“Dangal” is Disney India’s big Christmas bet, and the Aamir Khan wrestling drama starts strong. The characters are sketched with the kind of patience that can only come from a place of confidence. There are enough crowd-pleasing moments to fill an entire summer blockbuster. The soundtrack is brash and exhilarating; the songs here will dominate many workout playlists in the new year. The social commentary is not subtle, but it is forthright and consistent.
What a shame about that second half. It is rare that a film manages to undo so much of its groundwork so thoroughly in so short a span of time. The creative decisions made here amount to self-sabotage.