| Dangal | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Nitesh Tiwari |
| Written by | Nitesh Tiwari Piyush Gupta Shreyas Jain Nikhil Mehrotra |
| Story by | Curation: Nitesh Tiwari Concept: Divya V. Rao |
| Produced by | Aamir Khan Kiran Rao Siddharth Roy Kapur |
| Starring | |
| Narrated by | Aparshakti Khurana |
| Cinematography | Satyajit Pande (Setu)[1] |
| Edited by | Ballu Saluja |
| Music by | Pritam |
Production companies | Aamir Khan Productions Walt Disney Pictures India |
| Distributed by | UTV Motion Pictures |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 161 minutes[2] |
| Country | India |
| Language | Hindi[a] |
| Budget | ₹70 crore[3] |
| Box office | ₹1,968−2,200 crore[b] |
Dangal (transl. 'wrestling bout') is a 2016 IndianHindi-languagebiographicalsports drama film directed byNitesh Tiwari and produced byAamir Khan andKiran Rao under Aamir Khan Productions withSiddharth Roy Kapur underThe Walt Disney Company India. The film stars Khan asMahavir Singh Phogat, apehlwaniamateur wrestler who trains his daughtersGeeta Phogat andBabita Kumari to become India's first world-class female wrestlers.[9]Fatima Sana Shaikh andSanya Malhotra portray the adult versions of the twoPhogat sisters,Zaira Wasim and Suhani Bhatnagar their younger versions,Sakshi Tanwar their mother, andAparshakti Khurana adult version of their cousin,Ritvik Sahore his younger version, all of them except Shaikh, Tanwar and Sahore in their film debuts.
Development on the film began in early 2013 when Tiwari began writing the script. Khan had interviewed the Phogat sisters in 2014 on his talk showSatyamev Jayate, before Tiwari approached him with the script months later, after which Khan became the lead actor and producer. Set primarily in the Indian state ofHaryana, principal photography commenced in September 2015 in the neighbouringPunjab.[10] Satyajit Pande served as the cinematographer andBallu Saluja as the editor.Pritam scored the film's background music and soundtrack, lyrics for which were written byAmitabh Bhattacharya.[11][12]Kripa Shankar Patel Bishnoi, a coach with the Indian women's wrestling team, trained Khan and the cast for the wrestling sequences.[13]
After a North American premiere on 21 December 2016,Dangal was released worldwide on 23 December to universal critical acclaim, with praise centered on the film's "honest" depiction of a real-life story and Khan's performance, including the emotional weight. It was also screened at theBeijing International Film Festival in April 2017 and secondBRICS festival in June 2017.[14] At the62nd Filmfare Awards, it won four awards:Best Film,Best Director,Best Actor (Khan) andBest Action (Shyam).[15] At the64th National Film Awards,Wasim won Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Geeta's younger self. Overseas,Dangal won the inaugural Best Asian Film award at Australia's7th AACTA Awards,[16][17] 2017's Best Foreign Film and Top Foreign Actor (for Aamir Khan) from China'sDouban Film Awards,[18][19][20] and twoJackie Chan Action Movie Awards,[21] and was nominated in the Asian Brilliant Stars category at the68th Berlin International Film Festival.[22]
Dangal was a commercial success, setting several records at the box office includinghighest-grossing Hindi film,highest-grossing Indian film worldwide, the46th highest-grossing non-English film (5th highest at the time of release),[23][24] and the19th highest-grossing sports film worldwide.[25] Produced on a budget of₹70 crore (US$8.3 million),[3] the film grossed₹1,968−2,024 crore (US$340 million),[4][5][26][27] worldwide by various different estimates, including$216.2 million in China,[28] becoming one of the country'stop 20 highest-grossing foreign films.[29] According to some estimates, it remains the only Indian film to cross the ₹2000 crore mark, to this day.[30] The film has also been watched more than 400 million times on Chinese streaming platforms, as of November 2018[update].[31][32][33]
Mahavir Singh Phogat, a formeramateur wrestler trained in thepehlwani style ofIndian wrestling, is a national wrestling champion residing inBalali,Haryana. His average Indian father forces him to give up the sport to obtain gainful employment. Dejected he could not win a medal for his country, he vows that his unborn son will. Disappointed on havingfour daughters, he gives up hope. But when his older daughtersGeeta andBabita come home after beating two boys in response to derogatory comments, he realizes their potential to become wrestlers and begins coaching them.
His methods seem harsh. He forces them to do grueling early morning workouts, and forcefully gets their hair cut short. Despite facingbacklash from the villagers, he goes on training them in his makeshift mud pit. Initially, the girls resent their father for his treatment but soon realize that he cares for their future. Motivated, they willingly participate in wrestling tournaments where they defeat boys. Unable to afford wrestling mats, Mahavir uses mattresses and trains them infreestyle wrestling to prepare them for competitive events. Geeta goes on to win the junior and senior championships at the state and national levels before heading to the National Sports Academy inPatiala to train for the forthcomingCommonwealth Games.
Once there, Geeta makes friends and begins to disregard the discipline taught by Mahavir under duress from her coach Pramod Kadam, whose training methods and wrestling techniques completely differ from her father's. Therefore, she loses every match at the international level. During a visit home, she defeats a visibly exhausted Mahavir in a ferocious bout after egotistically mocking him. Babita reminds Geeta of her mistake and that she should respect Mahavir. Soon after, Babita wins the national championship and follows Geeta to the academy. After the two sisters have an emotional conversation in which Babita provides her encouragement, Geeta tearfully makes peace with Mahavir.
Before the Commonwealth Games, Pramod forces Geeta to compete in the51 kg weight class rather than in her usual 55 kg. Irritated upon learning this, Mahavir goes to Patiala with his nephew Omkar and begins coaching the girls secretly. Learning about this, and furious with Mahavir's interference, Pramod wants the girls expelled; the sports authority issues a warning but allows them to continue. Mahavir is barred from entering the academy, and the girls are forbidden to go out. Determined to continue assisting his daughters, Mahavir obtains tapes of Geeta's previous unsuccessful bouts and coaches her by pointing out her errors over the phone.
