Dangal (2016)

Dangal, which means ‘wrestling’, revolves around the extraordinary life of Mahavir Singh, an ex-wrestler who could never accomplish his dream of winning India an international Gold medal in wrestling. He has to give up on his dream due to financial pressures. Mahavir Singh pacifies himself and resolves if not him, his would be son would one day realize his dream. However, destiny has other plans. Over almost two decades he and his wife are blessed with four children, all girls. Mahavir Singh loses hope. But, when one day his eldest daughter Geeta, now 14 years old and the second one Babita, now 12 years old, bash up some grown up boys from the neighbourhood for teasing them, he realizes that his daughters have what it takes to be world-class wrestlers. Hope is back in his life. After all, a gold medal is a gold medal whether a boy wins it or a girl. What follows is a relentless pursuit of Mahavir Singh, over a period of 10 years, in making his daughters world-class wrestlers. He leaves no stone unturned. He trains them with boys, like boys, to beat boys in various local village wrestling tournaments. He removes every temptation that comes between his daughters and wrestling. He makes sure they don’t just fight, but fight to win. Against all odds he bravely embraces all criticism from the society, lack of money, apathy from officials and much more, but never gives up… all to see India win Gold.

The film stars Aamir Khan portraying the role of Mahavir Singh Phogat, who taught wrestling to his daughters Babita Kumari and Geeta Phogat. Geeta Phogat was India's first female wrestler to win at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, where she won the gold medal (55 kg) while her sister Babita Kumari won the silver (51 kg).