Dangal

In the 2016 Rio Olympics, Joseph Schooling defeated Michael Phelps to win Singapore's first-ever gold medal since its founding. While Olympic gold medals may seem ordinary to us, in Singapore, a country with only five million people, Schooling became a national hero.

After returning home, Singapore organized a victory parade for him. Schooling stood at the top of a double-decker open bus, which slowly made its way through Singapore's main roads. Crowds of people lined the streets, many even running behind the bus as it passed. This level of attention and national pride reminded me of only one other event in Singapore's history: the passing of Lee Kuan Yew in 2015. Just like Schooling’s victory parade, Lee Kuan Yew’s funeral procession slowly passed through the streets, with crowds of people watching. However, the difference was that while we were bidding farewell to one hero, we were welcoming another.

What impact did Schooling’s gold medal have on the country? First, it brought joy to Singaporeans for an extended period, almost like a festive celebration. Secondly, it’s said that every youth swimming class at swimming pools was fully booked, especially butterfly stroke classes, since Schooling won the gold in the 100m butterfly. The power of an idol! Most importantly, a new voice and a growing awareness quietly emerged among the Singaporean public: Singaporeans too can win Olympic gold! Suddenly, people felt that the gold medal was not so out of reach. However, this belief, this awareness, was something Singaporeans had waited 51 years to embrace.

Despite being a wealthy country, Singapore's investment in sports has always been generous. To motivate athletes to win medals, the government has never hesitated to spend money. In comparison, Chinese Olympic gold medalists are only awarded about 200,000 RMB in 2016, but in 2008, a Singaporean table tennis athlete who switched nationality from China received nearly 4 million RMB for a silver medal. Even with such generous incentives, Singapore had never seen a medal won by a local athlete until 2016.

Olympic athletes are chosen from the best of the best, and with Singapore’s small population base, the pool to select athletes is limited. But the athletes selected aren’t necessarily lacking in physical ability. The Olympic Games feature 28 sports, and if an athlete is not strong in athletics, they can try gymnastics or aquatic sports. There’s always a sport where they can make a mark based on their country’s and ethnicity’s characteristics. Singapore has produced outstanding athletes, but when it came to winning international medals, the key factor was a lack of confidence. This long-standing “I can’t” mentality couldn’t be broken until Schooling’s victory.

Imagine that even a country like Singapore, which had everything in place, needed 50 years to develop the “We (too) can” mentality. This speaks volumes about the challenges a country like India faces, with even more complex and difficult conditions.

According to Wikipedia, India does have Olympic gold medals, though they are few and far between. In the past decade, India only won one gold medal in men’s shooting at the 2008 Olympics. Why? The people of India don’t seem physically weak. The country’s warrior caste, the Sikhs, has always been known for their military prowess, especially in terms of strength. But India still hasn’t won Olympic gold.

This can be attributed to two major factors: cricket’s dominance in India and the country’s gender inequality. Cricket in India is not just a sport; it’s the national obsession. Young boys with strong physiques often start training for cricket early on. In India, cricket players are like Bollywood stars, and reaching the top in cricket guarantees immense wealth and fame. The public cares only about performance on the field, not your social background. Cricket has thus become a means for many boys to escape poverty. On the other hand, other sports, lacking government support, media attention, and public interest, have seen fewer athletes pursuing them.

While men flock to cricket, Indian women athletes are quietly rising. At the 2016 Rio Olympics, India won only two medals, a bronze and a silver, both thanks to women athletes excelling in badminton and wrestling. More and more Indian women are now entering professional sports. This brings us to the topic of women’s status in India.

In truth, we know very little about India and often hold biased views based on limited information. The common image is one of frequent news about sexual assaults, high dowries, and women being confined to serving their in-laws with no freedom or voice. We might even think India is still stuck in the past, but this is not the full picture.

These issues do exist in India, but they don’t define the entire country. This is like how Western media once portrayed China based on rural practices of “bride price,” which led to the misconception that China was backward. The reality is that, while some rural areas in China still have such practices, they’re not representative of the country as a whole.

