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While some reviews of Dangal have taken exception to the extreme training that Mahavir Phogat (in the movie) puts his daughters through, this writer has no issues. Here's why.
While some reviews of Dangal have taken exception to the extreme training that Mahavir Phogat (in the movie) puts his daughters through, this writer has no issues. Here’s why.
I went to see Dangal last night with my parents. I thought it was a brilliant film in terms of entertainment and the emotional roller-coaster that they take us on. Especially after the acceptance that this is a real story about real humans— who are generally not perfect. Neither was the situation perfect nor were the daughters and father perfect.
Hence, a father wanting a male child for his dreams was wrong, but for most men with their male ego, it stops right there. Then him wanting to suddenly get his girls to extreme training was perhaps extreme. But if there was nothing extraordinary about the girls, they wouldn’t have reached this far. There is something called aptitude and there’s always a little influence of the genes. You can’t train any random person into a wrestler.
I was reminded of some widely shared critical reviews of the film. It didn’t bother me that, “Oh, if they were given a choice, they could have done something else.”
Just like Sachin Tendulkar could have been a footballer. Priyanka Chopra could have been a business tycoon. But that’s not their story, is it? And these people are happy with their lives, aren’t they? And we don’t question those stories, do we? Just because we haven’t seen their coaches train them, really hard; sometimes even without their own willingness.
We can come back for a self-righteous analysis of success stories 30 years later perhaps when career exploration is a part of a child’s education in India; when the parents would have a basic exposure to the careers available out there—even in the villages—and the willingness to go out of their way to get their children for a proper exploration. Until then, we are not in a fictitious dreamland.
As the founder of a platform that helps students in selecting colleges and career, I meet tons of students and parents; and I can say that the situation out there is really bad. We have to give it to Mahavir Phogat and his girls for being outliers, and fighting the patriarchy and finding their way out. And we must respect all other people who in their own imperfect ways and situations, are trying to make their way.
All I missed in the film is a Hug. I think there were strong vibes for a hug in the end but perhaps that’s not the kind of place that they came from. Mentally, I hugged the father and the daughters. After the movie, my father hugged me and he held my hand on the way back. We didn’t say a word.
I wish I could hear a little more of Geeta’s inner voice, like in the last scene. Although I don’t know how much rational analysis can a person do in a wrestling ring; to me, the movie was just fine!
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First published here
Top image from movie promo stills
Co-founder of Collegebol.com, India's first platform for college reviews and ratings, she is also the youngest founding member of an Ahmedabad, India based rationalist group which aims to discuss social issues and read more...
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Before expecting the daughter in law to love, respect and accept the new family, it is only fair that the family demonstrates all of these first.
If you are a married Indian woman, one of the first words you hear from your in laws is that you are now a daughter of the house. How true is that statement though? Are daughters in law really treated as daughters or is this only lip service?
A friend recently confided how hurt she felt when she wanted to visit her in-laws along with her husband but was told not to, because the in-laws wanted time alone with their son. Naturally, she was taken aback since she had always been fed this trope – that she was the daughter, not the daughter in law. Why then this sudden keeping at arm’s distance? Would a son in law ever be told not to accompany his wife on her visit to her parents because they wanted quality time with their daughter? That is unimaginable in a patriarchal society.
It is ok to want time alone with the married offspring but how does that meld into the Indian family system, where independent choices are less important than the whole family coming together?
Beauty is a very clever, very evil capitalist tool. It traps those who have it into hanging on to it for dear life and those who don't into mutilating, torturing themselves to achieve the unachievable.
I recently wrote a piece about MP Shashi Tharoor’s tweet in which he had shared a pic with six women parliamentarians tagging them and saying “Who says the Lok Sabha isn’t an attractive place to work?”
There was a rash of comments on the post shared on Instagram, which ranged from “chill, it’s just a compliment” and “stop overthinking compliments”, to (worried) men lamenting about “these feminazi”.
Here’s my answer to all those comments.
The upcoming movie Dangal trailer shows us the father who overcomes his early disappointment at not having a son - and soon becomes the biggest supporter of his daughters.
The upcoming movie Dangal shows us the father who overcomes his early disappointment at not having a son – and soon becomes the biggest supporter of his daughters. A toast to every such Indian dad!
Gender bias is still predominant in many parts of India. Even now, a majority of families crave for a son to carry on their lineage and shoulder the family responsibilities. On the other hand, our country is also witnessing many progressive families who have shunned this orthodox thought that only sons can bring glory. Couples and families have embraced what they have been blessed with. Love, care, education is what shapes a person and gender takes a back seat for them. I belong to one such family.
That is why maybe, the upcoming movie Dangal’s trailer, as excellent as it is, hits home – the father’s initial disappointment in not having a son to carry forward his wrestling legacy, then embracing the potential of his daughters and coaching them to be the best in the field. Finally comes the fierce pride in his daughters and what they have made of themselves.
Determined to be fitter or learn a new sport this year? These lessons from Dangal are so neat! We suggest you take a little time to think through them.
Determined to be fitter or in better health this year? These lessons from Dangal are so neat! We suggest you take a little time to think through them.
Disclaimer: Spoilers Ahead. If you haven’t watched Dangal, the new Amir Khan starrer, and you plan on watching and hate spoilers, then read no further. If you don’t mind spoilers or don’t plan on watching, then I insist you read!
There are a couple of things that did jar in Dangal, and made me wonder on the message it did not deliver. The movie had a great opportunity and it did not utilize it to its best. The question of vicarious dreams and whether the girls wanted to fight and wanted to be wrestlers themselves or not wasn’t addressed completely and maybe it was beyond the scope of the movie – so I’ll leave it at that.