At the games, competing in the55 kg class, Geeta eases her way into the final. Mahavir constantly contradicts Pramod's instructions while sitting in the audience, and she follows her father's instructions instead. Just before the gold medal bout, jealous Pramod conspires to lock Mahavir in a room.
In the bout, Geeta manages to win the first session but loses the second. Trailing 1–5 in the final session and with nine seconds left, she recalls the tactics taught by her father and a5-pointer, and executes it on her opponent in the final three seconds, taking the score to 6–5 in her favor, thus winning the session and the bout 2–1. In the process, she becomes the first Indian female wrestler to win gold at the Commonwealth Games. Mahavir returns just in time to embrace his daughters, dashing Pramod's hopes of obtaining credit before the news media.
Divya V. Rao, a member of Disney's creative team, read a newspaper article in 2012 aboutMahavir Singh Phogat, who trained his daughters to become world champions. She thought this would make for a great film, and spoke about this to Kapur and otherDisney personnel. Disney approachedNitesh Tiwari to write and direct the story. Tiwari met Phogat and his daughters, who instantly agreed to tell the story.[36] Tiwari worked on the script for close to a year with Gupta, Jain and Mehrotra before going toRonnie Screwvala, the CEO ofUTV Motion Pictures, and Kapur with the final script, while suggesting thatAamir Khan play Phogat.[10]
Months prior to being approached for with the script, Khan had invited the Phogat sisters onto his television talk showSatyamev Jayate, interviewing them on the first episode ofseason three in 2014.[37] A few months after he interviewed them onSatyamev Jayate, he was approached by Tiwari.[38] Kapur and Tiwari went to Khan with the story, and Khan loved it in its first narration. Khan had just finishedDhoom 3 and had begun shooting forPK. He wanted to do the film after 5–10 years when he would turn 60 because the role demanded him to be 55 and he was still doing younger roles. But the story remained in his mind and a few months later, he called up Tiwari and asked him to narrate the script once again.[39]
After the release ofPK in 2014, Khan announced that he would play the role of a wrestler in his next film titledDangal directed by Tiwari, a cinematic biography of the former wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat.[40] Khan, who was to produce the film himself with Disney, said to reporters, "Nitesh has written a wonderful story. The topic is very important, it's very dramatic. It highlights the discrimination that is meted out to the girl child in India. The best part is that he has done it in a very entertaining manner. The heart of the story is emotional, but it also has a lot of humor. Raju Hirani has this unique way to tell a story where he says something socially very relevant but he tells his story in a very entertaining manner. Similarly, Nitesh has written a very entertaining lovely script, the dialogues are very entertaining. Each time I listen to the dialogues, I laugh a lot. I cry as well as laugh."[41]
In March 2015, Junior Indian women's wrestling team coach Kripa Shankar Patel Bishnoi was approached by Aamir Khan Productions to train Khan and the entire crew ofDangal. Bishnoi said about the film in aHindustan Times interview, "Very few Indians encourage women for wrestling, especially because of the uniform. This film will change that perception too. People would hopefully want to see their daughters taking up wrestling as a sport."[42]
Khan lost some weight and tookHaryanvi lessons and dialect training for the film.[43][44] He played two distinct roles in the film: the 60-year-old wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat, and the 20-year-old version of Phogat. Khan reportedly gained 30 kg and weighed 98 kg to play the role of the older Phogat, and then lost the weight to play the younger role inDangal.[45][46] The film was produced on a budget of₹70crore (US$10.42 million).[3]
In March 2015,Taapsee Pannu,Deeksha Seth andAkshara Haasan were being considered for the roles of Khan's on-screen daughters.[47] In April, Shaikh and Malhotra were cast as the daughters, who hailed from the Jat community ofBalali village ofBhiwani,Haryana.[48][49][50]Geeta Phogat had participated in theLondon Olympics in 2012,[51] while Babita had won the gold medal in the2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.[52][53] In June 2015, Wasim and Bhatnagar were roped in as child actors for the film.[54] Khurana was also cast in the film, making his debut after a career as a VJ.[55]Mukesh Chhabra served as the casting director, withVikram Singh being recruited to play the role of the villain.[56][57] Khan's nephew Pablo, who is the son ofMansoor Khan, was the film's assistant director.[58][59]Mallika Sherawat auditioned for a role.Mrunal thakur also auditioned however she opted out citing scheduling conflicts.[60][61] In August 2015,Rajkumar Rao, who previously worked with Khan inTalaash, was approached for an important role.[62] After auditioning 70 actresses for the role, Tanwar was brought on as Daya Kaur, the wife of Mahavir Singh Phogat.[63][64][65] Ananya was chosen to play Sangita, the youngest daughter of Mahavir Phogat.[66][67] In October 2015,Vivan Bhatena, who appeared in a key role inTalaash, was selected to play a supporting role in the film.[68] In an interview in January 2017, Rao stated that if Khan had declined the role, the only other choices would have beenMohanlal andKamal Haasan.[69]
For the film'sTamil language dub, Khan initially approachedRajinikanth to voice his role. Despite Rajinikanth enjoying the film, they both eventually decided against it, as they found Rajinikanth's voice to be too recognizable to go along with Khan's appearance.[70]
To prepare for the role, Shaikh and Malhotra watched several videos on wrestling to understand "how wrestlers move, walk, their body language".[71] Both Malhotra and Sheikh went through five rounds of auditions, physical training and workshops with Tiwari and Khan. They were trained by coach and former wrestlerKripa Shankar Patel Bishnoi.[13] From September 2015 to December 2015, Khan gained 9% fat, weighing around 98 kg forDangal, and from January 2016 to April 2016, he regained the shape that he had opted for inDhoom 3 and would hear the script for next future films, halting shooting ofDangal for said period.[72]
The shooting schedule ofDangal began on 1 September 2015.[73][74] The villages ofLudhiana were given a Haryanvi transformation.[75][76] The shooting took place in the villages ofGujjarwal,Narangwal,Kila Raipur,Dango andLeel inPunjab and Haryana.[77][78] The village of Dango, which is in the Pakhowal Tehsil in Ludhiana, is veteran actorDharmendra's ancestral village.[79]
The first scene was shot on 21 September 2015, in Ludhiana with the presence of Mahavir Singh Phogat and his daughters, Geeta and Babita.[80] On 14 November 2015, while shooting inLudhiana, Khan suffered minor injuries resulting in muscle spasms in his back.[81][82] On 20 November 2015, Khan collapsed after sustaining a shoulder injury on the set.[83] After his recovery, he resumed shooting inPune on 9 December 2015.[84]
The team filmed in and around stadiums at theShree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Pune. At the time, the complex hosted the 2015Roll Ball World Cup, and athletes of theNetherlands national rollball team and Slovenia women's national roll ball team were recruited to play background athletes in the film. The team also shot some portions of the film inSymbiosis International University, Pune.[85][86]