India's historical and cultural context is vastly different from China’s. India’s unity is much lower than China’s. Since ancient times, the Indian subcontinent has been home to numerous independent kingdoms, each with its own language and culture. These kingdoms evolved into the modern Indian states. Historically, these regions have differed greatly in terms of geography, religion, and culture. It’s this diversity that makes India one of the most diverse countries in the world. Understanding India requires recognizing this complexity, which is why generalizations are not useful.

In the northern part of India, the culture and politics have been more influenced by Islam, including teachings that subordinate women. In contrast, the south, less impacted by Muslim rule, remains more progressive in terms of gender equality. Historically, women in India had more equal rights during the Vedic period, but over time, with the rise of other civilizations and the influence of Islam, their status declined.

Although India’s economy has developed rapidly in recent decades, the modernizing cities are still few and far between. Urban women generally have higher education and enjoy equality with men in social standing. India has even had a female prime minister, Indira Gandhi, and many influential women in business and industry. But the situation is still grim in rural areas, particularly in the north, where education is scarce, and traditional views persist. Some areas still have child marriages, and families face heavy social pressure against women pursuing careers in professional sports.

This is why the father in Dangal had to resist societal pressure to train his daughters in wrestling, and why it was so groundbreaking for rural girls to enter professional sports. It’s not just about breaking through traditional gender roles but about showing that “we too can” achieve something big.

After the 2016 Rio Olympics, India began to reflect deeply on its performance, especially since it only won two medals despite its huge population. This contradiction between the country's economic rise and its poor showing in sports has spurred a national desire to prove itself in global competitions, a desire that Dangal captured perfectly. The film became a source of national inspiration, igniting the hopes of millions who want to show the world what they’re capable of. Celebrities with a sense of social responsibility have a real role to play here.

As for the actors, it’s already well-known that Aamir Khan, at 51, went through an inspiring transformation to play the father in the film, gaining and losing weight. He was not alone—his four young co-stars, who played his daughters, also impressed. The one who played the second daughter was particularly memorable, with her chubby face and always-confused expression. After watching the film, I immediately searched to find out whether the actresses were amateur wrestlers or professional actors because the wrestling scenes were so realistic and high-level. I was surprised to learn that all four actresses were just actors. To prepare for the wrestling scenes, they underwent nine months of intense training, six days a week, at an Olympic-level standard. Truly impressive! It’s a far cry from the typical star actors who rely on CGI or stunt doubles to earn money.

After the movie ended, I hurriedly left the theater and opened my phone to look up the real-life stories of the characters.

Geeta Phogat : The first Indian female wrestler to win a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games (55kg category, 2010), and also the first female wrestler to qualify for the Summer Olympics (2012). Babita Kumari : Won a gold medal in women’s freestyle wrestling (55kg) at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, and also two gold medals at the Commonwealth Wrestling Championships (2009, 51kg & 2011, 48kg). Vinesh Phogat (Geeta and Babita's cousin): Won a gold medal in women’s freestyle wrestling (48kg) at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games. Ritu Phogat (Geeta and Babita's younger sister): Won a gold medal in women’s freestyle wrestling (48kg) at the 2016 Singapore Commonwealth Games.

The Phogat family has undoubtedly changed the history of women’s wrestling in India, and this was all possible thanks to the strict training and care of their father, Mahavir Singh Phogat .

As a coach, he was ruthless: waking up at 5 a.m. for training every day, making his girls wear shorts instead of their usual long skirts, and even ignoring their pleas to keep their long hair, cutting it off. As a father, however, he was incredibly tender: when his vegetarian wife refused to touch any meat and didn’t know how to cook chicken, he followed a cookbook to prepare it for his daughters; when the local training grounds didn’t allow women to train, he made a training space on his own farmland; he quit his job to focus on taking Geeta to national competitions; and when Geeta faced unfair treatment from her school coaches, he traveled long distances to rent a place near the school, training her in the best way possible and cooking her nutritious meals.

Is wrestling training tough? Of course, it is. No sport allows athletes to easily win Olympic gold. Most people only see the glory of athletes standing on the podium but rarely understand the hardships they face behind the scenes. Especially considering the Phogat family came from a small, rural village in India, where superstition about having sons and a deep-seated prejudice against women were rampant.

