Shuvrajit Das Biswas
5. Kung Fu Panda (2008)
A fat panda with dreams of doing karate forces his way into the dojo of Master Shifu when he accidentally crashes a significant ceremony. Po, the panda is excited to see who is chosen as the Dragon Warrior and accidentally uses firecrackers to launch himself into the arena. The grandmaster Oogway chooses him and all hell breaks loose. The evil Tai Lung breaks free soon after and is on the way to steal the dragon scroll which will give the bearer immense power. In a great underdog story, the fat panda is taught kung fu by the grandmaster Shifu and he eventually goes on to protect the valley and defeat Tai Lung after having figured out the secret of the dragon scroll. A fine tale with its moments of comedy but a strong underlying underdog theme, this movie should definitely be watched.
4. Karate Kid (1984)
We all know this tale of Daniel LaRusso who tangles with the top student from the Cobra Kai Dojo, Johnny Lawrence. Daniel gets beaten up easily but he doesn’t give up. Miyagi, the man who intervenes and saves Daniel from the first encounter is a karate master. Danny goes to him and through unorthodox practices, he himself becomes a capable fighter. He competes in the competition where despite being injured by an illegal move in the semis, he goes on to win the final in spectacular fashion. The Karate Kid will always remain a great underdog story where the bullied good guy stands up for himself and defeats the stereotypical entitled bully in a combative sport.
3. Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
Danny Boyle’s movie starring Dev Patel is a literal rag to riches story. Salim and Jamal are two brothers born in extreme poverty in the Juhu slums of Mumbai. However, the brothers do odd jobs and survive various harsh situations and while Salim becomes a lieutenant for a gangster, Jamal goes to a question and answer show designed like Amitabh Bachchan’s hosted famous show – Kaun Banega Crorepati. Jamal gets all answers right and wins the show and the girl. The girl played by Freida Pinto is another compelling story a childhood friend of the brothers who get separated and is forced into prostitution and later being the gangster’s mistress. However, they all overcome their respective hurdles bringing the typical underdog story to a happy close.
2. Lagaan (2001)
Hailed as one of the best sports movies of all time Lagaan is also one of the greatest underdog tales. Starring Amir Khan as the lead, the story is about a group of poor villagers who face the British soldiers in a game of cricket in an attempt to get them to ease off the taxes charged on the grains. The Indian villagers are of course the underdogs since they do not know the game of cricket at all, it is only explained to them by an English lady who takes kindly to them. They assemble a ragtag team of players who have their idiosyncrasies. The odds are monumentally against them especially since they have a mole in their team as well. Furthermore, their struggle isn’t just against a cricket team it’s against an entire oppressive regime. Thus their eventual victory becomes a symbol of India’s desire for independence and a symbolic gesture of getting the better of the white colonizers at their own game. A heavily laden movie of which being an underdog is just one layer, Lagaan is a movie that must be watched by any film enthusiast.
1. Rocky (1976)
Could there be a greater underdog story? Written and starring Sylvester Stallone, the film is a testament to an underdog character in the movie and in life. Stallone got his big breakthrough Rocky, and the character of Rocky gets his big break in the fight against Apollo Creed. The reigning champion faces off against the Italian stallion, an upcoming boxer. It should be a no-brainer but Rocky turns the match into one of the greatest sports displays and the final victory is only awarded to Creed after going fifteen rounds and that too it is a split decision victory. Rocky remains a tale of grit valor and never giving up – everything that makes an underdog tale inspiring is embodied in the person of Rocky Balboa.
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