DANGAL: Return To The Roots:
There is nothing exceptional about DANGAL. Where it scores is, it connects Indians with its villages. Villages form 80% of Indian population. And we see a part of that populace in a hamlet of Haryana.
U can relate to it entirely as it is telling us about the aspirations of a neglected majority community. What do the villagers desire, need. That needs to be bridged.
Here u don’t see a fake culture. This is all so true. The relatives, the situations, circumstances. The laughter, the tears, the struggle and then the victory. And it sure tastes good. The earthy feel is so real that it touches the heart. U r involved in the movie. At times, u wish u were in the place of the protagonist. Her aspirations r yours. U want her to win. And here it is not about yourself.
U r really cheering for the on-screen character. U r cheering. U r clapping. U go ahead whistling. At the end u r dancing. Why. Because this is u being portrayed on the screen. A real version of u. U identify with it. Afterall, u’ve undergone it. And now is the realisation that u r the hero.
There is no artificiality, no fakeness. The product is u. No body is forcing u with "Must See" that sounds so hollow. The proof lies in its eating and u’ve tasted blood. And u want more. U want to see it again. Tears r flowing down unashamedly. U r proud. U’ve won. The victory is not of the on-screen character. It is yours. It is personal as well as public. Something to be shared and enjoyed. U r actually rooting for everyone.
The movie touches ur heart. It is about u and me. It is about our collective aspirations. There is no need of word of mouth too. Ur heart-strings r playing the songs. And all r on the same wavelength.
That is the power of DANGAL. And it is not about Aamir Khan alone. It is the collective effort that makes it the complete dish. But then there is something about the star power. Or else, even SAALA KHADOOS’d be a hit.
SULTAN pointed to what we were missing in our films - the Indianness. DANGAL takes us right there. India lives in its villages.
Akhir dil hai Hindustani.
Waiting for more such films. And to do away with the fake.
PS: This is not a review of the movie. This is a slice of our own lives. And when v look back on our lives, there r only fond memories. This is a part of elusive memory.
This year had the worst of worst movies. But the best was saved for the year-end. It leaves the viewer with a warm feeling that there is hope for the better next year.
Jai Hind.