One time, Geeta and Babita skipped training to attend a friend’s wedding. Their father was furious, and it was the only time he ever lost his temper with his daughters. After the wedding, the girls sat together, silently crying. Geeta and Babita complained that their father was too strict, not letting them enjoy a relaxed life. They resented him for getting angry over them skipping one training session. But then the young bride, who had remained silent and expressionless throughout the wedding, spoke up: “I wish I had such a father, one who cares about my future instead of just making me do housework and cook. When I turned 14, they hurriedly married me off to a man I’ve never met, as though I had no existence of my own. Now, I’ll spend my whole life with a broom and stove.”

The bride’s words made Geeta and Babita realize the importance of their father’s strictness. From that moment on, the two sisters never complained about the hardships of training again, but instead, they embraced the challenge to fight for their future.

A couple of data points: India’s child marriage rate is as high as 47%, and every year, 15 million girls are married off in exchange for dowries. Though the Indian government passed laws to ban child marriage in 1929 and raised the legal marriage age to 21 for men and 18 for women in 1978, these laws have proven ineffective. According to UN statistics, pregnancy and childbirth complications are the leading causes of death for girls aged 15 to 19 in developing countries.

In such an environment, the gold medal that Geeta won at the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games became a significant milestone in history, one that would change the fate of thousands of girls. Though the training for wrestling is tough and long, it’s a skill that allows one to support themselves, it’s a respected profession, and it’s a way for those girls to escape death.

A bit of additional information: This movie will be released in the following countries: India, the United States, the United Kingdom, Kuwait, the Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Russia, Singapore, and China.

A final update: On November 20, 2016, 28-year-old Geeta married 23-year-old Pawan Kumar, a fellow wrestler. The wedding was attended by over 2,000 people, with Aamir Khan himself present.

In the movie, the mother asks, “What if no man will want to marry our daughters after all this training?” The father responds with a smile, “Once they become strong, good men will come to them.”

It seems that the father was right.

In the movie, Geeta, the eldest daughter, steps onto the wrestling mat for the first time under her father's rigorous training. Four boys are lined up, some lean and some muscular, and she is allowed to choose her opponent. Of course, everyone believes that even the weakest boy would easily defeat Geeta, a girl. But Geeta chooses the strongest opponent.

Just like every wrestling scene in the film, the ensuing battle is raw and exciting. At first, her opponent dismisses her, but soon learns to approach with caution. Geeta, on the other hand, remains focused, trying to seize every opportunity. The audience, who were initially relaxed, becomes tense and deeply invested. Geeta ultimately loses, but gains the respect of the entire crowd. She herself is disappointed, but her father says, “You’ve already conquered your fear.”

Geeta had once lived passively under her father’s grueling training. Even though she eventually agreed with her father’s philosophy, we couldn’t truly understand her personality. But this simple choice on the mat revealed her character. As her father later summed up, Geeta was like an aggressive tiger. This bold decision set the stage for her future. Even when faced with a stronger opponent or when Geeta felt lost, we know that there was a fierce tiger lurking in her heart.

Choice is a test.

Let’s imagine another girl. She lives in a developed Western country, loves wrestling from a young age, and with the support of her open-minded parents, finds the best coaches and easily wins an Olympic gold. In such a life, dreams are like guiding lights, and there is no struggle with choice. A movie about her life would most likely be a sweet, inspirational fairy tale—heartwarming but not particularly striking. This is not to say that there aren't people who live smooth lives, but human nature truly comes to light when faced with difficult choices. This is what movie audiences hope to see—genuine human nature in the face of choices.

Because of constant choices, the characters become multidimensional. The father is stubborn and proud, but when massaging his daughter’s ankle, he also questions his harshness. Even though he forcefully chose a path for his daughters, he still set a one-year limit, hiding his own concerns. When a professional coach humiliates him in front of others, this father, who has never accepted defeat, swallows his pride. And when Geeta cries on the phone, the father does not hesitate; the very next day, he travels to the city where she is, silently training her as a practice partner. Throughout the movie, Aamir Khan, who plays the father, maintains a serious expression, much like many fathers. But it is in his choices, the hesitation or determination in those choices, that I feel the depth of this father’s character.

