Aamir Khan must be really crazy to do 'Dangal'

Shambhu Sahu

If you are one of the reigning superstars of Bollywood with audiences still by your side, you have to be really crazy to do a film like "Dangal". Why would a superstar do a film which doesn't have any sort of typical Bollywood masala and risk his stature and status? It would be crazy, right? Yes, it would be, unless that crazy person is - Aamir Khan!

He doesn't make films, he makes cinema. And there is a notional difference - if you consider my philosophy. A film is a product with or without a good content, often propelled rigorously by marketing. A cinema is essentially a good content which may or may not have a backing of good promotion (or star). Like "Dangal" and "Masaan". Aamir Khan mostly aspires to create fantastic cinema, barring a few mega films in between, like "Dhoom:3". 

His latest, "Dangal", is a brave cinema. There is no quintessential Bollywood 'hero' in the film; and there is no quintessential 'romantic interest' to serenade the hero in half a dozen songs. Not many Bollywood superstars would have dared to touch it, without modifying it to hero-centric plot and adding a romantic angle in it. The film, based on a true story, has an ageing father as the protagonist. An amateur wrestling champion Mahavir Singh Phogat (Aamir Khan), who wants a son to realise his most cherished dream of winning Gold for Indian in international wrestling. After having four daughters, he gives up that dream. One day, two of his four daughters beat up two boys in the village. While he apologises for his daughters' 'mistake', he also realises that they - Geeta and Babita - could win Gold medal for the country. "Gold is Gold; how does it matter whether a son gets it or a daughter," he says in the movie. And thus starts Mahavir's most difficult journey of breaking stereotypes and fighting government apathy, to train his daughters and get them to fight in village 'akharas'. His dogged determination and tireless efforts lead to Geeta winning a Gold in 2010 Commonwealth Games held in Delhi - a first for the country. 

A poster of Aamir Khan's "Dangal" (Image for representational purpose only)
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dangal_(film)#/media/File:Dangal_Poster.jpg

What surprised me the most is how assured Aamir Khan is, as an actor and the producer of this film. Aamir totally let's himself into the character of the father - the ageing, plain kurta pajama clad Haryanvi Jat - and doesn't impose himself as the hero or even the protagonist. There is just one flashback of his younger days. Just one! He lets the story to be the focus - the story of beating mindsets of ye kaam choriya na kar sakein (girls can't do this); the story of infusing purpose and confidence in his daughters, instead of simply marring them off; the story of changing perception about the game dominated by boys. In fact, Aamir himself breaks a stereotype of a Bollywood blockbuster, with reports of "Dangal" doing well at the box-office. 

I wonder what makes Aamir Khan so assured of his 'content' and cinema in a business world where other superstars easily succumb to adding titillation in their films, citing 'public demand'. He has to be really 'crazy' to go against the tide or public demand. There are many who toe the 'this-is-what-public-want' line. But Aamir is not the one to toe the line. As a line in a song from his mega hit "3 Idiots" goes: 

हमको तो राहें थी चलाती/

वो खुद अपनी राह बनाता/

He surely makes his own roads (and his kind of cinema). Not often you get to see a 'phenomenon' called Aamir Khan and his performances. With Aamir letting the story remain the sole focus, "Dangal" is an extremely engaging and satisfying cinematic experience. Watch it to believe it. Highly recommended. 

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