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Dangal
दंगल
2016 161 min India PG 16+
★8.6
Drama, Family, Comedy
Director: Nitesh Tiwari
Trailers
EN
Teaser
EN
EN
Description
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.
Budget:
$10.4M
US Gross:
$12.39M
Worldwide:
$311M
Starring
Aamir Khan
Actor
Sakshi Tanwar
Actor
Fatima Sana Shaikh
Actor
Awards
41 wins & 38 nominations total
Key opinion
Dangal is widely acclaimed as a powerful and emotionally resonant sports drama that challenges patriarchal norms in India through the true story of a father training his daughters to wrestle. While most viewers praise the film's immersive storytelling and performances, some critics find the three-hour runtime excessive and the father's intense training methods morally ambiguous.
| Acting | Aamir Khan delivers a transformative, physically demanding performance that anchors the film's emotional gravity. | |
| Screenplay | The script subverts traditional Bollywood tropes by prioritizing a grounded, documentary-style narrative over song-and-dance spectacles. | |
| Theme | The film effectively tackles deep themes of gender roles, female agency, and the tension between individual choice and parental ambition. | |
| Runtime | The 160-minute duration is received as a test of endurance; while some find the length essential for character development, others view it as bloated and repetitive. | |
| Theme | The father’s aggressive training regimen serves as a polarizing narrative element, seen by some as an inspiring path to glory and by others as glorification of child abuse. | |
| Ending | The final act is criticized by some for feeling formulaic and cartoonish, contrasting with the more authentic and gritty tone of the preceding scenes. |