Geeta's success also came with a series of choices. After becoming a national champion, she chose a more professional coach and abandoned the techniques her father had taught her. More importantly, she lost her focus on wrestling. In the following international competitions, Geeta performed poorly. At the same time, the director intentionally increased the role of the second daughter, Babita, possibly suggesting a shift in focus, with Babita becoming the potential hero. In her struggles, Geeta chose to let go of her excessive pride and returned to her father’s training methods. In the end, when her father was absent, she chose to grow independently, winning the gold medal with a beautiful rainbow throw, symbolizing her transformation into an independent woman.

Some critics have argued that the father’s coercion of his daughters into training contradicts "feminism." However, feminism is never just a slogan that can be casually shouted—it is the result of the struggles and sacrifices of many. The feminist movement in the West began in the late 19th century when the textile industry hired low-wage female workers. In the dirty, dangerous, and difficult textile mills, these women had to make a choice: accept their low wages, or fight for rights for all women. As reflected in the movie Suffragette , feminist activists paid a great price to win the hard-earned right to vote. Similarly, after World War II, American women who worked in munitions factories while the men were at war had to face the dilemma of whether to return to domestic life or continue working. After years of hesitation, American women chose to continue the fight for women’s rights. Feminism means facing the test of “choice,” not choosing an easy life.

Similarly, in India and many developing countries, the low status of women is a reality. Even the most outstanding individuals shouting for change find it hard to overturn the strong inertia of tradition. In the face of difficult choices, there is no perfect solution. While the father initially forced his daughters, as he proudly stated, “I want my daughters to be strong enough to choose their own husbands.” This is the greatness of the movie—it doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities, whether it’s early marriage, patriarchy, bureaucracy, or the dangerous and intense nature of wrestling. But in confronting all these social issues, the movie carries a brave heart for “choosing.” The father and daughter chose, they acted, and from a humble starting point, they reached their goals.

For us sitting in the theater, can we also make a choice?

I once watched an interview show hosted by Aamir Khan - Satyamev Jayate . Nearly half of the program depicted the misfortunes Indian women encounter during their growth: female infanticide, child sexual abuse, rape, arranged marriages, exorbitant dowries, domestic violence... The more I watched, the more I felt the bitterness of being an Indian woman. Generally, when people feel sad and want to cry, their hearts ache, but I clearly remember that when seeing the mother who was forced to have six abortions in eight years because she was pregnant with a girl, my heart didn't feel酸楚 (sadness), but tears flowed as if stimulated physiologically.

In India, a child may be deprived of the right to be born just because a prenatal B-ultrasound reveals she is a girl. If she survives the hardships and is born, she may be abused by elders in childhood and coveted by strangers in adulthood. Then, she may be married off by her parents to lighten family burdens, or remain single for life because her family can't afford a high dowry. After marriage, she is trapped in housework and under her husband's fists, starting a deadly cycle of "pregnancy, forced abortion upon discovering a girl, pregnancy again, forced abortion again..."

Knowing all this, I was extremely excited when watching this film. Some people question that the film "reveals disgusting patriarchal thoughts, forcing daughters' lives with dreams, money, and championships." But in my view, the opposite is true: we must not view India through Chinese perspectives. Just because we have infinite possibilities in life doesn't mean Indian women can also own their lives. From an Indian perspective, the film shows countless possibilities for female resistance.

The reality in India is that due to religious, historical, and traditional cultural factors, women are in an extremely vulnerable position in society. Some may say, "China also has serious gender discrimination," but in fact, compared to India, China is much better:

China does have cases of son preference, and many people still desire sons. However, China's official family planning policy has never stated that "girls are the dregs of sugarcane, and we encourage having more sons." Nor has China formed a one-stop service provided by hospitals for "B-ultrasound gender testing, abortion of female fetuses in early pregnancy, or throwing newborn baby girls into rivers if they are born."