On 19 January 2016, Khan and the entire crew of the film shot inDelhi, atTalkatora Stadium, to film wrestling sequences. The crew then moved toThyagaraj Stadium to shoot sequences ofCommonwealth Games andNational Games.[87] The first schedule of shooting was also done in schools and in Dango village.[88]
The second schedule of the film started on 16 June 2016, at theAkhada Leel nearToosa village, inLudhiana district. It is one of the largest villages in Punjab. Khan said, "When I came to Ludhiana, I was very fat. At that time, we shot for the scenes where Mahavir has become old. 85 percent of the film is about his 'old' look only. Now we are shooting for the portion when Mahavir was young."[89]
With the film being set in multiple decades, the cinematographer Satyajit Pande andcolorist Ashirwad Hadkar experimented with a number of tests for skin tones and costumes during the pre-production stage. Natural light was majorly employed in the film. To portray the 1980s, the "sources [were kept] white-hot and the skin tones yellow-warm" for the day sequences, and "a consistent bulb warm tone was maintained" for the night sequences. With varyingcolour temperatures in the process of filming over an entire day starting early mornings until late evenings, visual effects plates were used anddigital intermediate process employed.[90]
The music for the film is composed byPritam, with lyrics penned byAmitabh Bhattacharya in Hindi, Rajesh Malarvannan in Tamil and Rajshri Sudhakar in Telugu.[91]Daler Mehndi sang the film's title track.[92] The song "Dhaakad" was sung by rapperRaftaar and became popular[93] receiving 12 million views, in three days. Khan rapped his own version of the song and included it in the album.[94] The soundtrack album was released on 23 November 2016, in Hindi and 26 November 2016, in Tamil and Telugu, under theZee Music Company label.[95] The film'ssoundtrack album is set to have a Japanese release published byRambling Records on 13 April 2018.[96]
Dangal was released in the United States on 21 December 2016, and worldwide on 23 December 2016.[97] The film was shown on an estimated 4,300 screens in India and 1,000 screens internationally.[98][99] It was also released inTamil andTelugu dubbed versions asYuddham.[100][101] It was declaredtax-free in six Indian states –Uttar Pradesh,Uttarakhand,Haryana,Chhattisgarh,Delhi andMadhya Pradesh – to promoteBeti Bachao, Beti Padhao, aGovernment of India's social campaign aiming to reduce the selective abortion of females, to protect girls, and to educate them.[102][103][104][105][106][107]
Dangal's second phase of release was in theChinese markets ofEast Asia, starting withTaiwan on 24 March 2017.[108]Dangal was screened at the 7thBeijing International Film Festival, the firstIndian film to be screened at the festival, in the non-competing panorama section in April 2017 asShuaijiao Baba (Let's Wrestle, Father!), and received a standing ovation. The screening was attended by a number of Chinese celebrities, including actressLiu Yifei and actorWu Gang.[109] It released theatrically inChina on 5 May 2017, on 9,000 screens, "the widest ever release for an Indian film in any territory", and opened to overwhelming response from critics and audiences alike.[110] However, the film was trimmed by 20 minutes "to be in line with what the Chinese are used to."[111] The film released inHong Kong on 24 August 2017.[112]
In June 2017, Khan announced plans to release the film inJapan andSouth America.[113]Dangal released in Japan on 6 April 2018,[114][115] and was the first film to be co-distributed by Disney with Japan's Gaga Corporation.[116] ItsJapanese language title is ダンガル きっと、つよくなる (Dangaru Kitto, Tsuyoku Naru), which has some similarity to the Japanese title of3 Idiots (Kitto, Umaku Iku).[117] A preview ofDangal was held on 25 January 2018, by theJapan Wrestling Association, whose chairman recommended the film as inspiration for the2020 Tokyo Olympics.[118] Another preview screening was held for theJapan Olympicwrestling team during training camp in February 2018, and was well received by the audience.[119][120]
Dangal was released inSouth Korea on 25 April 2018.[121] The film had its South Korean premier on 23 April 2018, which was attended by theSouth Korean femalewrestling team for the2018 Asian Games.[122]
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On thereview aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes, 89% of 18 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.8/10.[123]
Critics often praised the portrayal of the subject matter inDangal. Rachit Gupta ofFilmfare magazine gave the film a full five-star rating calling it "perfect in every sense of the word." He added, "The film's direction and writing is so riveting that it coaxes it's the viewer to stand up and applaud. Great editing and filmmaking technique aside, Dangal features wrestling matches that are authentic and real."[124] Meena Iyer ofThe Times of India called it "inspiring and entertaining" and awarded a four-and-a-half out of five star rating. She commended the writing of being for "tongue-in-cheek quality, peppered with humour and several poignant father-daughter emotions."[125] Shubhra Gupta ofThe Indian Express gave a three out of five star rating and stated that the film worked on two parameters: that it is a "straight-forward film about a popular sport" and the "strong feminist statement about girls being the equal of boys, if not better, in an area they've never been seen, let alone accepted."[126] Saibal Chatterjee ofNDTV gave the film four out of five stars and calling it a "hugely entertaining sporting saga", pointed out that unlike otherBollywood films,Dangal does not "go for broke in terms of melodramatic flourish" and that it refrains from "demonstrative chest-thumping and flag-waving". He felt it blended "humour with intensity, and intimacy with spectacle, to perfection."[127]
Ananya Bhattacharya ofIndia Today gave a four out of five-star rating and wrote, "the fights, emotional turmoil, the father-daughter tiffs, take centre-stage inDangal." She added, "Tiwari uses every single trope in the book of Bollywood sports films ... with a freshness and expertise seldom seen."[128] Awarding the film a full five stars, Rohit Bhatnagar ofDeccan Chronicle called it "an unmissable epic". Terming the narrative "engaging to the core", he drew comparisons toChak De! India, while commending the acting performances and cinematography.[129] Sukanya Verma ofRediff.com felt thatDangal was "one of those few films that discuss strategy and technique in a manner that's easy and entertaining to grasp". Calling it an "exhilarating creation" and praising the acting performances, she wrote, "the raw, rough, visceral choreography of the fights ... evokes sheer awe".[130] Lisa Tsering ofThe Hollywood Reporter felt the film is driven by "emotional resonance, technical artistry and compelling performances" while adding that "it's so thrilling to watch. Not only do the family scenes ring true, but Tiwari approaches the wrestling sequences with intelligence and sensitivity."[131]
There is not a trace of superstar-about Aamir Khan or a hint of vanity. For most of the film, he's an old, overweight man. Given the Bollywood obsession with looking youthful and flaunting six-packs, this itself is an act of courage. But Aamir doesn't just look the part. He also becomes it. He is by turns, ferocious and tender ... It's a masterful performance.
