By Baani Mehandru
Chadwick Boseman, who was commonly identified as the Black Panther, regrettably lost his four-year battle to colon cancer on the 24th of August this year. He left his legacy etched in our hearts - his stories, alive in our minds. Besides the actors Boseman closely worked with, his death left an impact on the larger audience who were always thrilled to see him on-screen.
We received the honour of seeing him for the first time as the regal Black Panther in ‘Captain America: Civil War,’ where with his first appearance he had the viewers eagerly waiting for his movies, rooting for him and his character’s valiant attributes. We, the cinematic aficionados, were astounded to see his devotion to his art and how he brought every character to life.
Through each of the characters Boseman portrayed in his respective movies, besides the continued presence in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), he acted with dignity and honour. He brought depth and gravitas to all his roles, fulfilling the requirements and encouraging his supporting characters to challenge themselves.
As the entire world grieves Boseman’s loss, we continue to see his posthumous on-screen appearance leaving us stumped, hoping to wake up from this nightmare that has been bestowed upon us. It’s a reality we’re compelled to face, with just the honour of viewing him in the movies he’s created.
Over the years, we saw Chadwick Boseman in a multitude of movies, portraying historical figures who fought for empowerment. He became a role model as well as an inspiration for the younger generation. As quoted in an article by ET, Chadwick Boseman taught the world to “fight back and never give up.”
Some of us are still trying to come to terms with the demise of a hero, not just on-screen but off-screen as well. The actor was a powerhouse of talent, a dynamic, grounded character who never revealed that he was suffering from this disease all these years, whilst providing us with such congenial films.
As we relive his monumental performances, with the realisation that his suffering never impacted his craftsmanship, he gives each one of us hope to continue through our minute struggles and the obstacles that we face during the journeys of our life.
He may have just played the role of the King of Wakanda but today, we kneel with our hands crossed in front of us honouring his presence with the phrase: “You will always be our King.”
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