In a traditional Indian wrestling academy, 18-year-old Abhilesh trains under a stern guru to fulfil his politician uncle’s dreams, but as pressure mounts, his gentle spirit, tender friendships, and quiet defiance challenge rigid ideals of masculinity, redefining what it means to be a man.

 
THE BACKDROP:

The times are changing. The world is experiencing a global shift toward authoritarianism. For India, this has meant an ideological shift toward a culture of hyper‑masculinity driven by the glorification of religious figures. The effect of this culture has even crept into our corporate work environments. It has become increasingly important to engage in conversations exploring masculinity and patriarchy. However, long working hours and economic stress leave little time for these meaningful conversations. This is why I am making this film. Through it, I aim to critically examine “what it means to be a man,” its roots, and its implications, using an engaging story set in the wrestling world.

Kaka Pawar Taalim, a Pune-based Akhada, embodies the essence of Indian wrestling, housing 200 wrestlers from diverse backgrounds who strive for Olympic glory. Under Govind Pawar's guidance, a hyper-masculine guru, they train with discipline and devotion, inspired by Lord Hanuman. 

Violence and humiliation are tools used to forge champions, making this Akhada a unique blend of tradition, culture, and sportsmanship. 

We are running this crowdfunding campaign to raise INR 11L to bring this documentary film to reality.

SYNOPSIS OF THE DOCUMENTARY:

The documentary film Taalim explores a traditional Indian wrestling academy, and Abhilesh (18), an endearing boy, struggles to embody his mentor’s rigid, hypermasculine ideals to fulfil his family’s ambitions, driven by his politician uncle. Amid the sweat and discipline, he finds unexpected intimacy in friendship, one stirs fierce devotion, the other quiet compassion, pulling him in different directions. As Abhilesh realizes that he is not meant for this cutthroat competition, he must confront what he is truly fighting for. Caught between loyalty, longing, and selfhood, he begins to question what it truly means to be a man.

The key points which will be explored in this film are,

- Masculinity as a fluid, shifting ideology.
- Time and space reshape what it means to be a man.
- Abhilesh and other wrestlers' lives at the Akhada.
- Power structures challenge friendship, desire, and identity.
- Faith, caste, and hyper‑masculinity clash and intertwine.

To complete this dream, we are in need of INR 11L, and we seek your support to help bring this story to life.

KEY ASPECT: MOVIE-MAKING METHOD

The film employs an observational style, blending participatory approaches to explore characters' inner lives, with celibacy and desire as recurring themes. Handheld cinematography captures Govind's intensity, while a tripod captures his subtleties. The idol of Lord Hanuman is a recurring motif that symbolizes transformation. The pacing is deliberate, accelerating during high-stakes matches, mirroring the characters' intensity.

(The picture above shows the key crew that is going to work on this documentary project)

The project is currently in the development stage. After six months of dedicated research, we have identified the initial characters that allow us to explore our central idea and themes. We have access to the location and a working relationship with the participants. A 15‑day shoot has been completed to test how the themes materialize.

However, the story for a 60‑minute film is still being shaped. Since this is an observational documentary where real‑life events drive the narrative, we will need more research and shooting time before moving into full-fledged production.

RECOGNITION AND ACHIEVEMENTS BY THE TEAM:

Despite the recognition, the support for making documentaries in India remains limited. So we are crowdfunding the next leg of the shoot. Scroll down to see the detailed cost breakup of the INR 11L.

COST BREAKUP:

THE PRODUCTION SCHEDULE:

Our documentary project is in development, with 6 months of research and 15 days of initial shoot completed. We're exploring themes of masculinity, identity, and power dynamics in Indian wrestling culture. With access to characters and space, we need further research and shooting to develop a 60-minute narrative, leveraging real-life events to shape the story.

ABOUT OUR TEAM:

ABOUT THE PRODUCTION COMPANY:

Breaking Waves is a creative production company dedicated to crafting bold, boundary-pushing artistic works that challenge dominant cultural narratives. Rooted in a spirit of resistance and renewal, we seek to amplify voices, visions, and stories that disrupt the mainstream, offering fresh perspectives and fostering cultural dialogue. Through film, art, and interdisciplinary projects, Breaking Waves stands as a space for innovation, introspection, and the courage to go against the current.