While commending the acting performances of all the lead actors, most critics focused praise on Khan's performance. Deepa Gauri ofKhaleej Times wrote that Khan "puts in such an earnest and inspired performance that [it] will go down in the history ofIndian cinema as one of the finest."[133]Maitland McDonagh wrote forFilm Journal International that "[a]ll four actresses playing Geeta and Babita are strikingly good, and Khan stands out as the deeply flawed Mahavir."[134] Aniruddha Guha ofMensXP.com thought that Khan captured the character's "highs and lows with flourish" and called it a "truly great performance", while adding that "the girls of 'Dangal' are a real find."[135] Rohit Vats ofHindustan Times called it "best performance till date".[136] Raja Sen of Rediff.com felt Khan's character was "both fascinating and flawed" and added that he is "a winner utterly sure of his beliefs who bends the world around him to his will. It is the performance of a lifetime".[137] Baradwaj Rangan ofThe Hindu noted in his personal blog that Khan brought out the contradicting nature of the character "beautifully" and called it "one of his finest performances."[138]Variety magazine'sOwen Gleiberman felt that Khan, despite looking like a "jock version ofSalman Rushdie ... with a tight-lipped mask, [he] finds a hundred ways to communicate emotion."[139]
The film had its share of detractors who, while praising the narrative and performances, felt that the concept offeminism portrayed in the film was flawed. They pointed out that the wrestler-father, in pursuit of his goal of winning a medal for the country, trains his daughters against their will. Reviewing forThe Hindu,Namrata Joshi wrote that the film despite aiming not to hide "chinks in the feminist armour", it does not explore its "dilemmas and complexities" and only "brush[es] things under the easy nationalistic carpet" by "justifying everything with "nation before the individual" logic." She complained of the "easy celebration of the supposed fall of patriarchy" depicted in the film and maintained that "men actually still remain very much in control."[140] The view was echoed by Vartika Pande, in her "Feminist Reading" of the film forfeminisminindia.com, who wrote, "Dangal ends up being a film about a patriarch at the helm who "empowers" women and obviously takes all the accolades."[141]Al Jazeera's Azad Essa, while reviewing the film forIndependent Online observed that "the elevation of women is still a manifestation of an unfulfilled male dream. It is the male coach who emerges as the true hero, and not the women."[142] Strong responses on similar lines from a small section of the Chinese viewers met the film, where, following the release, a fresh debate on feminism began.[143] A viewer complained that the film "reeks of patriarchy and male chauvinism".[144]
Criticism was also directed at other areas of the film such as the characterisation of the coach at the academy. Uday Bhatia ofMint felt it was "incompetent and vindictive".[145]Rajeev Masand felt it was "shoddy" and that the "twist in the film's final act ... came off as completely unconvincing".[146] Tanul Thakur ofTheWire.in also felt that the coach was "reduced to a caricature" and that "he simply exists because Aamir can become a hero." Thakur wrote that the second half of the film was "repetitive and bloated" and that it uses "clichés ... needlessly trying to inject drama".[147]
In Hong Kong, Nicola Chan ofSouth China Morning Post rated the film 5 out of 5 stars.[148] In Japan, Yuri Wakabayashi ofEiga gave the film a positive review.[149] Yoshika Yamada ofIGN Japan called the film a "masterpiece" and rated it 9 out of 10.[150]Zakzak rated the film 4 out of 5 stars.[151] The film has received praise from a number of Japanese celebrities, including film critic Takeo Matsuzaki,television personalityTsutomu Sekine,video game developerHideo Kojima,manga authorsKeisuke Itagaki andNoboru Kawasaki, and athletes including Olympic wrestlersSaori Yoshida andKazuhito Sakae, professional wrestlersAntonio Inoki andTatsumi Fujinami, tennis playerShuzo Matsuoka, and weightlifterHiromi Miyake.[152] Upon release in Japan, it ranked first among early April 2018 releases in audience polls conducted byFilmarks (4.22 out of 5 stars)[153] andPIA[154] (93.3 out of 100).[155]
Dangal grossed₹716 crore after its initial run. It included₹511 crore in India and₹205 crore overseas.[156] After it collected anett of₹345 crore over its third weekend from release, it beat the record held byPK for thehighest grossing Indian film.[157]
Dangal became highest grossing Indian film worldwide in July 2017, with an estimated gross of₹2,000 crore by some sources, after its second phase of release in China and Taiwan. These numbers could be fake as there are no concrete source for these.[158][159] In July 2017, a spokesperson for Aamir Khan denied the reports that Dangal has crossed ₹ 2,000 crore worldwide.[160]
The worldwide distributor share ofDangal was₹525 crore as of 1 June 2017[update].[158][161] As of June 2017[update], the worldwide gross ofDangal stood at US$307 million (₹2,000 crore).[23][24]Dangal emerged as30th highest-grossing film of 2016 worldwide and the fifth highest-grossing non-English film of all time.[24][162][163] The Movie was marketed by a Mumbai Based company named Spice PR owned by Prabhat Choudhary.[164]
| Territories | Gross revenue | Footfalls (est. ticket sales) |
|---|---|---|
| India | ₹511.58crore (US$76.13 million)[165] | 37,000,000[166] |
| Overseas (2016) | ₹205 crore (US$30.02 million)[167][168] | 2,880,832 |
| United States andCanada | US$12.4 million[169] (₹85 crore)[168] | 1,432,000[170] |
| Arab Gulf States (GCC) | US$8.8 million[169] (₹60.104 crore)[168] | 923,400[171] |
| United Kingdom | £2.6 million[172] –$4 million (₹27.23 crore)[173] | 348,134[174] |
| Australia | $A 2.63 million[169] –₹14 crore (US$2.08 million)[175] | 190,580[176] |
| Belgium,Luxembourg,Norway | US$97,152[177] – (₹12.318 crore) | 12,318[174] |
| Chinese markets (2017) | ₹1,295.1 crore (US$202 million) | 45,984,728 |
