Candidates: India’s Chess Story: D. Gukesh, R. Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi, Nihal Sarin, and R. Vaishali are not only making a mark in the world of chess but are also the subjects of an exciting upcoming documentary.
Comedian Biswa Kalyan Rath teamed up with Prashant Raj, co-founder of Dopamine Media, to create Candidates: India’s Chess Story, a documentary set to release early next year. The project began in August 2022, and just under two weeks after Gukesh became the world’s youngest chess champion, Biswa shared the news on Instagram: “In August 2022, we started shooting a documentary on India’s chess prodigies. We had no idea one of them would become the World Champion in just two years. We were only hoping one might make it to the Candidates tournament. Can’t wait to share the documentary soon.”
Biswa and Prashant’s bond goes back to their college days, where they first connected over chess. “Biswa was my junior in college, and he taught me the game after moving into the same building where I lived,” Prashant recalled. “I knew nothing about chess at first, but he slowly got me into it.” This sparked the idea for the documentary, which Raj’s Dopamine Media co-produced with ChessBase India and Camera and Shots.
“We wanted to dive into the minds of these players and understand their journey, while telling the story of Indian chess and the new generation of players stepping into the legacy left by Viswanathan Anand,” Prashant explained.
Beyond the chessboard, the documentary also explores the personal stories of these prodigies. For example, Gukesh’s father gave up his career as an ENT surgeon to travel the world with his son, and they chose to homeschool him. Biswa and Prashant’s documentary delves into such personal stories, offering a closer look at the lives of these rising stars in the chess world.
“The focus was always on the human side of the story, and we had full access to capture their lives,” said Prashant. “The chess community was very welcoming.” The documentary covers 10 tournaments across nine countries, providing an intimate view of the young champions’ daily lives. It also highlights their typical teenage moments, such as laughing, joking around, and bonding outside of chess.
“This story has universal appeal, but it’s especially compelling because it’s about kids and teens starting as young as five years old,” said Prashant, who added that the documentary is still in the editing phase. Shooting began in 2022 with the Chennai Chess Olympiad, and during production, the team uncovered fascinating aspects of the sport.
“Chess is just as physically demanding as it is mentally,” Prashant explained. “Players need to be in top physical condition.” He highlighted how one of the myths about the game was shattered during filming: “A classical chess game can be as grueling as running a half-marathon, burning 300-500 calories an hour.”
Also Read: Gukesh Dommaraju’s Mother Reveals Why They Pulled Him Out Of School After Class 5 | Here’s Why
