Every once in a while, there comes a film that makes you happy. Gives you hope, joy. and promise. Dangal is one such movie.
Back in 2006, a manager told me something that has stuck on to me for life. We were chatting over breakfast about his recipes for success and such. That's when he had told me: Look at issues as issues, and not as people. Never look at an issue as a person, as we generally tend to. Mahavir Singh Phogat appears to be a great example at this, as he raises his daughters through all odds and trials to make them international champion wrestlers. Based on real life, Dangal is pure, unadulterated, and pristine; and the movie is a BIG winner, even addressing female foeticide.
Director Nitesh Tiwari is a genius. So is Aamir Khan. And here's why: They had to get this right. Aamir made the wise choice of shooting for the older, fatter role first. He had two options, and could have either done the older, flabbier character later (in the serial order of the movie script). Now, we all know how difficult it is to lose weight. So, if he had chosen to play the fitter role first, he'd not have had good enough motivation to lose the flab following the film schedule.
What makes this even trickier is that if anything had to be redone with the old man's role, after it had reached the editing table, then Aamir would have had to go back to it. This is where Nitesh's direction is phenomenal because it shows that if you are passionate about something, even if you take time, it is okay as long as you get it right.
Zaira Wasim (the younger Geeta) deserves special mention. Fatima Sana Shaikh is impressive, too, and Sanya Malhotra is plat du jour! As for Aamir himself, he nails it with yet another stellar performance, where the nicest thing is that you forget you're watching the megastar on screen, and get totally immersed into the character he plays, instead. And this review cannot be complete without the mention of Ritwik Sahore - all of 16-years old - and Aparshakti Khurana (actor Ayushmann Khurrana’s brother), for they lift the narration exponentially with their sheer presentation and humour. The two give their all in playing Mahavir's nephew Omkar. Sakshi Tanwar holds herself back and could have gotten more screen space, but I can't see how that would've been possible without elongating the 169 minutes running time.
One more plus point of the film is that you never feel stretched, though it's that long.
What's heartening to see these days is how sports have gotten so authentic on the silver screen. Years ago, Aamir Khan had appeared in his first sports film: Awwal Number. The less said about that, the better. But since then, he has appeared in two epic sports films. Lagaan and now this. I personally enjoyed this more, for Lagaan felt like watching a cricket match in a movie-hall. Plus there were way too many songs in that. The quality of the technicality of wrestling that you see in the film makes it all the more realistic. And I also liked how the audience is made to understand the rules, without making it appear staged or like a classroom.
Many a time, we say, "But the audiences are to be blamed, as they settle for mass-masala entertainers." However, in reality, make a great script like Dangal, and they are welcome with open arms by the audiences. Again, along with scripts like Dangal, stars like Aamir need to not only support, but also take up these kind of movies. It is a good moral responsibility to build. He had last weaved such magic in Taare Zameen Par.
It is also heartening to see a huge star giving importance to the script and never trying to take over and get bigger than life - or the script. The real hero of the film is the story and the two girls. I can see Geeta and Babita becoming household names for months to come.
It's been almost a week since I watched it, but I feel so happy even now when I just (simply) think of the film and the characters. And boy, was I glad there was no Aamir popping out of nowhere in the last round of the bout, in the climax. It was veridical, just like the rest of the script.
The title track is catchy, and Daler Mehndi's voice is the icing on the cake. Pritam's overall score is subtle, and though you'd not be humming it for days, the numbers are aptly placed.
The film is so technically sound that no one in their right mind would dislike it. The director's vision is spectacular.
Go watch Dangal. It's an order! :)
My verdict: 4.5 out of 5.
Back in 2006, a manager told me something that has stuck on to me for life. We were chatting over breakfast about his recipes for success and such. That's when he had told me: Look at issues as issues, and not as people. Never look at an issue as a person, as we generally tend to. Mahavir Singh Phogat appears to be a great example at this, as he raises his daughters through all odds and trials to make them international champion wrestlers. Based on real life, Dangal is pure, unadulterated, and pristine; and the movie is a BIG winner, even addressing female foeticide.
Director Nitesh Tiwari is a genius. So is Aamir Khan. And here's why: They had to get this right. Aamir made the wise choice of shooting for the older, fatter role first. He had two options, and could have either done the older, flabbier character later (in the serial order of the movie script). Now, we all know how difficult it is to lose weight. So, if he had chosen to play the fitter role first, he'd not have had good enough motivation to lose the flab following the film schedule.
What makes this even trickier is that if anything had to be redone with the old man's role, after it had reached the editing table, then Aamir would have had to go back to it. This is where Nitesh's direction is phenomenal because it shows that if you are passionate about something, even if you take time, it is okay as long as you get it right.
Zaira Wasim (the younger Geeta) deserves special mention. Fatima Sana Shaikh is impressive, too, and Sanya Malhotra is plat du jour! As for Aamir himself, he nails it with yet another stellar performance, where the nicest thing is that you forget you're watching the megastar on screen, and get totally immersed into the character he plays, instead. And this review cannot be complete without the mention of Ritwik Sahore - all of 16-years old - and Aparshakti Khurana (actor Ayushmann Khurrana’s brother), for they lift the narration exponentially with their sheer presentation and humour. The two give their all in playing Mahavir's nephew Omkar. Sakshi Tanwar holds herself back and could have gotten more screen space, but I can't see how that would've been possible without elongating the 169 minutes running time.
One more plus point of the film is that you never feel stretched, though it's that long.
What's heartening to see these days is how sports have gotten so authentic on the silver screen. Years ago, Aamir Khan had appeared in his first sports film: Awwal Number. The less said about that, the better. But since then, he has appeared in two epic sports films. Lagaan and now this. I personally enjoyed this more, for Lagaan felt like watching a cricket match in a movie-hall. Plus there were way too many songs in that. The quality of the technicality of wrestling that you see in the film makes it all the more realistic. And I also liked how the audience is made to understand the rules, without making it appear staged or like a classroom.
Many a time, we say, "But the audiences are to be blamed, as they settle for mass-masala entertainers." However, in reality, make a great script like Dangal, and they are welcome with open arms by the audiences. Again, along with scripts like Dangal, stars like Aamir need to not only support, but also take up these kind of movies. It is a good moral responsibility to build. He had last weaved such magic in Taare Zameen Par.
It is also heartening to see a huge star giving importance to the script and never trying to take over and get bigger than life - or the script. The real hero of the film is the story and the two girls. I can see Geeta and Babita becoming household names for months to come.
It's been almost a week since I watched it, but I feel so happy even now when I just (simply) think of the film and the characters. And boy, was I glad there was no Aamir popping out of nowhere in the last round of the bout, in the climax. It was veridical, just like the rest of the script.
The title track is catchy, and Daler Mehndi's voice is the icing on the cake. Pritam's overall score is subtle, and though you'd not be humming it for days, the numbers are aptly placed.
The film is so technically sound that no one in their right mind would dislike it. The director's vision is spectacular.
Go watch Dangal. It's an order! :)
My verdict: 4.5 out of 5.
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