Someday this will be a movie. A story that deserves a biopic.
One of the strongest heroes of Indian cricket battles cancer, loses hair, strength and his smile (for a bit) but not his will to fight.
For now, we have a documentary.
Yuvraj Singh Foundation’s initiative to spread cancer awareness, YouWeCan, has brought out Zindagi Abhi Baki Hai that documents the cricketer’s fight with cancer and his journey to recovery.
Shot mostly with talking heads, the documentary shot by Gurmeet Sapal features his support system – everyone from Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid, and Harbhajan Singh to his oldest of friends and family – and Yuvraj Singh himself talks about what he went through.
It is difficult to come away not feeling inspired by his candid admissions. We see Yuvi in tears, emotionally drained at the beginning, his spirit sapped by chemotherapy, until he realises he can either deal with pain with tears or with a smile... and he decides to do it laughing.
He shaves his head after experiencing hair loss just to take badass selfies, he jokes with his childhood buddies who visit him in the U.S., and slowly springs back to life and fitness. He claims his place back in the team for the T-20 World Cup. And does what he’s best at after fighting the toughest test of his life – hitting sixes.
Now consider that if not for modern treatment available today, cancer would have sucked his life out in six months. His mother, Shabnam Singh saw him through the darkest of days. “She has given birth to me a second time,” says Yuvraj in the documentary. As he recovered slowly, Yuvraj also realised that he had to go visit those who were fighting similar battles. He spent a lot of time with children talking to them about the need to fight. Soon, he decided to start the YouWeCan awareness campaign that aims to “work for the early detection of cancer, create consciousness of cancer prevention and fight against the associated stigma.”
To fight the stigma, Yuvraj decided to come out and tell the world about his tryst with cancer. “Cancer happens to strong people. We needn't fear it, we have to face it and come out stronger from its grip. With this DVD, I hope to show people that there is a life after cancer, it doesn't end with it,” says Yuvraj.
If Yuvi can, you and we can, as the docu sums up the moral of the story. DAR Motion Pictures launched the DVD of Zindagi Abhi Baki Hai at a charity event in London last month. The film will be out in stores soon.
