[Review] Dangal: Moved to Tears by the Indian National Anthem

First, I'd like to thank Disney for inviting me to an advance screening of Dangal last month. This was my first time watching an authentic Indian film, and it truly made me feel that Indian cinema is a cinematic force to be reckoned with!

The plot of Dangal is certainly not innovative. It first depicts the disappointment of former wrestler Mahavir (Aamir Khan), then shows him discovering the wrestling talent of his two daughters, Geeta and Babita, moving from their initial conflicts to their eventual success. In the latter half of the film, Geeta goes to train with the national team, leading to conflict with her father, and the national team coach is even portrayed as an arrogant, annoying antagonist—a truly typical screenplay.

Although the film's script isn't particularly novel, the portrayal of the father-daughter bond is very detailed, and the emotions are incredibly genuine. Thus, audiences will feel heartache when the father and daughters are in conflict, tension during Geeta's matches, and deep emotion during their ultimate reunion. By the film's end, as Geeta wins the match and the Indian national anthem plays in the background, I felt my breath catch and tears well up. I was truly deeply moved by the film.

While watching the film's trailer, I already strongly sensed its strong feminist undertones and could anticipate that the film would dedicate significant time to this theme. Indeed, in India, a traditionally patriarchal country, the film's theme of female empowerment and women being no weaker than men holds significant meaning. However, while challenging the traditional view that women are weaker than men, the film still carries shadows of patriarchy. In the film, Geeta and Babita initially do not want to become wrestlers, but they are pressured by their father and only then diligently practice every day. Of course, the film does try to explain this point, using a scene where a neighboring girl is forced to marry a stranger to suggest that Mahavir's actions prevent his daughters from facing such a fate.

However, doesn't this practice of a man determining a woman's destiny and depriving her of autonomy directly contradict feminist values? The film's starting point is certainly good, but this handling seems to rationalize patriarchy by elevating women's status, leading to a counterproductive effect.

Although I felt the film's themes had some flaws, the film's style and music were practically flawless. Despite being nearly three hours long, the entire film maintains a fast pace. Coupled with clear transitional points, the whole film feels well-structured and never drags. The first half of the film has a noticeably lighter, more joyful tone, enhanced by music with distinct Indian characteristics and shots traversing narrow streets and alleys, making it feel very dynamic. What I appreciated most was the narration by Geeta and Babita's cousin, and his honest, straightforward personality, which provided more humor and further strengthened the film's lighthearted tone.

The most outstanding actor in the film is, of course, Aamir Khan as Mahavir. Portraying the father and wrestler from his younger years to old age, Aamir Khan's physical and emotional transformations are very evident and spot-on. I particularly admire his wrestling scenes during the older period; he truly embodies the character's aging, performing exceptionally well, and his physical changes enhance the believability. At the same time, his transformation from initial stubbornness to the moving pride upon reuniting with his daughters at the end is incredibly infectious. Besides Aamir Khan, the two child actors in the first half of the film are also very endearing, bringing to life the lively and active Geeta and Babita, serving as another highlight of the film.

Although this was my first time watching an Indian film, I was deeply immersed in the cinematic world during the viewing, experiencing a full range of emotions over more than two hours. This shows just how impactful this film truly is. If you've never seen an Indian film, I highly recommend starting with Dangal; you might just fall in love with Indian cinema!