Dangal

In rural India, the village of Baliana lives with the bitter taste of defeat. It has been over 15 years since the most iconic wrestler in its history, Mahavir Singh Phogat, retired from the sport. A victim of abandonment, Mahavir's unyielding passion for the sport often led to brutal losses, ultimately forcing the government to ban him from competing in international wrestling. Now, as a father, he seeks to relive his own past glories through his daughters, despite the societal norms and opposition from the village elders. The opening scene paints a vivid picture of adversity in the village, where Mahavir has abandoned his dreams of becoming a champion in order to care for his newborn girls. This defining moment sets the stone for a family that will be known for their strength and resilience in the face of numerous challenges. Baldev Singh, Mahavir's estranged brother, explains that the wrestling ban was enforced not only due to the losses, but also due to their method of brutal training in the past. In the present day, the Phogat house is a sanctuary for three individuals: Sarita (Mahavir's elder sister) who now actively participates in maternal duties for the household with no part in wrestling whatsoever; two young girls, Geeta and Babita; and finally Baldev Singh, a cunning and insidious son-in-law who has made his home with Mahavir and controls him during crucial life events. The whole family is estranged from the village, their connection seemingly severed, much to the dismay of Mahavir who attempts desperately to reignite the fire in his wrestling legacy. However, Mahavir knows that the path to redemption begins with creating the new generations of wrestlers – in the form of his young daughters Geeta and Babita. His persistence is tested by Baldev, whose initial resentment transforms into an eventual, reluctant, acceptance of Mahavir's new passion for competitive wrestling with his children. In an atmosphere lacking understanding, the arrival of Aamir Khan's character changes everything, setting the dynamics of their household. Mahavir then proceeds with the first hurdle in the lives of his newly chosen wrestlers: that of training them, according to his precise sports method. In an atmosphere where everything appeared hopeless, a glimmer of hope is born amidst him working through these arduous situations as a method to reconnect them with the sport. A sequence involving father Geeta’s first training takes an unusual descent into darker days as he trains his girl to beat up the area people using a masculine sports approach, to him at least, in a setting many referred to as dark. After suffering a massive stroke, Baldev encourages Mahavir to train Geeta and Babita intensely with high stakes. A painful loss followed this point, implying the necessity to get very stern with both of his newly molded daughters regarding this arduous journey he took them on, deep within his past of the world of a wrestler. The village thus becomes a primary witness to numerous conflicts as Geeta and Babita's journeys turn into an epic story of struggle, hard work, and the unyielding passion for wrestling. Two daughters rise up to face an arena that heavily depends upon male participation.