A Well-Made, Well-Acted Film With A Strong Message!

Rating: 7/10 (23 December 2016)

After 2 years, Aamir Khan strikes back with 'Dangal'. And here's a film, that proves the superstar's genius yet again! Director Nitesh Tiwari & Aamir team up to tell The affecting true-story of Mahavir Singh Phogat, who taught wrestling to his daughters Geeta Phogat and Babita Kumari, to their eventual triumph. Its a film that delivers entertainment & a message that's important & worthy.
'Dangal' explores Mahavir Singh Phogat and his two wrestler daughters' struggle towards glory at the Commonwealth Games in the face of societal oppression.
'Dangal' is about the human spirit & that talent & passion don't come under any particular gender. If your a Man, you can achieve impossible goals & if your a Woman, you achieve the very same. 'Dangal' is about Mahavir Singh Phogat's courageous journey & how against all odds, he trained his daughters & made them GOLD in the world of wrestling. Early on in the film, Mahavir, who sadly quits wrestling after his father's discouragement, says "only my son can make my dream come true". But he has four daughters despite his willing to have a son. To his astonishment, one fine day, when two bruised boys come to complain after receiving a beating by his girls, he realizes his daughters (now teenagers) have the power & punch to rule in the ring. And thus, begins Mahavir's journey with his daughters that leads to history.
'Dangal' is an important film, that is a wake up of call for all those, who underestimate women as a lesser sex. Women are powerful, strong & capable & at par with Men. We cheer for Geeta & Babita as they fight against all odds & your heart goes for Mahavir, who sees his dream come true through his daughters.
The first-hour soars. Its a joy to watch the daughters get entangled in the world of wrestling & also inspiring to see them grow. You're engrossed by the passion Mahavir trains them with & how they grow as people & wrestlers.
The second-hour slows down for a bit & that's where 'Dangal' falters. The sports movie clichés come in & the angle of a unlikable coach (played by Girish Kulkarni) doesn't really work. For a film that starts off with such precision & keeps you glued to your seat all through the first-hour, suddenly turns predictable. Also, Geeta's arrogance towards Mahavir & Family, don't stir up the emotions one might expect. But, things come back with force with a terrific finale, that will leave you cheering. Watching Geeta become India's first female wrestler to win at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, where she wins the gold medal, is something to be witnessed.
Nitesh Tiwari, Piyush Gupta, Shreyas Jain & Nikhil Meharotra's Screenplay adapts an inspiring true-story, into an equally inspiring film. Though imperfect due to its clichés & some melodrama, the soul of 'Dangal' remains strong. The message of the film, to be honest, is even bigger than the film itself. The Writers deserve credit for delivering a story that celebrates women as 'heroes' & also, fatherhood. Nitesh Tiwari's Direction is very-well done. He's handled some of the film's most dramatic & emotional sequences, skillfully. Cinematography & Editing are quite good. Pritam's Score is fabulous. Art & Costume Design are perfect, while the wrestling sequences (done by Sham Kaushal) are raw & effective.
Performance-Wise: Aamir Khan is the heart of 'Dangal'. His physical transformation from fit to fat, to his nicely done haryanvi accent, is note-worthy. But its his eyes & body-language that touch you. He is wonderful as a man who'd stop at nothing to see his dreams come true & at the same time, lend pride to his daughters' achievements. Aamir delivers one of his finest performances to date! Sakshi Tanwar, as Aamir's wife, is marvelous. She's remarkably restrained. Fatima Sana Shaikh as Geeta Phogat, is excellent. And watching her wrestle, looks as real as it could get. Sanya Malhotra as Babita Kumari, is fabulous. She gets a smaller role in comparison to Sana, but shines all through. Zaira Wasim as young Geeta & Suhani Bhatnagar as young Babita, are adorable. They steal some of the best moments in the film. Aparshakti Khurrana is lovable & so is the actor who plays his younger self. Girish Kulkarni is okay.
On the whole, 'Dangal' isn't perfect & yet its an important film, that delivers a strong & important message. Definitely, worth a watch!