Dangal Hindi Movie Review

Trust Aamir to promote a film that appeals to your finer sensitivities. The man who was critical of a movie moghul for being emotionally manipulative plays the puppeteer with your intellect. The critic of regimented education (Tare Zameen Par and 3 Idiots) now propagates exactly that with the same degree of cacoethes and conviction.
Not since Raj Kapoor (Awara to Dharam Karam) has an actor done with equal conviction a celluloid volte face or come a full circle so convincingly, so passionately. The passion, the conviction, the intelligence, the integrity are all present in ordered measure. The result: a biopic worth watching, a sports docu drama that will stick close to Lagan and Iqbal in our archives.
Is this a probe into the travails and travels of Mahavir Singh Phoogat for a national gold or is it a sharp relook of the protagonist’s view of education. After being critical of formal education looking for ranks and rank holders this time round the protagonist advocates the Chaitanya Narayana module on training to the top. Of course, he delivers like only he can and has done.
The bio pic is about how Mahavir Phoogat having not made it to the victory stand yearns to have a son who could complete his unfulfilled dreams. With four daughters the dreams seem derailed until a small fight in the backyard of Haryana between his spirited daughters and the local lads show light in the tunnel. He now is convinced that he has two winners at home and spends every bit of his energy every hope and living moment to see them as winners of wrestling gold. How he goes about the task in the midst of social mindsets, social taboos, and systemic prejudices is what the drama is all about. Apart from being a salute to the human spirit it is also a critique on gender equality. There is also for dramatic value the sharp cleaved contrast between the approach of a professional coach and the passionate father: defence vs attack; passion vs skill; win over victory. In passing the film also touches the tale of empty nesters and growing children. All in right measure and in the correct sequence.
If nothing watch the film for the wonderful wrestling bout that takes place immediately after half time between the ageing Dad (Aamir) and his daughter Geeta (Fatima Sana Shaik). Notice the dramatic punch and how it wonderfully eschews the documentary pattern and yet sticks to basics. Watch then the scene when the seemingly estranged father and daughter make up with a long-distance phone call and give you a choking moment.
Every one in the cast contribute to the credibility and quality of the film. Aamir like so often is central and yet not attention hogging. This is a film you miss at your own risk. Do not waste time. Get to seeing it at the earliest. This is one Dangal you would enjoy.

Rating: 4 stars
+: Treatment
–: Needlessly long
L. Ravichander.