"Bhaag Milkha Bhaag" is a film about the life of Milkha Singh--a man who is beloved in India but who I'd never heard about before I saw this movie. He is about the most famous Olympic non-winner you can find--and the film begins with him coming in 4th in the 400 at the Rome Olympics.

The film is non-liner in style, as it goes from this even in 1960 back a few years to when Singh enlisted in the Indian Army to his childhood. But, unusually, it bounces back and forth repeatedly--and might confuse some viewers.

The big reason for this film is not only because Singh was a three-time Olympian (only two times are mentioned in the film) or an Asian champion but because of his roots. He was born in a region that was India but became part of Pakistan after the partition in 1947. This was a serious problem for Singh and his family, as they were Sikhs--and non-Muslims were apparently not welcome there. This isn't surprising, as the partition resulted in the deaths of anywhere from 200,000 to a million according to some estimates--on both sides of the border (everybody seemed to be killing each other in the name of god!). So, that Singh's family was displaced and his father murdered isn't surprising. Years later, the Indians and Pakistanis were planning a joint competition--and Singh would be an important part of that team. However, because of his past, his participation was doubtful and the film chronicles this.

While this is a sports drama, I wasn't surprised that, yes, there were still several song and dance numbers. Not all Indian films have this but a huge percentage do--so expect a few nice musical interludes. Additionally, expect AMAZING cinematography, direction and special effects--making it equal in quality to the films of any nation. What really impressed me as well as Farhan Akhtar as Singh. Farhan really buffed himself up for the film and was a very impressive looking guy with his taut figure and muscles. He really LOOKED like a world-class athlete. Overall, an enjoyable film and one well worth your time.