Pehlwan The Migrant Warrior
Pehlwan is a term coined by combining pehla-wan – the man who shoulders the first line of responsibility towards protecting women, the weak and anyone who is in need. On the face of it, they’re migrant workers who shoulder the city’s needs and arrive as job seekers. But, as you scratch beneath the surface, you find focussed and extremely dedicated wrestlers aiming to achieve something of worth.
Seen through the eyes of four migrants in Mumbai, Pehlwan takes you through the journey of what it REALLY takes to become a devout wrestler in a busy metropolis where the quantity of akhadas has dwindled over the years. From nurturing the akhada’s soil with a layer of soft mud, milk and water to training one’s body and mind for hours with rigorous techniques in order to take on the mightiest men as opponents, wrestling asks for a great deal. In exchange, it gifts the practitioners a disciplined lifestyle, a physically strong body and a mind that’s sharp and focussed.
Kushti, the Hindi term to define wrestling, was honed by the Mughals and the Marathas. Continuing the legacy of that sport are thousands of fine young men who give up everything, including worldly pleasures and social attractions. For them, the akhada is their place of worship, and the soil on the ground, the prasad that nurtures their soul.