The argument that "women who wear short skirts deserve to be raped" is regarded as misogynistic in China. But incredibly, in India's sensational 2012 bus rape case, the perpetrators and even many lawyers and high-ranking officials believed that the girl was at fault for being raped (source: documentary India's Daughter ).

In India's marriage system, women are mere appendages. Although Indian women get married like Chinese women, in general, Indian women can never be independent after marriage. They are not encouraged to work or receive education, often spending their youth on housework. What's more backward is that their marriages are often arranged by parents; there have even been cases where men and women pursuing free love were killed. Even more shockingly, until 2006, the custom of forcing widows to jump into fire pits and commit sati (self-immolation) for their deceased husbands was still prevalent in rural India, and villagers even praised and encouraged this custom...

In China, son preference is often associated with low education levels, but in India, male superiority is deeply ingrained regardless of education. A high school vice-principal mother-in-law might kick her infant granddaughter down the stairs because she doesn't want a girl, and government officials might violate the law to secretly bury their newborn daughters. The list goes on...

To own one's destiny, one must first be allowed to choose it. For Indian women, they are not even permitted to choose. What the father in the film does is to give his daughters the opportunity to choose their own destiny. Precisely because he forces them to learn wrestling, they can have future choices instead of being married off at 14 and wasting their youth in endless housework.

Therefore, in my opinion, the film's theme is beyond reproach—even great—against the backdrop of India.

The lead actor, Uncle Mi (Aamir Khan), is why I always hold a sense of respect for Indians. Sometimes I even think his existence is a miracle for India.

Some call him "India's Andy Lau" or "India's Daniel Wu," but I believe Uncle Mi carries far more than just good looks. Because you can no longer find an actor with such a sense of national responsibility and social commitment, whose every work has the power to change the country.

He made Taare Zameen Par to tell us that no matter how ordinary a stone is, it can shine uniquely when polished. 3 Idiots vividly exposes India's education system and wealth gap through humorous performances. As a Muslim, he made PK , directly questioning religion in a religious country like India while fairly not denying the significance of faith entirely. Today, he has made Dangal , pointing the way for women to find their destiny...

He is more than just an actor. What commands my deepest respect is not only his films but also his interview documentary Satyamev Jayate —a program that unsparingly reveals India's social issues and proposes corresponding solutions. In three seasons, Aamir Khan and his team discussed social taboos like the caste system, female infanticide, arranged marriage, domestic violence, rape, child sexual abuse, homosexuality, as well as sensitive issues like water resources and garbage pollution. Each episode hits the social痛点 (raw nerves) directly, and every episode has sparked widespread public concern. Notably, an episode exploring child abuse even promoted the enactment of India's child protection law.

Because of his work, he has touched many people's interests and nerves. I once saw Indian conservatives on YouTube shouting that "Aamir Khan and the entire Indian media are propaganda machines of the Congress, which is controlled by the U.S., and they fabricate stories about rape and abortion to stir up conflicts between Indian men and women." He has been threatened, abused, had his posters burned, and his films boycotted. But he said, "Even if my career and commercial interests are damaged, I will stick to my views. I am confronting a huge organization. I may be smashed in the end, but I will not back down." Fearless, he remains steadfast in doing what he believes is right.

In the opening message of Satyamev Jayate , Aamir Khan said:
"When I act in films, I experience different lives through various roles. There is another life—my own: removing the actor's identity, existing as a person in my way. In life, thoughts blow through my mind like the wind. I read newspapers, watch the news, chat with friends, and talk to strangers; something always touches my heart.

On the one hand, India is rising, thriving, and as an Indian, I feel happy and proud. But there are also many sad facts in society that we turn a blind eye to. These sufferings make me deeply uneasy and sorrowful. Sometimes I wonder, why think about things that don't concern me? My life is happy; what do others' hardships have to do with me? But they do matter, because I am also a part of this society. A chain of events connects you, me, and everyone in society, and we feel a resonance in every breath.

If Gandhi, Tilak, Bose, Nehru, and Maulana Azad were still alive, what face would we have to meet them? Our ancestors dreamed and fought for freedom to build an India like this? So here I am, hoping to hear, learn, and communicate with you, to discover the roots of problems and see the truth.

