‎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 ★★★★★ 3

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 6

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 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…
Review by Vighnesh Menon ★★★½ 6

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

Recent reviews

Review by Bristol ★★★★½

Wow super well done, really well acted, visually perfectly shot, and based on an incredible true story. What more could you want?
Review by peacemac ★★★★

You have to fight in a way that people will remember you. If you win silver, sooner or later, you will be forgotten. If you win gold, you will be an example, And examples are given, child... not forgotten. See those girls? If you win tomorrow, you will not win alone. Millions of girls like them will win along with you. It will be a victory for every girl who is considered inferior to boys; who is forced into household chores, who is married off to just raise children. Tomorrow's match is the most important one. Because tomorrow, we are not fighting just that Australian, but all those people who think lesser of girls.
Review by Kashan Heera ★★★½

First half was perfect
Review by Daniel Slack

A re-watch today confirms that this is a brilliant movie and colossal force of entertainment.

The meaning of the narrative is not subtle; it is pretty much on the poster. However, despite its arguably predictable nature, this hits every single one of its beats brilliantly with almost every action sequence flowing smoothly into the narrative, never calling attention to itself as faked nonsense. With this crucial aspect of the movie nailed, one can be immersed in character within a somewhat unique incarnation of the classical Bollywood narrative; trial and sacrifice characterises the parent-child relationship, the child rebels before realising the reasoning of the parent.

To analyse the nature of this as a biopic of the real Phogat family, one can easily criticise the selectivity and favouritism put on display. But, as is, this is plainly tremendous. I'll recommend this again.
Review by Praveen Weerasinghe ★★★★★

A Brilliant, All round well-made film!!👏👏
10/10
Review by davis_domescik ★★★★½

Bollywood keeps churning out great films like this one
Review by Dan Larson ★★★½

Watched on Netflix.

Definitely my favorite Bollywood/Aarmir Khan production. This one took itself a little more seriously and it really benefits. It's a movie we've all seen before, but it's pulled off really well.
Review by Connor4Reel ★★★½

Nothing in Indian cinema is dramatic unless it’s in slow motion with blaring music in the background. Dangal helped me understand this.
Review by Pratik ★★★★½

Another entertaining sports-themed movie from Aamir Khan. Unlike most Bollywood movies, it doesn't drag toward the end even though it clocks at 2:40. Almost half of the movie features child actresses which does them justice.