Plot

Soorma is the story of the triumph of the human spirit, about a player, who made headlines for his miraculous comeback after facing a near death experience through sheer determination, hard work and unrelenting passion for the sport.

This is an inspiring true story of the triumph of the human spirit, about a player who faced a near-death experience when he was at his peak but emerged victorious by his sheer determination, hard work and unrelenting passion for the sport. Sandeep Singh, a penalty corner specialist in the Indian Hockey team from Shahbad, Haryana made headlines when he was hit in the spine by an accidental gunshot while traveling on a train to join the national team that was to fly to Germany for the World Cup in 2006. The injury left him paralyzed, with the medical community giving him a slim chance of ever walking again. However, not only did Sandeep recover from it but he also made a comeback and re-established himself as the best drag-flicker, going on to captain the Indian national hockey team in January 2009.

Sandeep and Bikram are given punishment by their hockey coach as kids, following which Sandip quits the sport. Years later Bikram is a national-level player while Sandeep falls in love with Harpreet--also a hockey player--and rejoins the coaching academy. Harpreet and Sandeep fall in love, which doesn't please their coach, who is Harpreet's uncle and responds by abusing Sandeep. Bikram sees that Sandeep has a good potential of being a good flicker and tries his best to get him in the Indian hockey team. Sandeep becomes an ace hockey player known as Flicker Singh for his qualities. But at the peak of his career he is accidentally shot and left crippled. But his hopes don't die and he makes a triumph comeback.—alex.mjacko@gmail.com

Soorma tells the story of the international hockey player Sandeep Singh (Diljit Dosanjh), who was paralyzed and used a wheelchair for two years after an accidental gunshot injured him in 2006. The tagline is "The Greatest Comeback Story of the Hockey Legend Sandeep Singh". Fighting against all odds, Sandeep got back on his feet and made a comeback to international hockey in 2008. India won the 2009 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup under his captaincy and went on to qualify for the 2012 Olympics. The story also mentions the contribution of his brother in his life who stood like a pillar of constant support during these hard times and also shows his girlfriend Harpreet (Tapsee Pannu) who left him, so that he would be able to focus on recovering and doing well for himself

Sandeep belongs to a small farming village in Punjab & is very hardworking. He is passionate for hockey but doesn't like his university coach Kartar Singh's (Danish Husain) draconian methods. Kartar physically punishes his players for even looking in the direction of the girl's hockey team. Punishments includes standing in cock position and taking tumble rolls across the field. Sandeep quits the coaching academy and trains on his farm. He is given the task to keep the birds away from the field, and he does that by flicking stones at them from parapet. Sandeep grows up living with his parents Gurcharan (Satish Kaushik) and Daljeet (Seema Kaushal).

Sandeep's brother Bikramjeet Singh (Angad Bedi) continues to learn hockey at the same academy and grows up to a solid hockey player. Harpreet trains at the same academy and Sandeep meets her while bringing lunch for his brother.

Sandeep begs his university to let him train so that he can be close to Harpreet. The coach is angry at Sandeep and makes him complete 9 years of punishments (as he ran 9 years ago) before he lets him touch a hockey stick. Sandeep works day and night, and puts up with endless punishments, just so he can be close to Harpreet. After hours, Harpreet gives lessons to Sandeep on the basics of hockey plays. Kartar is tough on Sandeep even when he wins matches for his team. To complicate matters Harpreet is the university coach's niece.

When the coach finds out about the budding romance between Harpreet and Sandeep, he beats the hell out of Harpreet on the field. Sandeep goes to meet Harpreet's family at her home. Harpreet's brother Ajit (Amit Gaur) challenges Sandeep to make a career in hockey before asking for Harpreet's hand in marriage. Ajit says that he himself played hockey for 12 years and yet could not make it to the national team, and Sandeep has no chance as he just started playing.

Bikram, who had been constantly working for selection to the Indian Hockey Team, fails to make it to India camp even though he was the best player of Kartar. Bikram finds out that his brother is exceptionally good at drag flick. Bikram knows that drag flick is the most difficult shot to master and Sandeep has been unknowingly practicing this shot for many years to shoo away the birds. Bikram helps him get to the Indian Institute of Sports Patiala, in 2004, to get him under the guidance of coach Harry. Sandeep begs the regional coach Harry (Vijay Raaz) to test his drag flick. Harry can see that Sandeep has the power in his shot and just needs the right technique. Harry coaches Sandeep to be a defender. Joseph Lobo (Jimmy Moses) is Harry's assistant coach.

Meanwhile Harpreet is selected and plays for India. One night, 6 months later, the Indian Hockey Federation chairman (Kulbhushan Kharbanda) notices Sandeep practicing alone and encourages him. Soon Sandeep finds his groove as an expert drag flicker in regional tournaments. Harpreet notices that she is becomes a distraction for Sandeep, every-time he meets her. Harpreet tells Sandeep to score goals for the country and not to get married to her. In 3 months, Sandeep scores 60 goals and 8 man of the tournaments. He is selected to play for India.

In the first international tournament, the 6 nations cup in Poland in 2006, Sandeep puts in a stellar performance despite being provoked by all rival teams due to his short temper. In the finals, Pakistani players even break his nose to put him out of the game, but Sandeep plays through and scores a 2-1 win for India. He is dubbed Flicker Singh by the Indian media. He also gets a job with Indian Airways.

Happily, Sandeep goes to ask for Harpreet's hand in marriage but is insulted by his university coach. But Harpreet still loves him. Sandeep is on his way to Delhi via train to catch a flight for his tournament, when an accidental gun firing from a policeman hits Sandeep in the lower spine in Aug 2006. The family has to sell everything in Sandeep's recovery effort. Bikram is the pillar of support for Sandeep during this perilous phase of his career.

Harpreet meets Sandeep in hospital and finds that he is happy that she is with him. She realizes that if today she stays with Sandeep, he will never get back up. With a very heavy heart, she leaves Sandeep. Sandeep now wants to stand up on his feet and the HFI chairman recommends to the Sports Ministry to sponsor Sandeep's rehabilitation expenses of Rs 35 Lakhs in Europe. Sandeep's treatment works and he is back on his feet by end 2007.

Bikram now trains Sandeep and soon Sandeep returns to Harry to train for the Senior India hockey team. He is selected for a commonwealth games match in London in 2009, where Harpreet also now stays. He meets Harpreet and thanks her for leaving him, which gave him the strength to return to his feet. Harpreet comes to watch the match, and India wins 4-3 against Pakistan, with Sandeep hitting the fastest recorded drag flick at 145 Km/H. Sandeep indicates to Harpreet that he is now actually playing for India and not for seeking Harpreet's love. Sandeep Singh gets the 2010 Arjuna Award from the President of India.