| China | ¥1,299,181,400[178] –US$192.22 million (₹1,231 crore) | 44,897,623[179] |
| Taiwan | NT$167 million[180] –₹41 crore (US$6.3 million)[181] | 730,000[182] |
| Hong Kong | HK$27,139,998[183] –₹23.1 crore (US$3.55 million)[184] | 357,105[185] |
| Overseas (2018) | ₹12 crore (US$1.75 million) | 511,669 |
| South Korea | ₩906.42 million[186] – US$850,000[187] (₹6 crore) | 109,500[186] |
| Turkey | ₺1,556,553[188] –US$428,201[189] (₹3 crore) | 364,146[174] |
| Japan | ¥50 million –₹3 crore (US$438,663.83)[190] | 38,023[191] |
| Overseas total | ₹1,512 crore (US$234 million) | 49,377,229 |
| Worldwide total | ₹2,024 crore[5] (US$311 million) | 86,402,829 |
Dangal is the first Indian film to gross $300 million worldwide,[24] and one of the top 30 highest-grossing2016 films.Dangal is also the highest-grossingsports film, and Disney's fourth highest-grossing film of 2017.[192]Dangal is also the first Indian film to exceed $100 million[193] and₹1,000 crore overseas,[194] grossing around₹1,459 crore (US$224.04 million) in overseas markets by June 2017.[195]
Dangal collected₹29.8 crore on its opening day of release in India, and recorded as the second highest non-holiday opening afterDhoom 3.[196][197] On its second day, the film collected₹348 million (US$5.18 million) and on the third day collections were₹424 million (US$6.31 million) taking the first weekend collections to₹1.07 billion (US$15.92 million).[citation needed] On 9 January 2017, Dangal became the highest grossing Indian film domestically, beating Aamir Khan's previous filmPK.[198] It eventually grossed₹538.03 crore (US$80.07 million) from all languages in India.[175] The film's footfalls at the domestic Indian box office was 37 million admissions.[166]
Deadline Hollywood reported thatDangal would open in 331 North American screens, the hitherto highest for a Bollywood film, on 21 December 2016.[199] Releasing in 279 theatres in the United States, it collectedUS$282,280 andUS$42,816 from 24 theatres in Canada on the first day; an overall occupancy of 65 per cent was reported.[200] It grossedUS$12.4 million in North America becoming the highest grossing Indian film there, to be surpassed only months later byBaahubali 2: The Conclusion.[201][202]Dangal was released in 95 screens across theArab Gulf countries and was last reported to have collected₹59.04 crore (US$8.79 million) from the region.[203]
In the United Kingdom, the film grossed £2.6 million in December 2016,[172] and$4 million (₹27.23 crore) by January 2017.[173] It was the UK's highest-grossingforeign-language film of 2016, as well as the highest-grossing film in the category of specialised films (foreign-language, documentary and classic films).[172] It also received the highest opening in Australia for a Bollywood film (41 screens), and collectedUS$528,000 in its first weekend, opening at second spot, behindRogue One.[204] Having collected over₹12.65 crore (US$1.88 million) in the country,[c] it became the highest grossing Indian film there.[207] It also collectedUS$460,000 (₹2.98 crore) in New Zealand.[208]
Dangal emerged ashighest-grossing Indian film of all time in international markets, when it had grossed around₹1,459 crore (US$224.04 million) overseas by June 2017,[195] during its second overseas phase, while running inTaiwan andChina.[158][161][209][210]
Upon theatrical release inTaiwan,Dangal earned overUS$3 million and emerged as thenumber one film there, also becoming the highest grossing Indian film in the region.[211][212] Its final gross in Taiwan wasNT$167 million as of October 2017[update],[180] or₹41 crore (US$6.3 million).[213] The film ran in the country for four months, with a final gross 101 times greater than its opening day gross, setting a record at Taiwan's box office.[181]
InChina, a nation where Indian films were rarely shown, it became the highest grossing Indian film. It was initially released in six Chinese cities and onYouku under the Chinese title 摔跤吧!爸爸 (pinyin:Shuāijiāo ba bàba, "Let's Wrestle, Father").[214][215] It grossedUS$2.48 million on opening day,[216] and grossed$14.5 million in just three days from theatrical release.[217] The collections totalled to₹300 crore at the end of day nine from release, taking the overall collections past₹1,000 crore, becoming the first Indian film to reach the mark.[218][219]
In its second week, it emerged as thenumber one film in the country,[220][221] outsellingGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 byUS$15 million according to China's film ticketing portalMaoyan.[222] In the process, it beat the record held by the 2016 Japaneseanime filmYour Name for the highest grossing foreign-language non-Hollywood film in China.[223] It held the number one position for the second consecutive week taking the overall collections past₹1,500 crore.[224] As the film neared its one-month run, it had a cumulative gross equal to 70 times its opening day figure, breaking the record set byZootopia (2016), following which the Chinese government gave the film a "rare extension" beyond the typical 30-day window.[225][226] As of 4 July 2017[update],Dangal had a cumulative China gross 87 times its opening day haul and 15 times its debut weekend, having been number one for 16 consecutive days and in the top three for 34 straight days, and out-lasting and out-grossing heavily marketedHollywood movies such asGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,King Arthur: Legend of the Sword,Life,Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales,Wonder Woman andAlien: Covenant.[227] When its worldwide gross reached₹1,930 crore on 11 June 2017, it became the fifth highest-grossing non-English film of all time.[24]
