My take on Dangal

Rating: 9/10 (25 December 2016)

The film industry has churned out a slew of sports films this year, ranging from Saala Khadoos to Sultan, from Budhia Singh to MS Dhoni.
2016 ends with the release of the much awaited Aamir Khan starrer 'Dangal', helmed by Nitesh Tiwari who previously made 'Chillar Party' and 'Bhoothnath Returns'. Dangal is based on the true story of wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat who trained his daughters to become world-class grapplers. The movie is set in Balali,Haryana where daughters are born to be taught household chores and married off at the age of 14. Mahavir Singh Phogat goes against these social norms to build the future of his daughters and complete his unfulfilled dream.
Dangal is a story with mixed emotions. It's a story of humanity at the end of he day. Viewers will at one point feel as if they are watching the journey of the Phogat family and not a movie. The father-daughter bonding is shown beautifully.
Director Nitesh Tiwari and the writers have done a splendid job. The wrestling scenes are choreographed brilliantly. As far as the performances go, Aamir Khan looks the part. The opening scene where he wrestles with a state level champion is superb which sets the tone of the movie. After the 'Chak De' girls, come the 'Dhaakad' girls and they are a real treat to watch. The performances lift the movie tremendously.
The movie patronizes nationalism over feminism. It shows the true essence of being a world class champion. Chora hoye ya chori gold toh gold hi hota hai. Overall, Dangal is a delightful gift this Christmas and should not be ignored at any cost.