Chandu Champion

An aged Murlikant Petkar walks into a local police station and declares his intention to file a complaint against the President of India for denying him the Arjuna Award. He explains that winning the award would help develop his village. An officer questions his eligibility, and Petkar begins recounting his remarkable life story.

Petkar grows up in Peth Islampur with the dream of winning an Olympic gold medal for India. He is mocked by classmates and harshly scolded by his father for aiming high. The seeds of resilience are sown as he clings to his goal despite the ridicule.

Frustrated by scorn, Petkar runs away from home and seeks a future with the Indian Army Corps of EME. He is selected and trained as a boxer, discovering a path that could carry him to national glory. This marks the start of his long journey toward athletic greatness.

Petkar earns selection to represent India at the International Services Sports Meet held in Tokyo in 1964. He trains hard as a boxer and reaches the final, demonstrating his potential on an international stage. The meet becomes a pivotal moment in his early career.

In the final, Petkar loses the bout because he is distracted and not fully focused. His coach, Tiger Ali, subsequently refuses to train him further, delaying his ascent in boxing. The setback intensifies his doubt, yet seeds of resilience are planted for what comes next.

Petkar and his unit come under air attack during the 1965 war, and he is severely injured by a bullet that paralyzes his spine. He is admitted to a war infirmary, facing a bleak future and questions about whether he will walk again. The war marks the brutal turning point of his life.

While recovering, Petkar sinks into despair at his condition and the thought of never achieving Olympic glory. He attempts to take his own life, overwhelmed by the prospect of a life without sport. This darkest moment becomes the motivation to fight back.

Tiger Ali visits Petkar in the infirmary and rekindles his fighting spirit by urging him to compete in the Paralympics. Petkar trains with renewed determination, channeling his pain into a new mission. The coach's belief becomes the catalyst for his comeback.

Petkar trains relentlessly and earns qualification for the 1972 Summer Paralympics in the 50m freestyle event. He embraces a fresh goal and prepares to redefine what is possible for an athlete with a disability. The comeback culminates in international competition once more.

During the Games, a terrorist attack at the Munich Olympics prompts the Paralympics to relocate to Heidelberg, Germany. Petkar advances through heats at the new venue and maintains focus under extraordinary circumstances. He ultimately wins the gold and sets a world record.

News of his triumph reaches his village, and he is welcomed back with great fanfare as a national hero. The victory transforms his life and inspires many in his community. The memory of the win remains a landmark in his public legacy.

Back in the present, the police inspector remains impressed yet skeptical about the story's authenticity. He enlists a journalist to write about Petkar, hoping to verify the remarkable claims. The journalist's investigation begins to piece together the legend.

A senior government official informs the inspector that the Arjuna Award is too small for Petkar's achievements and that the Padma Shri has been decided instead. The announcement marks a belated but higher-level recognition of his life’s work. The plot moves toward the Padma Shri ceremony.

On 20 March, Petkar is formally presented with the Padma Shri by the President of India. The ceremony crowns years of struggle with national acknowledgment. The film closes with a message about resilience and triumph over adversity.

The narrative ends by presenting Petkar’s life as a fruitful reply to every obstacle and mockery. His iconic line, Why are you laughing? echoes as a testament to resilience and the power of perseverance.