I want to discuss topics related to India's people's livelihood, not to blame, slander, or restrict anyone. Everyone says those who harm us are close at hand; maybe we all bear responsibility. Now, join me on this journey: to seek, discover, learn, share, and uncover the mysteries of these problems together.

I have no intention of intensifying conflicts, only of changing the era. As long as there is a spark in anyone's heart, it will start a prairie fire."

The first step to solving a problem is to understand what needs to be solved. Therefore, out of the desire to solve problems and deep love for the land, he said, "Films are not made to cater to others. In fact, when you make a film that criticizes your country, it is of vital significance to the country. Criticizing oneself and one's country is the first step to progress. There is no need to be ashamed of having one's country under the spotlight; what should be shameful is where the country is lacking."

How can one show a bodhisattva's compassion without using thunderous means?

Sometimes I think Aamir Khan is not an actor but a spiritual leader and a true national treasure.

I read a report that during the filming of 3 Idiots , Aamir received a call from the director while driving. The director said he had written a song for Uncle Mi to be played as a funeral march on TV and radio when he dies. The song is Free as the Wind , the opening theme of the film and the theme song of the protagonist Rancho:
Fear-bound, we all sink in the井底 (bottom of the well)
Fearless, he swims between the sea and sky

To Aamir Khan—I would use all noble words to praise him, for he deserves it.

(Finally, I bet on what social issue Uncle Mi's next work might criticize. I hope to see him tackle the caste system, that's all.)

"A five-star movie that maintains Aamir Khan's usual high standard. Even though he emphasized during the last Beijing meet-up that he feels very fortunate to have been part of so many excellent films, and that a good movie is the result of collaboration between the scriptwriter, director, producer, art department, lighting, and many others, I agree with this but still believe that Aamir's presence and performance give every movie a living soul. That's why they are so heart-touching and unique.

Today, before watching the main film on the premiere day, I couldn’t help but quietly browse some reviews on Douban. Among the many positive reviews, I found some negative ones accusing the film of being selfish and vain, calling it "patriarchal" or "male-centric." I thought to myself: did Aamir really create such an authoritarian, dictatorial character and theme this time?

After watching the film, I realized: screw that so-called patriarchy. You clearly didn’t understand anything! And you completely miss the point the film is trying to convey, especially in a country like India, where female and girl discrimination is rampant.

The film has several turning points that clearly show how the daughters transition from initially fighting for their father's approval to eventually fighting for themselves. Doesn’t that sound just like the growth process many of us go through? Moreover, the father only discovered the daughters’ wrestling talents by accident, and only then did he start training them. He didn’t torture them from birth to live his own dream. At first, he was just an ordinary Indian father, hoping for a son, believing that only a son could bring glory to the country. Just like the young bride said: this father fought against the world, ignoring the ridicule and mockery from the village, to train his two daughters. This was a huge act of love in the context of that time. And this sentence woke the two girls up, allowing them to complete their character growth and self-transformation.

That’s when their true training began.

On another note, during the Beijing meet-up, I also watched a deleted scene outside of the official cut, which was really a crucial part of the movie that shouldn’t have been removed. It was probably cut for the sake of controlling the movie’s length. In the deleted scene, there’s a very important moment: when the mother worries that the daughters will not get married because of their wrestling training, the father, played by Aamir, firmly says: "I don’t want them to be chosen by others. I want them to choose the person they like." This may sound like a very normal thing in China, but in India, it’s undeniably the voice of an outsider, a thunderous sound breaking through the silence.

I watched the entire movie with tears in my eyes. This kind of soul-stirring film is actually best watched alone. There are so many moments and scenes in the film that moved me, and I will write a formal review to capture my feelings at this moment.

Here, I must also praise the choice of using "sports" as the medium to call for change in India’s deeply rooted gender discrimination. It’s a smart and clever approach. With sports and the common desire to bring glory to the country (and based on a true story), Indian men are more willing to accept this "preaching" and "appeal."

Let those Indian men see it. Who says women are inferior to men? We women are not to be messed with! And let countless Indian girls know that they are not born to be lowly, they can also have the right to choose their own lives."