Inspiring and original, the year's best film

Rating: 10/10 (25 December 2016)

An Aamir Khan film is special. It's an event that happens once every two years or once a year if we're lucky. We've come to expect excellence from a man who can go from playing a college student to an alien to now an aging overweight former wrestler with such pure passion and dedication that you're left wondering if there's anything Mr. Khan can't dobut we already know the answer to that question. He pours his blood and sweat into each project and I truly believe that no other individual in the Indian film industry understands the pulse of their audience as well as Aamir does. He graces our screens rarely but the wait is worth it. We think we've seen the year's best film and here comes Aamir with a bang!
Dangal is a remarkable movie. It's inspiring, emotional, and very entertaining. It's based on the extraordinary true story of Mahavir Singh Phogat, a man determined to win a gold medal in wrestling. When his dreams don't bear fruit he hopes his son will do what he couldn't but fate has something else planned for the father of four daughters. Mahavir realizes that his (and society's) mindset needs a drastic switch and transfers all his energy and efforts into training his two daughters, Geeta and Babita. Nothing and no one can come between him and his ambition. He is relentless and focused to a fault which, to be fair, is needed to achieve greatness. You have to be a little mad to live your passion. The film makes many such points very well. You're only crazy until you're first to cross the finish line and the spectators cheer. We want it all but few of us are willing to put in the hard work it actually takes to win. Not many sports based films are as real as Dangal. You feel each aching muscle and nothing comes easy. Defeat is heartbreaking and victory is earned.
More than anything, the movie is about family and relationships. There's a father who gives everything he has to make his daughters succeed, a concerned and strong mother in the background, and daughters who are confused and resentful until they realize what they can achieve. Each character is beautifully fleshed out and finds strong connect with the audience. The casting director has outdone himself, everyone looks and plays their part with utmost conviction. It's hard to say if the young Geeta and Babita are better portrayed by Zaira Wasim and Suhani Bhatnagar or if Fatima Sana Shaikh and Sanya Malhotra do more justice to their roles as the older Geeta and Babita. Aparshakti Khurana plays the girls' cousin and reluctant sparring partner in some of the films' funniest and most heartwarming scenes. The bond that the entire family shares brings a genuine smile to your face. Sakshi Tanwar infuses quiet strength in Daya Kaur, the mother and wife who makes the decision to watch her daughters weep, struggle and, eventually triumph. Aamir is the only well known actor in this team and he is so consumed by the character of Mahavir Singh Phogat that you realize that you're watching Aamir the actor not Aamir the superstar. You make method acting look good, Mr. Khan.
Four writers are credited for writing the movie that was two years in the making. The attention to detail shows, not a scene or emotion is out of place. Several instances stay in your mind after the final reels play, the most notable of those being: when the little girls' hair is mercilessly cut off and you don't know whether to laugh or feel bad for them, when Geeta literally takes down her father and later calls to apologize, and every time one of the girls enters the ring to wrestle. The music and background score are smoothly blended into the screenplay, time isn't set aside to play a song but when they come up you appreciate them as your senses are heightened. Director Nitesh Tiwari has worked tirelessly to come up with a movie that captivates moviegoers. It's a colorful journey that never strays from the plot and at no point becomes boring or slow. Mission accomplished!
Dangal is refreshingly feminist without being a movie about feminism. That in itself deserves a standing ovation. There's talk about the differences between sons and daughtersboys and girls but it soon morphs into a film about athletes. Gender isn't used as a crutch nor is girl power shoved down your throat. At no point is the fact that the main characters are girls irrelevant nor should it be because going against the grain and succeeding should always be celebrated. Dangal is one of those rare films that surpasses its own aspirations. Take a bow, team Dangal, you're worthy of all the praise coming your way.