Wrestling is truly one sport that you can easily connect with the fight that a person goes through physically, mentally and as well with the outside world. To capture it and add colors of cinematic inspiration truly requires remarkable talent, Dangal is one such manifestation of simply pure brilliance. Let us not get too much into Aamir Khan’s physique, all the hoopla of admiration on the actor’s determination to put on weight and then lose it, for we know the actor’s credibility already. For it’s the girls of Dangal who steal the show hands down and the effort is completely praiseworthy on the screen. Read on to know more.For starters the movie is mostly the same what the trailer revealed, a passionate wrestler who succumbs to the politics of the sport decides to raise up his girls in the sport and make them pursue to win the glory of Gold for the country which he was unable to do so. In a nutshell "A father’s dream thy fulfilled by his child", but the emotional struggle and journey they embark is what Dangal makes it so watchable.
Of course the movie has its cinematic, flimsy moments like a stereotyped erratic coach, villainous moments in the climax, clichéd villagers and lots more, but how else would you drive home the struggles and obstacles one would face in their life without showing the evil face of society? Somehow the makers too agree with this and no wonder before the film kicks off they have even added a disclaimer that even though the concept is based on a true story they have taken the liberty to add dramatic portions to drive the story’s intent.The girls of Dangal – Younger and Elder versions of Geeta and Babita are truly the heroes of the movie, especially Geetha Phogot ( both young and adult) stand apart in their performances and for the magnitude of hard work they have put into the movie is completely worth it. The film opens with the younger self of Mahavir Singh who falls short of a Gold in a major world championship due to lack of money to train and pursue the sport. As a result he dreams and decides to complete his dream of Gold for his country by fulfilling with his son, but fate has different plans after his wife gives birth to four daughters, he decides to give up his dream. The scenes involving younger version of Aamir is quite short and before you realize its already finished, but does the impact it requires – makes you gasp at the actor’s commitment, but quickly shuffles to the rest where he is clad with a pot belly, huffs and puffs as he works his way out and that weary look of a farmer who has ambitions but is fighting within self to get it done.The first half finishes as expected, the sudden raise of Geetha Phogot into the National arena of wrestling is remarkable and hailed all over the nation. Until then the script unfolds like predictably with a training song, as expected Geetha loses her first match only to go on winning every single of them to follow and then makes it to the trails and all that. But the real struggle comes afterward, a father and daughter’s emotional scuffle that tests the very foundation they have built on. After brushing through various hardships from the society the real test of father-daughter is rather portrayed in such a lovable manner, if you are a parent you truly are in for a hard hitting moment, if you are a daughter/son you will know the toils of your parents. Such is the power of the screenplay that it hardly requires dialogues at certain scenes and just the smile or tear will do. The director also shows his knack of humor in the training sequences, the narration from the girl’s cousin and so on. Now will Geetha avenge her fears and break into the International championship? What happens of her father’s dream? Best not to spoil the surprises.Dangal aka wrestle manifests itself by showing the fight is not just about the sport, but about overcoming self and the worst fear of failure by attacking it. The movie has enough things to be praised, the direction which showed the best of Indian sentiments and taking the movie to a different level, the wrestling sequences - by far the best any sport movie could have produced for the sheer natural fights and choreography, simply brilliant by Kripa Shankar Patel. Aided by good BGM and lens work all of the background work did not go in vain. The only downsides of the movie might be the dramatic portions to show the struggles of the girls, but that said it has been covered rather in a convincing manner. In a country which still lacks the wit and courage to show what a woman can achieve Dangal comes as a path breaker thanks to some incredible performances from Aamir and the girls.
Verdict: Dangal is a power packed sports film thrives high on performances of Aamir and his girls. It touches the emotional story of a father-daughter relationship that jumps various obstacles in search of glory.
Rating : 3.5