As of July 2017[update],Dangal has grossed about¥1.3 billion ($202 million) in China.[228][229] Its overseas gross in China more than doubled its domestic gross in India.[24] In China,Dangal became one of thetop 20 highest-grossing films of all time,[228] the 8th highest-grossing foreign film,[230][231] had the most consecutive days with a ¥10 million ($2 million) gross (surpassing the 30 days ofTransformers: Age of Extinction)[232] and $1 million gross[231] (38 days),[233] was the highest-grossing film in May 2017 (ahead ofPirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales[234] andGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2),[193] and is the year's second highest-grossing foreign film (afterThe Fate of the Furious).[235] In the month of May,Dangal drew 35 million viewers at the Chinese box office.[236] In 52 days, the film had 44,897,623 admissions at the Chinese box office.[179] Khan's earnings fromDangal were estimated to be₹300 crore (US$46.07 million),[237] one of thehighest paydays for a non-Hollywood actor.[238] By the end of its run in China, its final gross there was ¥1,299.18 million,[178] equivalent to$216.2 million[28] (₹1,400 crore).[239] This was about 86 times its opening day gross, a record in China's box office history.[240]
InTurkey, where the film released on 18 August 2017,Dangal grossed US$428,201 as of 15 October 2017[update].[189]
Dangal released inHong Kong on 24 August 2017,[241] and grossedHK$5.2 million (₹4.26 crore) in its opening weekend including previews.[242] It opened at number-two at the Hong Kong box office in its first day, before rising to the top spot the following day.[243] It held onto the top spot at the Hong Kong box office through to the week ending 17 September 2017.[244] It surpassed the US$3 million milestone of Aamir Khan's previous hit3 Idiots (2009) to become the highest-grossing Indian film ever in Hong Kong, whereDangal grossedHK$24.57 million (US$3.15 million,₹20.42 crore) as of 26 September 2017[update].[245] By 2 October 2017, the film had grossed HK$25,430,761, equivalent to₹21.31 crore (US$3.27 million).[246] As of 10 October 2017[update], the film has grossed₹23.1 crore (US$3.5 million) in Hong Kong.[184] On its eleventh weekend, the film's gross in the city-state reached about HK$27 million, as of 6 November 2017[update].[247] The film has grossed HK$27,139,998 in Hong Kong, as of 19 January 2018[update].[183]
InJapan, where the film released on 6 April 2018,Dangal has grossed¥50 million, equivalent to₹3 crore (US$438,663.83), as of 22 April 2018[update].[190]
InSouth Korea, prior to release, the film was number-four at the box office on 24 April 2018, from preview screenings which grossed₩154.41 million[248] (US$144,443).[187] On opening day, 25 April 2018, the film had grossed ₩220 million[249] ($205,800).[187] It opened at number-three, behind Hollywood filmAvengers: Infinity War and domesticKorean filmIntention.[249] In eight days,Dangal grossed ₩415.412 million,[250] equivalent to $389,000[187] (₹2.88 crore). In 15 days, the film grossed ₩564 million,[251] equivalent to $528,000[187] (₹3.91 crore). As of September 2018[update], the film has grossed ₩906.42 million,[186] equivalent to $850,000[187] (₹6 crore).
Despite the hype created by the film prior to its release, it was not expected to perform very well on two accounts. Khan's comment in November 2015 during the ongoingintolerance debate in India had sparked outrage and backlash from certain sections of right wing extremist groups. Despite his clarification that the statement made was taken out of context and publicised, the criticism, primarily on social media, continued to the extent that prior to the film's release, campaigns calling for boycotting the film began, on grounds that Khan was "anti-national".[252][253] Secondly, after the government of Indiademonetised India's banknotes in November 2016, film businesses drastically fell as tickets were paid for mostly in cash, more so in the 8,500 single screen theatres of a total of 12,000, which accounted for 45 per cent of the total box-office revenue in India. Following the exercise, it was reported that business fell by 60 per cent and that 700 theatres even shut,[254] including a few that deciding not to renew their licences, converted intowedding halls. The earnings of filmsDear Zindagi,Kahaani 2: Durga Rani Singh andBefikre that were released around this time were significantly affected, and their corresponding producers had handed out limitedprints to single-screen theatres, to keep losses at a minimum.[255]
However, that neither of the two affected the performance ofDangal was evident in how quickly the online ticketing platformBookMyShow hit its fastest one million tickets booked before the release. An average occupancy of over 60 per cent was reported on the first few days inmultiplexes.[256] The film performed well on single-screen theatres as well that saw a surge, after two consecutive years of fall in business accentuated further by the demonetisation exercise.[257][258] The film proved to be an end to the "dry spell" to cinemas across India.[259] On 25 December, its third day from release, it earned₹42.35 crore in India, setting a record for the highest ever single-day earning.[260] After strong performance over its first two weeks, it emerged as the highest-grossing Indian film beatingPK over its third weekend.[261]
Dangal performed particularly well in China. This was attributed partly to Khan's popularity in China owing to the success of his previous films3 Idiots (2009) andPK (2014) there.[262] When3 Idiots released in China, the country was only the 15th largest film market, partly due to China's widespread pirateDVD distribution at the time. However, it was the pirate market that introduced3 Idiots to most Chinese audiences, becoming aculthit in the country. It became China's 12th favourite film of all time, according to ratings on Chinese film review siteDouban, with only one domestic Chinese film (Farewell My Concubine) ranked higher. Khan gained a large growing Chinese fanbase as a result. By 2013, China grew to become the world's second largest film market (after the United States), paving the way for Khan's Chinese box office success, withDhoom 3 (2013),PK, and eventuallyDangal.[263] His TV showSatyamev Jayate also had a cult following in China, establishing Khan as someone associated with quality films and committed to social causes.[264]
