From Ghoomer to Iqbal: Honouring International Day of Persons with Disabilities through inspirational sports movies

International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) is an annual event observed on December 3 as a significant UN initiative. This day is dedicated to advancing the rights and well-being of individuals with disabilities across all societal and developmental spheres. Its goal is to raise awareness about the challenges faced by persons with disabilities in political, social, economic, and cultural dimensions.

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In the spirit of determination, resilience, and a commitment to surpassing limitations, individuals with disabilities can achieve remarkable feats, including winning medals. The following movies showcase disabled athletes as the true MVPs — some narratives are fictional, while others are grounded in real-life stories, but all are undeniably inspiring.

Champions

The 2023 American sports comedy-drama is an English-language adaptation of the 2018 Spanish film with an identical title. Featuring Woody Harrelson, the film portrays a volatile minor-league basketball coach who, following an arrest, is compelled to coach a team comprising players with intellectual disabilities as part of his community service. Critically, the film garnered mixed reviews, and it has accumulated $18 million in box office earnings.

Watch on: Peacock TV available on JioCinema

Ghoomer

The 2023 Indian sports drama in Hindi features Shabana Azmi, Abhishek Bachchan, Saiyami Kher, and Angad Bedi. The story revolves around a talented young batter who, after losing her right hand in a freak accident, strives to overcome her disability and transition into a spin bowler.

Watch on: Zee5

Zero to Hero

This 2021 biopic pays tribute to So Wa Wai, Hong Kong's inaugural Paralympic gold medalist. The film narrates the true story of the medal-winning Paralympian So Wa Wai, who, with the support of his mother, triumphed over personal and physical challenges to achieve victory.

Watch on: Netflix

Iqbal

The 2005 Indian Hindi-language coming-of-age sports drama film portrays the journey of a cricket-enthusiast deaf and mute boy. Hailing from a remote Indian village, the lad strives to overcome challenges and pursue a cricket career. The film was honoured with the National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues.

Watch on: Amazon Prime Video or YouTube

Invisible Wings

The 2007 Chinese film featuring amputee Lei Qingyao tells the story of a teenage girl who, after losing both her arms in an electric shock incident while retrieving a kite, perseveres to train her feet to perform various tasks. Subsequently, she embarks on a journey to become a swimming champion, surpassing even Olympic-level participants. Ultimately, she attained the status of a national champion in swimming.

Watch on: YouTube