Breaking down why we love a good underdog story

There is something about stories of upliftment, achievement and resilience. You want to cheer for the underdog. You want him/her to win because when a common man battles all odds to snatch success, we Indians connect with it. 

From the inception of cinema to now scores of web series and audio shows – if there is one common theme that works across genres – it is the much-celebrated underdog stories. An ordinary person doing extraordinary things offers engagement, enlightenment, and entertainment. It thus comes as no surprise that even after so many years, underdog tales are still minting moolah at the box office.

One can go as far back as 1957, when Dilip Kumar’s Naya Daur saw a simple ‘tongawala’ do the impossible by defeating a modern bus with his old school horse cart. While the core logic behind the film may be considered questionable by some today, the sheer conviction through which Kumar portrayed the role won the hearts of countless fans. At the time of its release, the film was the highest grossing Indian movie ever, signifying how the underdog theme could break barriers of gender, language, region and the various strata of society to emerge as a winning effort. 

Jump a few decades ahead, movies fronted by Amitabh Bachchan in the 70s, Govinda in the late 80s took the nation by storm of their heroic portrayals depicting the said theme. The 90s kids will never forget the nail biting cycle race that put the entire nation on edge in Aamir Khan’s Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar. Headlined by a remarkable performance from Khan, the movie inspired youngsters through Sanju’s redemption arc, Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar did well in urban pockets and small centers, solidifying the acceptance of underdog tales.

In the late 2000s, Indian stories of struggle and redemption struck a chord on the global scale, too. Slumdog Millionaire was not only a smashing success worldwide, the film also went on to fetch as many as eight Academy Awards including the coveted ‘Best Picture’ Oscar.

Underdog themes continue to rule the roost in the Gen Z era including movies headlined by actors like Alia Bhatt, Kangna Ranuat, Ranbir Kapoor, and Ranveer Singh etc. 

Cut to this year’s movie Srikanth with Rajkummar Rao’s nuanced act as a visually challenged man and his encouraging life, or the recently released Chandu Champion starring Kartik Aryan, a true story about Murlikanth Petkar, a handicapped Indian soldier who never gives up and ultimately fetches gold for India in the paralympics. 

Akshay Kumar starrer Sarfira is also a fascinating story about a common man hailing from a rural set up, who’s set out to achieve remarkable progress in the aviation sector and also influence the society by challenging the socio-economic fabric. Audiences across age resonate and appreciate such tales of grit and gumption.

Among web series, TVF’s Aspirants, which saw Naveen Kasturia grow from a regular corporate slave to a respected IAS officer in Pitchers inspires tale of young entrepreneurs.

It’s not just the big screen where underdog tales find an audience. In the world of audio series, this theme is a massive hit. The unwavering interest in such dramas finds a massive presence in the audio world as well. Leading audio streaming platforms such as Pocket FM have produced many audio shows in the underdog drama genre, attracting strong viewership with every new offering.  

Be it Insta Millionaire with staggering 986 million plays and grossing over 100 crore in revenue that highlights the marvelling and inspiring story of Lucky a.k.a Laxman who transforms his life through his righteous deeds and values, to audio series garnering over 100 million plays such as Secret Ameerzada or Insta Empire that narrate the powerful underdog story of the protagonist, and their motivating trajectory. 

Listeners can’t get enough of the nail biting drama, boasting of twists and turns filled plots, enthralling episodes and fresh storytelling, audio series are tapping the underdog genre with the right entertainment quotient. 

Talking about the relevance of the underdog genre, Vineet Singh, VP, Brand Marketing and Communications, Pocket FM, said, “Indian audiences hold a deep appreciation for narratives where the hero achieves remarkable success through his hardwork and struggles. At Pocket FM, we have always recognized the significant potential of the underdog genre within the audio space. The success of our blockbuster audio series such as Secret Ameerzaada, Insta Empire, and Insta Millionaire underscores the universal appeal of this theme across various platforms. From the variety of content offered on our platform, the underdog dramas are among our top trending titles.”