It was also reported that Chinese audiences could relate to the underlying social theme ofDangal in that it portrayed the success story of sisters in the backdrop of apatriarchal andgender inequal society, much like the conditions inherent in China.[265] Another factor was that the film filled a "vacuum" created by lack of interest among filmgoers due to "poor quality of domestic films" and China's ban on the "wildly popular"Korea dramas on television and streaming platforms due to South Korea's acceptance of the deployment of the AmericanTHAAD missile defence system, in August 2016.[266][267] On the day of its release, 5 May 2017,Dangal had a screen share of 13.3 per cent with 30,000 screenings,[268] much lower thanGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, (43.9 per cent), the number one film for the previous week. On its fourth day, the first Monday, it rose to 17.7 per cent, and an occupancy rate of over 33 per cent was reported, as against a highest of 24.7 per cent forGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Immediately after, aided by word-of-mouth publicity,[269] people reportedly thronged the theatres, and screenings were increased to 35,000 on the second Saturday and 55,000 the following day.[270] During the time, the film began trending inSina Weibo,[110] where thehashtag #摔跤吧爸爸# (#LetsWrestleDad, the film's Mainland Chinese title) has been mentioned over 470 million times.[271][272] The run continued into its third week with 2.7 million tickets sold on the Sunday.[224] With 27 per cent share in ticket sales, it was the highest earning film in China for the month.[273]
According toChinese media,Dangal is one of the highest-rated films on Chinese film sitesDouban[274][275] andMaoyan,[276] which helped the film generate strongword of mouth.[277] The film's word of mouth was also helped by discussion generated on Chinese social media sites such asWeChat and Sina Weibo, including discussion surrounding Khan's previous work in film and television, as well as a number of prominent Chinese celebrities recommendingDangal to their fans, including stars such asDeng Chao,Wang Baoqiang,Yao Chen,Feng Xiaogang,Lu Han andFan Bingbing.[264] According toMaoyan, the film's audiences were 59% female and 41% male, and the majority were in the 20–34 age group.[278]
SinceDangal's release in May 2017 through to October 2017, it has significantly out-grossed nearly every Hollywood film released in China during that time, with the only exception beingTransformers 5. The big-budget Hollywood films thatDangal out-grossed includeGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales,Wonder Woman,The Mummy,Alien: Covenant,Despicable Me 3,Dunkirk,Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets,Spider-Man: Homecoming,War for the Planet of the Apes,The Hitman's Bodyguard, and evenThe Foreigner starringJackie Chan.[279]Dangal also surpassed the China gross ofCaptain America: Civil War (2016).[230] According toThe Beijinger: "In this atmosphere of poorChinese films, Hollywood franchise fatigue and an ongoing ban onSouth Korean entertainment,Dangal has made the most of its opportunity to win over the Chinese film market."[236] Its gross in China is notably higher than the gross of any non-English foreign film released in North America, where the highest isCrouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) with $128 million.[30][280][281]
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) and nominee(s) | Result | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Filmfare Awards | 14 January 2017 | Best Film | Dangal | Won | [282] |
| Best Director | Nitesh Tiwari | ||||
| Best Actor | Aamir Khan | ||||
| Best Action | Shyam Kaushal | ||||
| Mirchi Music Awards | 18 February 2017 | Song of the Year | "Haanikaarak Bapu" | Nominated | [283][284] |
| Album of the Year | Pritam,Amitabh Bhattacharya | Nominated | |||
| Female Vocalist of the Year | Jonita Gandhi for "Gilheriyan" | Won | |||
| Lyricist of the Year | Amitabh Bhattacharya for "Haanikaarak Bapu" | Nominated | |||
| Upcoming Male Vocalist of the Year | Sarwar Khan & Sartaz Khan Barna for "Haanikaarak Bapu" | Won | |||
| Best Song Producer (Programming & Arranging) | Aditya Pushkarna,Dj Phukan,Sunny M.R. &Anurag Saikia for "Dhaakad" | Nominated | |||
| Best Song Engineer (Recording & Mixing) | Shadab Rayeen, Sunny M.R. & Ashwin Kulkarni for "Dhaakad" | Nominated | |||
| Best Background Score | Pritam | Nominated | |||
| Listeners' Choice Album of the Year | Dangal | Won | |||
| News 18 Movie Awards | March 2017 | Best Film | Won | [285] | |
| Best Director | Nitesh Tiwari | ||||
| Best Actor | Aamir Khan | ||||
| Best Supporting Actress | Zaira Wasim | ||||
| Best Lyricist | Amitabh Bhattacharya | ||||
| Best Debut (Female) | Fatima Sana Shaikh | Won | |||
| Sanya Malhotra | Nominated | ||||
| Zee Cine Awards | 11 March 2017 | Best Film (Viewer's Choice) | Dangal | Won | [286] |
| National Film Awards | 3 May 2017 | Best Supporting Actress | Zaira Wasim | Won | [287] |
| Indian Film Festival of Melbourne | 12 August 2017 | Telstra People's Choice Award | Dangal | Won | [288] |
| Best Director | Nitesh Tiwari | ||||
| National Child Awards | November 2017 | Exceptional Achievement | Zaira Wasim(also forSecret Superstar) | Won | [289] |
| Star Screen Awards | 3 December 2017 | Best Film | Dangal | Won | [290] |
| Best Director | Nitesh Tiwari | Won | [291] | ||
| Best Background Score | Pritam | ||||
| Best Music Director | |||||
| Best Lyrics | Amitabh Bhattacharya | ||||
| Best Editing | Ballu Saluja | ||||
| Best Child Actor | Suhani Bhatnagar | Won | [292][non-primary source needed] | ||
| Best Action Director | Sham Kaushal | Won | [293] | ||
| Most Promising Newcomer (Male) | Aparshakti Khurrana | Won | |||
| Best Writing | Nitesh Tiwari, Shreyas Jain | Won | |||
| Star Plus Nayi Soch | Dangal | Won | |||
| Most Promising Newcomer (Female) | Zaira Wasim(also forSecret Superstar) | Won | [294][non-primary source needed][295] | ||
