
Filmmaker Raaj Shaandilyaa, who is producing the biopic along with Kumar and Kunal Shivdasani, says, “This story takes us on a journey through time, and makes us realise what [the earlier generations] have been through.”
Image: Anil Kapoor meets 105-year-old marathon runner Fauja Singh in London
8:06 AM
Anil Kapoor, while shooting for his upcoming wedding comedy in a London gurudwara, bumped into 105-year-old Fauja Singh; the fitness enthusiasts chatted for a few hours
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 18, 2017)
Anil Kapoor, who is in London for a 50-day schedule of Anees Bazmee’s wedding romcom Mubarakan, which also features AK’s nephew Arjun, Athiya Shetty and Ileana Dcruz, had a curious encounter recently while shooting a scene in a gurudwara. The 60-year-old fitness enthusiast met British-Sikh centenarian Fauja Singh, a marathon runner. The duo chatted for a couple of hours in between shots.
A source revealed, “Anil is a fitness freak himself and they bonded on that front. He spoke to Fauja Singh about how keeping himself a positive, happy and simple person while the marathoner shared views on running. Fauja Singh, who is also known as ‘Turbaned Tornado’, complimented Anil on his sardar look, adding that he likes to see lean and fit sardars on screen. The veteran athlete showered blessings on the movie as a parting shot.”
Anil told Mirror from the Queen’s City, “I was pleasantly surprised to meet Fauja Singh. He is a delight to talk to and his story is an inspiration for all of us. I’m completely infected by his energy and charm.”
At the age of 100, Fauja Singh attempted eight world age group records at the special Ontario Masters Association Invitational Meet, held at the Birchmount Stadium in Toronto. He ran the 100 metres in 23.14 seconds, the 200 metres in 52.23 seconds, the 400 metres in 2:13.48 minutes, the 800 metres in 5:32.18, the 1500 metres in 11:27.81 minutes, the mile in 11:53.45 minutes, the 3000 metres in 24:52.47 minutes and the 5000 metres in 49:57.39 minutes, setting five world records for his age group in one day. Some events had no previous record holder, as nobody over age 100 had ever attempted the distance. Some of his marks are significantly superior to the listed world record in the M95 age group.
Three days later, on October 16, he became the first 100-year-old to finish a marathon, completing the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in 8:11:06 minutes. The Guinness World Records has refused to acknowledge the record because he could not produce his birth certifi-cate to prove his age as birth records were not kept in India in 1911. He was able to produce a passport listing his DOB as April 1, 1911, and a letter from Queen Elizabeth II congratulating him on his 100th birthday.
In 2012, he carried the Olympic torch and three years later was awarded the British Empire Medal for services to sport and charity. When quizzed about the fitness tips the duo exchanged, Anil laughed, “It’s amazing to see how a man his age has discovered an elusive fountain of youth. He shared his fitness insights with me which I plan to keep to myself.”
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