Write a film review - dangal​

Aamir Khan stars in Nitesh Tiwari's film based on the true story of a former Indian national wrestling champ who battles the status quo to train his two young daughters to be world-class contenders.

Director Nitesh Tiwari wisely waits until the final moments of Dangal to bring out the big guns.

Where another Indian filmmaker might have employed high-definition slo-mo and pounding orchestral blasts early on,Tiwari holds off until it really matters — the high-stakes, cataclysmic climax of the film, as Geeta Phogat (Fatima Sana Shaikh) faces off against a burly Australian rival in her bid to become India’s first female wrestler to win a gold medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

The film’s emotional resonance, technical artistry and compelling performances are likely to drive impressive word of mouth and healthy box office, and with any luck, a well deserved large international audience.Ultimately, Dangal is effective because it’s so thrilling to watch. Not only do the family scenes ring true, but Tiwari approaches the wrestling sequences with intelligence and sensitivity.

There’s sweat and dirt, to be expected. But instead of blood, bruises and machismo we see a lightning-fast match of wits and technique over brawn, enhanced by convincing performances from the film’s athletic young stars. Special mention goes to Zaira Wasim and Suhani Bhatnagar as the young Geeta and Babita, respectively; Shaikh and Sanya Malhotra as the adult Geeta and Babita; TV actress Sakshi Tanwar as Singh’s wife and Girish Kulkarni as a demanding National Sports Academy coach at odds with Singh’s old-fashioned training techniques.

Khan — a notorious perfectionist who reportedly gained and lost over 50 pounds for his role — turns in a moving performance in a complex and not-always-sympathetic role. As the girls’ coach, he forces them to wake up at 5 a.m. for a grueling daily training regimen, and when they complain, he responds by cutting off their hair — yet as a devoted father to daughters in a male-dominated society, he is fiercely protective, his displays of affection and pride that much more meaningful for their rarity.