| Best Actor in a Comic Role | Aparshakti Khurrana | Nominated | [296] | ||
| Best Actress – Popular Choice | Fatima Sana Shaikh | Nominated | |||
| AACTA Awards | 4 December 2017 | Best Asian Film | Dangal | Won | [16][17][297] |
| Douban Film Awards | 28 December 2017 | Best Foreign Film | Won | [18][19][20] | |
| Top Foreign Actor | Aamir Khan | ||||
| Most Talked About Film | Dangal | Nominated | [298] | ||
| Top Movie Soundtrack | |||||
| Movie of the Month (May) | Won | ||||
| Berlin International Film Festival | February 2018 | Asian Brilliant Stars | Nominated | [22][299] | |
| Jackie Chan Action Movie Awards | June 2018 | Best Action Actress | Fatima Sana Shaikh | Won | [21] |
| Best New Action Performer | Sanya Malhotra | Won |
The film has been released on several Chinese online streaming platforms. As of November 2018[update],Dangal has been watched more than 400 million times across three Chinese streaming platforms: nearly 200 million on Tencent Video (140 million in Hindi, nearly 60 million in dubbedMandarin),[31] more than 144 million onIQiyi (120 million in Hindi, over 24 million in Mandarin),[32] and over 80 million onYouku.[33]
Dangal, along with Japaneseanime filmYour Name (whichDangal overtook as the highest-grossing foreign film), began a new trend at the Chinese box office, with Chinese audiences slowly moving away from Hollywood blockbusters and taking more interest in films from other countries, such as Thailand'sBad Genius and Spain'sContratiempo.[300] As of 5 November 2017[update], non-Hollywood imports account for 72 per cent ($519.7 million) of the year's foreign film box office revenue so far (US$723 million), withDangal alone accounting for 27 per cent.[301] An EntGroup survey in China found that the preference for Hollywood films declined from 61 per cent in 2016 down to 55 per cent in 2017, as Chinese audiences increasingly develop preferences for Chinese, Indian and Japanese films.[302]
Dangal, along with Khan's next blockbusterSecret Superstar, drove up the buyout prices of Indian film imports for Chinese distributors.[303] The success ofDangal andSecret Superstar contributed towardsSalman Khan'sBajrangi Bhaijaan (2015) securing a wide release in China,[304] along withIrrfan Khan'sHindi Medium (2017) getting a release in the country,[305] followed by a number of other Indian films in 2018.
The film has also had an impact onChinese cinema. The film's success has led to Chinese filmmakers becoming more confident in tackling social realist themes concerningChinese society.[300] The film's influence can be seen in the 2018 blockbusterDying to Survive, for example.[306]
Dangal has had a political impact, with the film being screened at theIndian parliament in a bid to spread the message of women empowerment.[307] It has also had an effect onChina–India relations, withChinese leader andCCP general secretaryXi Jinping saying he enjoyed the film when he met Indian prime ministerNarendra Modi.[308] The film resonated with Chinese audiences, withDiangying Yishu (Film Art) magazine stating, "It is like the story of a Chinese village girl becoming an Olympic champion."[309]
Several critics have noted that theAcademy Award nominated American filmKing Richard (2021) starringWill Smith has a similar premise and plot toDangal.[310][311][312]
There was political controversy uponDangal's release in India. In November 2015, Khan expressed the feelings that he and Kiran had about growingintolerance in India,[313][314] which led to Khan facing intense backlash for the comments,[314][315] including violent threats.[316][317] As part of continued backlash against Khan's comments, there were calls for protests and boycotts againstDangal. In October 2016, theVishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) called for protests against the film.[318] Following its release in December 2016, #BoycottDangal was trending onTwitter,[319][320] andBJP general secretaryKailash Vijayvargiya called for protests against the film.[321]
There was also controversy over its release inPakistan. In response to the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association (IMPPA) banningPakistani film artists and technicians from working inIndian films, Pakistani theatre owners and exhibitors responded by temporarily putting a stop to screening Indian films. Due to Khan's popularity, however,Dangal was set to release in Pakistan, but theCentral Board of Film Censors demanded that scenes featuring theIndian flag andIndian national anthem be omitted. Khan refused, and thus the film was not released in Pakistan, where it was predicted to gross up to₹12 crore (US$1.79 million).[322]
At the64th National Film Awards in 2017, there was controversy over theNational Film Award for Best Actor, which the committee awarded toAkshay Kumar for his performance inRustom,[323][324] instead of Aamir Khan's performance forDangal.[325][326][327] Committee memberPriyadarshan, who has worked with Kumar on several films,[323][327] gave the following explanation for awarding Kumar instead of Khan:[327]
Why should we have given the Best Actor award to Aamir Khan when he has made it very clear that he doesn't attend awards functions? If he doesn't want to accept the honour, what is the point in honouring him? Nowadays, we have seen people returning their awards. We didn't want to take that risk.
Similarly,Dangal was not awarded at the18th IIFA Awards, where Kumar was also not awarded. According to theIIFA Awards organisers:[328]
So basically, in IIFA, forms are sent to various production houses. They fill those forms up and send it back to us. Those forms are then put out to the industry for voting and from there it becomes a nomination. So,Dangal has not sent their entry in. We would loveDangal to be a part of it. I think it's a movie that's broken all records. We love Aamir Khan and the two little girls. They did a great job. But unfortunately, they didn't send their entry in.
2016 = 67.63
摔跤吧!爸爸
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