“Aamir Khan’s Dangal has the best written first half of 2016. The film opens with a bang and has some amazing moments right till the interval. Aamir plays Mahavir Singh Phogat whose dream is to have a son who will win him a medal at the Olympics. Fate has some other plans for him and instead of a son he has four daughters. Sakshi Tanwar plays his wife who refuses to understand his obsession with wrestling. The pace is quick and we are introduced to Geeta and Babita as two kids who happen to beat up a village boy who was calling them names. From there begins the journey of Dangal. The journey of discovery where Aamir sees the potential in Geeta and Babita and trains them to become wrestlers.
The comparisons to Salman Khan’s Sultan might creep into your head before you enter the theatre but once the ball sets rolling there is no justification to the comparison. Dangal is very different from Sultan with the only common element being the backdrop of wrestling. Aamir is as usual in top form but it is the child actors playing Geeta and Babita who win your heart with their performance. There are tons of seeti and taali maar scenes in the first half and the writing is incredible. Geeta’s first fight and Aamir’s dialogue with Sakshi are some stand out scenes.