New Delhi: Dangal has ended the year on a positive note, as the story of two inspiring girls making their mark in the world of sports struck the right chord with audiences. Satnam Singh Bhamara, the first ever Indian to be drafted to the National Basketball Association (NBA), is among the many who has been inspired by the Aamir Khan starrer. Being able to draw parallels with own early life struggle before being drafted to the NBA, Satnam Singh, despite being miles away from his home, watched Dangal and relived his life’s journey.
Also Read :Aamir's portrayal in 'Dangal' reminded me of my father: Satnam Singh Bhamara
Hailing from Punjab’s small village Ballo Ke, Satnam Singh endured several difficulties from a very tender age, much like how the film depicts the story of the Phogat girls. From finding a shoe that fits his size to play basketball, to moving to USA to better his game even though he had little knowledge of the English language initially, to contending for the most sought after NBA pick and achieving the same in the second around, Satnam Singh faced each of these life phases head-on with sheer grit. While his own life journey has been portrayed through an inspiring documentary titled “One in a Billion” by New York Emmy award winner director Roman Gackowski, Dangal struck an emotional and nostalgic connect with Satnam, as it brought back his own personal memories from his growing years to become who he is today.
Standing tall at 7”2’ and all of 21 years of age Satnam Singh says, “Dangal reflects the hard-work that any sportsperson has to endure to reach the big stage, irrespective of gender. The early years of a sportsperson, when resources are limited, plays a huge part in shaping his or her career. And success is never achieved overnight. Dangal touched my heart because Aamir Khan’s portrayal of Mahavir Singh Phogat reminded me of how my own father supported me in my initial years. The girls have done a terrific job, and the film took me back to my initial days of struggle when I was mastering the art of playing basketball.”
One in a Billion
Satnam Singh Bhamara is an unsung hero with an inspiring story
Defying all odds en route his journey to international fame, Satnam carved his own glorious path from Ballo Ke, a farming village in rural India to becoming the first Indian to be drafted into the U.S.A's National Basketball Association (NBA)
Considering his height of 5"9' before the age of 10, local sports authorities in Ludhiana suggested Satnam to join Basketball
At the age of 19 and standing at a height of 7"2', Satnam Singh was the first ever Indian to be pitched and drafted to the NBA
With facing difficulties to finding a shoe of his size, going to USA without having any knowledge of English language, contending for the most sought after NBA pick and achieving the same in the second pick, Satnam Singh's story inspires in ways more than one
To bring this awe-inspiring story alive on screen, OBB Pictures has partnered with Media Weaver and RGTV to produce 'One in a Billion', a feature-length documentary based on Satnam’s life
The documentary was released exclusively on Netflix earlier this month
