The biopic on boxing icon MC Mary Kom that was released in theatres across the country on September 5 is doing good business.
The movie that traces the journey of Mary from her humble roots in Manipur to becoming a five time world boxing champion, has received much critical acclaim also.
The movie starring Priyanka Chopra and directed by Omung Kumar had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.
The film's leading lady Priyanka Chopra said, "The fact that this film is being made for an all India, pan-India Hindi audience, the northeast I hope gets a lot more attention and gets a lot more light. Because the northeast has provided so many champions for India and we don't even know it. So I hope that the film brings light not only on the sport but what all the northeast has contributed to the country."
Movie buffs in Guwahati city queued outside the theatres to catch the first day first show of the film based on the boxing icon from the region. The film has been declared tax free in Assam as well as some other states of the country.
A large number of people from Manipur, where the film won't be released due to a ban by militant outfits on Hindi films, have also travelled to various cities in Assam to catch the movie. The boxing icon who hails from Manipur is a source of inspiration for many youngsters and her success story is a matter of pride for the people in the region.
A local resident said, "This was a very motivational movie. I think that not only in India but people all over the world should see this movie because she is a five time world champion. And as a woman she has undergone a lot of hardships and yet managed to achieve so much. This is very inspiring especially for the women and I think that she is an idol for young women like us."
Another local resident also said, "It's a matter of pride for us that such a big movie has been made on a boxer from our region, from Manipur, a place that not many people know about."
The northeast region has produced icons in many fields and a Bollywood biopic on the life of one such champion from the region will give a greater exposure to the northeast across the country.
