RAKESH POPLI turns philosophical, contemplating on struggle, resilience, and the grace and power of not giving up
There’s something deeply powerful about being an underdog. At some point in life, most of us have felt underestimated, overlooked, or quietly left behind. Yet the underdog spirit carries an unusual resilience—the unique ability to endure, adapt, and continue moving forward without the need for applause.
Underdogs see the world differently. They learn early on that true worth is not always recognised immediately by society. Perhaps that is why they develop deep empathy, emotional depth, and an unshakeable inner strength.
Being an underdog is not merely about facing defeat; it is about refusing to lose oneself in the process.
My Own Story
Till my matriculation, I was the “star”—brilliant, a topper, full of peppy energy and effortless confidence. Life felt entirely open and promising.
But during my college years, something shifted. I retreated into a quiet shell. My grades slipped to average, and I often felt overlooked by the world around me. I had few friends and had become almost a recluse.
Yet, I continued to see a faint light at the end of the tunnel—it wasn’t bright yet, but it sufficed to show the way. During those years, I deeply identified with underdogs, quietly observing, empathising with the struggles of others, and patiently waiting for my own season.
Years later, that silent endurance was rewarded. I cleared intense competitive examinations and secured multiple government positions. I did not merely recover outward success; I rediscovered the belief in myself that I thought I had lost.
I realised then that being an underdog is not a permanent condition—sometimes, it is a necessary preparation.
Five Memorable Underdogs from Hindi Cinema
These films came into my life across different chapters—childhood, youth, middle age, and maturity. Looking back, I realise all these films carry the same emotional thread: a quiet refusal to surrender.
1. Guide (1965)ꟷThe Moral/Spiritual Underdog
Raju is a flawed, restless, and misunderstood man. He is impulsive, imperfect, and far from noble in the beginning. Yet, life pushes him through failure, humiliation, and deep introspection toward a grand spiritual evolution. The underdog here is not fighting society alone—he is struggling against his own contradictions.
When death comes to him at the film’s climax, he dies not as a loser or a broken person, but as a fully self-evolved soul who conquered his inner demons. That is what makes his journey deeply human and unforgettable.
2. Khamoshi (1969)ꟷThe Emotional Underdog
The silent resilience of Radha, the nurse, and her internal battle to maintain self-worth, is a race that requires participation every single day. She heals others, while carrying her own emotional wounds invisibly. Her struggle is not loud or dramatic, it is internal, lonely, and deeply dignified. Even though she tragically loses her own mental peace in the end, her vulnerability remains profoundly moving.
3. Satyakam (1969)ꟷThe Idealistic and Ethical Underdog
Perhaps one of the purest underdogs in Indian cinema. Satyapriya lives by absolute truth and integrity in a world increasingly shaped by compromise. His loneliness, fierce idealism, and quiet suffering make him the quintessential ethical underdog—a man too truthful for the times he lives in. His tragic death leaves a powerful moral lesson for us all—unwavering idealism is an incredibly difficult path to follow, yet its purity remains completely untarnished even in defeat.
4. Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa (1994)ꟷThe Lovable and Unchosen Underdog
This film is my personal favourite. Sunil is not the most talented, not the most confident, and certainly not the chosen one. He fails repeatedly—yet he never turns bitter. He loves deeply, loses honestly, and fiercely protects his innocence. This is the underdog who accepts life lightly, but never gives up trying.
5. Lagaan (2001)ꟷThe Collective and Social Underdog
A small village dares to challenge an empire. Under Bhuvan’s leadership, ordinary people discover a collective courage they never knew they possessed. Skills are learned, confidence is built together, and fear slowly transforms into unshakeable belief. Their victory is not merely about winning a cricket match—it is about reclaiming their human dignity.
Being an underdog is not merely a difficult phase to escape. It is often the part of us that remains most human—the part that understands rejection, values empathy, and clings to quiet hope. Even when life eventually places us in brighter, more successful rooms, we should never forget the view from the shadows.
As Ernest Hemingway beautifully wrote: “The world breaks everyone, and afterward, many are strong at the broken places.”
To conclude, here are the lines of a timeless song that perfectly sums up the life, struggles, and eternal hope that define the spirit of an underdog:
“Raahi tu mat ruk jana….
Toofan se mat ghabarana
Kabhi to milegi teri manzil
Kahin door gagan ki chhaaon mein.”
“O traveller, do not pause your journey. Do not be frightened by the raging storms. Surely, someday you will find your destination, somewhere far away, beneath the peaceful shelter of the skies.”
Rakesh Popli, a retired banker and blogger, writes about his observations of life. He lives in Sonipat.
Some images are AI generated