The rousing biopic follows Hetal who sets out for Japan to endure rigorous training and discover a potential she never knew she had. The film premiered at the 36th Tokyo International Film Festival. The film is produced by Fresh Lime Films, Jio Studios, and Japanese advertising giant Hakuhodo’s MA&TH or Marching Ants & Trigger Happy Entertainment. [3] It is the only Indian film to be showcased in 2 different film festivals in 2024. [4]
Plot
The Hindi language biopic tells the story of Hetal Dave, a talented female wrestler who discovers sumo wrestling by chance. She trains hard to achieve her dreams, even as she battles social prejudices and patriarchal mindsets tackling objectification of women and fat shaming.
To prepare for the title role of Hetal Dave, actress Shriyam Bhagnani had to undergo several months of rigorous physical training. As the role is of a sumo wrestler, she also put on a lot of weight (14 kilos at least). She also collaborated with celebrity trainer Sahil Rasheed to build muscle mass and enhance her athleticism. She also trained with Hetal Dave to learn sumo wrestling. [5][3][6]
Filming
Sumo Didi has been shot extensively in Japan, where sumo wrestling is the national sport; and in Mumbai, Kolkata of India, where it is not even a recognized sport. [7]