Opening Doorz

By Martin D’Souza | Opening Doorz Editorial | December 05, 2016

Aamir Khan comes back this festive season
Aamir Khan is back after a one-year break to occupy his ‘Christmas-release slot’ with Dangal.

Two years ago, it was his PK that turned on the magic and Box-Office numbers, crossing the Rs 100 crore mark even though it faced the ire of certain sections of society. Dangal, a film which revolves around two female Indian wrestlers has already raised the bar of curiosity, thanks to Sakshi Malik who won the bronze for India in the 58 Kg category at the recent Rio Olympics. This film also celebrates women. In that sense, Aamir has picked up a ‘winning subject’ which is sure to go well with the viewers. Also, coming as it is almost a month after demonitisation, the ‘change’ factor should not be much of a hindrance as it proved to be for the recent releases. The lines at the theatres, I’m sure, will be back to ‘normal’ as opposed to what we saw during Rock On 2, Force 2, Dear Zindagi and Moh Maya Money.

All Izz well for Phunsuk Wangdu!

Geeta, Babita and Vinesh Phogat…
Here’s a little bit of what the Dangal team shares about the movie. It’s the story of Mahavir Singh Phogat and his two daughters Geeta Phogat and Babita Kumari. Geeta is India’s first female wrestler to win at the 2010 Commonwealth Games: she won the Gold in the 55 Kg category. Her sister won the Silver (51 Kg) at the same Games. Babita followed this effort of hers by winning a Bronze medal at the 2012 World Wrestling Championships, and a gold medal in the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

What’s interesting to note here is that these girls are also cousins of Vinesh Phogat. Not many know or have heard about Vinesh because she never made it to the podium at Rio. In fact, she was almost there but fate struck a cruel blow. Her journey was cut short by a knee injury during her bout against Sun Yanan of China in the quarter-finals. But that very same day, Sakshi lifted the gloom in the Indian camp by coming from behind to win India’s first medal at Rio.

The Phogat sisters surely have made India proud and deserve to be celebrated. But the one who, I think, will stand tall will be Mahavir Singh Phogat who encouraged his daughters to take the sport they wanted to.

As for Aamir Khan, he continues to put his body through the grind. Sometimes knocking off weight to look like a 25-year-old (3 Idiots), then beefing up with six packs for Ghajini, again toning up for PK and now putting on weight for Dangal and then a rigorous five-month ‘punishment’ to get back into shape to shoot the scenes where he is younger in the film.

No other actor has put his body to the test in a manner Aamir has and for that alone he deserves to be applauded. At 51 years of age, it is not a healthy thing to do, but who is to stop the perfectionist?

When the stars came down!
It all began for Aamir in the winter of 2007, with his directorial venture Taare Zameen Par. The film was a hit, spoken at length much after its shelf-life at the theatres, and celebrated all over the country and even abroad. Buoyed by this success, Aamir decided to make yuletide time his ‘merry season’. Ghajini followed a year later and then came the blockbuster 3 Idiots. It took him four years to make another festival appearance in 2013 with Dhoom 3 followed by PK in 2014. With Dangal, he hopes to recreate the magic of Taare Zameen Par and the excitement of 3 idiots. After all, it is not always that lesser-known sportspersons are celebrated on the silver screen and this story of the Phogat sisters need to be told.

Knowing Aamir’s desire for perfection, I’m sure he has ensured that the wrestlers will be properly portrayed to create a desire in young girls to look up to this sport, and maybe, just maybe, enter the ring!.

Also read: Dear zindagi, it’s all moh maya!