‎Dangal (2016) directed by Nitesh Tiwari • Reviews, film + cast • Letterboxd

Dangal

2016 ‘दंगल’ Directed by Nitesh Tiwari

Dangal is an extraordinary true story based on the life of Mahavir Singh and his two daughters, Geeta and Babita Phogat. The film traces the inspirational journey of a father who trains his daughters to become world class wrestlers.

Aamir Khan Sakshi Tanwar Sanya Malhotra Aparshakti Khurana Vivan Bhatena Girish Kulkarni Zaira Wasim Suhani Bhatnagar Fatima Sana Shaikh

161 mins More details at IMDb TMDb Report this film

Popular reviews

Review by Milez Das ★★★★★ 1

Over the years Bollywood has tried making biopics, but instead they just made whatever they think was the meaning of a Biopic. Even though Dangal has its moments of Bollywood as it has to reach an audience of the second most populated place in the world, it manages to thrive in every moment and finally nurturing the true meaning of a biopic.

Dangal is a story about Mahavir Singh Phogat who was a really great wrestler, but had to leave the sport because of family and no support. His only dream was to make his son everything he wasn't and make him win a medal for the country. But he has four daughters over the years and he stops thinking…
Review by Shikhar Verma ★★★½ 5

I've never had goosebumps and tears in a sports film that follows all possible cliches. That'll tell you how powerful this film really is.
Review by Monika ★★★★ 4

Bollywood & Indian cinema mini-challenge 2017: Female directors & women's issues (September theme)

This is a story based on the life of Mahavir Singh Phogat and his daughters, Geeta and Babita. Mahavir is hell-bent on having his son achieve what he never did - an international gold medal in wrestling. The only problem is, his wife keeps giving birth to daughters and a son never materializes. But one day, when his two oldest daughters badly beat up two boys who call them names at school, Mahavir realizes he doesn't have to give up on his dream. His daughters are just as capable of achieving it as a son would be.

Coming into the film all I knew really was "Aamir Khan movie…
Review by Vighnesh Menon ★★★½ 4

Is it an instant classic? No. Is it Aamir Khan's best performance till date? Perhaps. Is it a job well done? Yes. Nitesh Tiwari's Dangal is an example of fine filmmaking within the confines of Bollywood.

Dangal is sure to rewrite the record books of Bollywood eventually, because it has all the attributes of a blockbuster. Actually, the two halves of the film can be viewed as two different films. If the first half records the gruelling journey of two village girls- Geeta and Babita into the patriarchal world of wrestling, the second half is how one of the girls looks to make it big after a few hiccups in her relationship with her guru- her father(Mahavir Singh Phogat, played…
Review by anushka ★★★★

chak de India: who are you
dangal: i'm you but with a different khan
Review by Utkarsh Bansal ★★★ 2

A perfectly mediocre film only worth watching for the terrific fight sequences. Not only does it methodically check off every sports movie cliche out there, it goes a step further into general movie cliches. Initially, I almost forgave some of them because it is, after all, "based on a true story", but as it turns out, it changed a lot of facts to fit those cliches. Artistic liberty makes sense when used to increase dramatic tension, but to make the story worse? That's just missed potential.

The actors do a good job, especially Fatima Sana Shaikh, who plays the wrestler Geeta Phogat with just the right mix of intensity and vulnerability. Babita Kumari, played by Sanya Malhotra, is unfortunately sidelined…

Recent reviews

Review by rayhan ★★★★½

I really enjoyed this movie a lot. Yes, it was another inspirational sports movie (based on a true story). it was a very well told story with incredible performances from every one of the cast members. choreographed/shot and appear more grounded n' authentic than any other wrestling-related flick made in Bollywood so far.

The climax is a teary-eyed crowd pleaser. at the end of the movie most of the audience stood and applauded.
Review by Ruslan ★★★★

Типичное кино с Аамир Кханом, где нетипично для себя он играет старого отца. Цельный сценарий, полностью узнаешь все о борьбе и тренировках. Удивительно, что не наши сняли такое кино. ну и главный минус, это хронометраж.
Review by gospvg ★★★★★

Another excellent film by Aamir Khan this time tackling the stereotype that young girls should be taught how to cook, clean & be married off at 14!

Will be watching again with my daughters to show them they can achieve anything & being a woman should not hold you back.
Review by eyestrane ★★★★

Yeah, I usually don't go in for sappy, feel good movies but this isn't sappy. Feel good, yes.

It packs an emotional wallop, good cinematography and excellent acting all into one. Lots of turmoil and tension when it comes to the wrestling scenes. A gruff but kindly father whose own disappointment makes his daughters into champions and some bad guys you want to kick in the teeth.

This did well in China and when I asked why it was because people could relate to the underdog story as well as the hero of the story being a woman.

Move over Wonder Woman or Geeta will kick your ass.
Review by Faisalsaudq ★★★★★

😭😫
Review by Mike ★★★★

Absolutely love this. A real crowd-pleaser. It takes the Disney sports-film formula and applies it to a female wrestling story in India, complete with gender and social class commentary. Wrestling does nothing for me generally here so it was a surprise to find that the sports action sequences are as tense and exciting as Mickey Ward's in The Fighter. Recommended.
Review by lee ★★★★

FILLED ME WITH FEMINIST RAGE THIS TIME AROUND TOO
Review by queeryon ★★½

in pseudo-patriotic times, you give the climax to the national anthem? i see what you did.
Review by Reed Benson ★★★★½

Great sports movie. Great family movie. Probably a great Indian movie, though I haven't seen enough to measure it against. It hits all the sports movie clichés - training montages, underdogs overcoming the odds, an old coach living vicariously through his trainees - but it still made me care about everyone and kept me interested all the way through. I'm sure that has to do with it being a true story, of course. But it might also have something to do with the fact that it's so long, moment has a chance to breathe.

Do be aware that it runs close to three hours. I will say, though, that it sure didn't feel like it.