Dangal, A Sidelight

The reviews for the movie ” Dangal” have been uniformly good with most critics giving it 4 or 4.5 stars out of 5. The acting, the theme, the music, the cinematography have all in for praise but one review had an interesting sidelight. It said, in part,

“ The elevation of women is still a manifestation of an unfulfilled male dream. It is still the male who emerges as the true hero, not the women. ….. Geeta is nothing without her father, her man.”

For myself, I don’t agree. I can see how one might come to such a conclusion but I don’t think it is warranted. While the early part of the movie necessarily focuses on Mahavir Singh Phogat and his efforts to turn his daughters into world class wrestlers, the focus gradually changes to the daughters, particularly Geeta. In fact, in the climactic sequences as Geeta battles to a gold medal, Mahavir Singh is not even in the audience, thanks to the machinations of the coach. During the match, she remembers his words of advice but it his her skill and dogged will to succeed that carry her to victory. Afterwards, when Geeta seeks out her father and shows him the gold medal, he looks at it, then places it around her neck. How can anyone say of the film that ” Geeta is nothing without her father“.?

What you think?