Mary Kom 2014

A young Mary Kom, daughter of a rice farmer from Imphal, discovers a boxing glove among the wreckage of a 1991 air crash in Kangathei. That single, small relic sparks a growing fascination with boxing, even as her father remains wary. As she grows, she pursues the sport with a mix of curiosity and stubborn grit, sneaking into a boxing gym where a world of possibility opens up before her.

The gym’s coach, Narjit Singh, who previously trained the Asian champion Dingko Singh, recognizes her potential and lays down a simple test: she must prove herself over the next thirty days. She begins visiting the gym, telling her mother but keeping it from her father. The days stretch on, and the coach does not push her to talk about it; he simply watches for commitment. With relentless dedication, [Narjit Singh] starts to train her more seriously, and he eventually suggests changing her name to Mary, a move that marks a new identity for the aspiring boxer.

To support her family during tough financial times, she takes on a challenge against a local wrestler, hoping the stake money will help buy back a household cow that had to be sold. It’s here that she meets Onler Kom, a footballer who will become a central figure in her life. After her triumph at the state-level championship, her father confronts her once more about hiding boxing from him. When asked to choose between him and the sport, she chooses boxing. Watching her victorious run in the 2002 Women’s World Amateur Boxing Championships on television, her father reconciles with her and apologizes for not understanding her passion. Meanwhile, [Onler Kom] proposes and promises never to ask her to quit boxing. The road ahead grows brighter as she continues to rise.

Her breakthrough comes with the 2006 Women’s World Amateur Boxing Championships, after which she agrees to marry [Onler Kom], much to [Narjit Singh]’s apparent discomfort. Marriage doesn’t end her boxing dreams; it deepens her commitment to the sport. The couple welcomes twins, and she later faces another life decision when offered a government job as a constable—an offer she declines, believing her achievements deserve more than a routine police post. The news stings her because it feels like people forget the world champion she has become, yet her husband’s support remains steady.

The family life brings new pressure and new motivation. [Onler Kom] encourages her to restart her boxing, and she returns to the gym, leaving her husband to care for the twins. The comeback unfolds at the National Boxing Championship, where she outperforms her opponent but loses the match due to perceived judge partiality. A moment of anger follows as she hurls a chair toward the judges, resulting in a ban. She writes an apology letter, but the official accepts it only after a harsh insult is hurled in return.

Determined to unleash her true potential, she convinces [Narjit Singh] to train her again, certain that he can draw out her best. After renewed training, she competes at the 2008 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships and reaches the finals. Meanwhile, a family challenge looms large: one of their children has a ventricular septal defect, and Onler keeps her informed of the surgery’s progress. In the next fight, she faces a setback and takes a knockout, but she refocuses, finds her footing, and battles back to win the championship. On the podium, her triumph is sweeter still when she learns that her son’s surgery was successful. The moment is crowned with her nickname, “Magnificent Mary,” as the Indian flag rises and the national anthem plays in the background.