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Dangal Movie Review {4.5/5}: Demonetisation be damned, watch Dangal.

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DANGAL MOVIE REVIEW: AAMIR KHAN'S FILM IS BOTH INSPIRING AND ENTERTAINING
Mumbai Mirror | Dec 22, 2016, 06.25 PM IST

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Critic's Rating:

4/5

Avg Readers'

4.3/5

Rating:

Rate this movie

REVIEW THIS MOVIE

CAST:

Aamir Khan, Sakshi Tanwar, Fatima

Sana Shaikh, Sanya Malhotra

DIRECTION:

Nitesh Tiwari

GENRE:

Biography

By Malay Desai
Dangal Dangal, pata chala hai, 'nikkar' pehan ke phool khila hai. Dont get
your knickers in a bunch over 2016 as yet, as Bollywoods gloomiest year in
recent memory may end with a silver lining drawn by a pot-bellied Santa
Singh. Its not the first time our multiplexed minds meet the dhool from
Haryanas akharas, a fascinating world where grabbing someone by the neck,
about-flipping them to the ground and helping them rise is acceptable
behaviour. Sultan (July 2016) grabbed the first movers advantage in
showing us this world but lets get this right - it was a Salman Khan film with
wrestling in it; while Dangal is a wrestling film with Aamir Khan in it. Samajh
riya kay?

By confessing up front that they have not let too many facts come in the way of a great story, the makers give themselves the license to thrill and were only
glad to share this ride with Jat wrestler Mahavir Phogat (Khan) and his family. His real-life journey of inspiring his four daughters and two neices to achieve
sporting glory amidst male chauvinism has received much media attention since 2010 and yet, the foregone conclusion is worth waiting for.
Nitesh Tiwaris playful storytelling which made Nil Battey Sannata (2015) a delight, packs much of the first half with laughter. The Haryanvi mouthed by
the characters, although not Kangana-in-Tanu-Weds-Manu-Returns level, Amitabh Bhattacharyas lyrics and the wittily written narration connive to hold
your attention, despite an intrusive mehndi song shimmying in. Kay jaroorat thi, tau?
It doesn't take long to realise the plot will put its jor behind Geeta, the eldest daughter, and her road to the Commonwealth Games 2010 gold. The
cinematographers wet dream of sweat dripping in maati ends here as Phogat takes his national champ girl to prepare for international glory. With this come
many manufactured conflicts, the biggest one being Geeta torn between her fathers and her new coachs playing styles. But with these depicted through
intense wrestling sequences, its fine to sail along and Wikipedia the truths later.
By taking us inside the sports nuances, explaining the rules and showing techniques, Dangal romances wrestling, makes it aspirational, sexy even, and
therein lies its biggest win. By not caring whether wrestling insights will bore our cricket-obsessed audience, it has done the sport a huge favour. Its a

http://ahmedabadmirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/movie-review/dangal-movie-review-aamir-khans-film-is-both-inspiring-and-entertaining/articleshow/56122337.cms

1/5

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Dangal Movie Review {4.5/5}: Demonetisation be damned, watch Dangal.

territory where no film-maker would have dared to go only five years ago.
Feeling for the underdog in a sports film comes by default, but Fatima Shaikhs heartfelt performance (her face is ready for a Priyanka Gandhi biopic next, if
theres any) and sincere wrestling moves earn her Gitta the claps and hoots. Along with Babitta (Sanya Malhotra), she deftly shows what it takes for a
woman to make her way through Indias male-dominated sporting scene, or any career for that matter. Khan, who invited their real-life counterparts to a
Satyamev Jayate episode in 2014, restraints to make this film an extension of it, instead lets Mahavirs powerful emotions do the preaching about women
empowerment. That he lost a couple of dozen kilos for just two scenes in the film is another reminder that we cant possibly stop celebrating the 51-year-old
methodist.
Courtesy Mahavirs wife and nephew (Sakshi Tanwar and debutant Aparshakti Khurana in fine supporting acts), Dangal becomes the biography of the
Phogat family, while on the other hand, the squeaking of mat shoes, the pauses for breaths in-between fierce bout scenes make it an authentic sports film.
And except for yet another needless song in the second half, Pritams music matches up with the on-screen phenomena.
Whether it will be a bestseller or not, the Dangal book deserves to be watched with your children and later, kept on your shelf.

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Copyright 2017 Bennett, Colem an & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. For reprint rights:Tim es Syndication Service

http://ahmedabadmirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/movie-review/dangal-movie-review-aamir-khans-film-is-both-inspiring-and-entertaining/articleshow/56122337.cms

4/5

1/13/2017

Dangal Movie Review {4.5/5}: Demonetisation be damned, watch Dangal.

http://ahmedabadmirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/movie-review/dangal-movie-review-aamir-khans-film-is-both-inspiring-and-entertaining/articleshow/56122337.cms

5/5