Why we should watch Dangal!

At the very start let me make three submissions.

I am not a movie buff at all.

I seriously think fellow Right Wingers need to be choosy about picking their fights.

And Aamir Khan rightly got slammed for cornering Modi government through “Rising Intolerance” comments.

I am not a Movie buff and yet I want to watch Dangal - because I am a sports buff!

We all know that Dangal is the story of a Commonwealth Gold Medal winner girl named Geeta Phogat.  That brings us to the contentious topic of discussion with fellow RW folks on choosing our fights.

Let me explain why it’s important that we do not go behind anybody and everybody who is overtly anti-Modi or anti-Hindu.

Let me for sake of comparison bring in example of another recent movie, ‘Bajirao Mastani’ into the discussion.

 Just like Dangal this was another movie which divided RW. In the end the movie was a mega success simply because of the grand portrayal of an all-conquering Hindu Warrior – Bajirao Peshwa. Well throughout the movie, without worrying about provoking Muslims, the Hindu symbolism was dished out with gay abandon. A Brahmin warrior, sporting Chandan Tilak and Pagri, is shown winning war after war and conquering parts of the India mostly belonging to Muslim rulers. And more...Bajirao is shown making disparaging remarks against Mughals - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zI5j0STDsg . In another scene a Hyena bearded Nizam is made to agree to his demands by Bajirao by threatening complete annihilation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgSrf0pOpCw

So why did Bollywood, used to make heroes out of Muslim invaders switch strategy? And out of so many Hindu Kings who fought Muslim rulers why Sanjay Leela Bhansali chose Bajirao? Thereby hangs a tale.

The sole reason behind making a movie on Bajirao was not his bravery or war tactics but a fact that he fell in love with a Muslim dancer named Mastani! It's a fact that Bajirao‘s Live-In with Mastani had serious repercussions on his private and public life. His family never accepted Mastani as one of their own and was made to stay outside Pune limits. Bajirao‘s mother didn’t take this transgression lightly and never made any effort to hide her unhappiness about it. Also this Live-In created a permanent chasm between Bajirao and his advisors. Eventually he was a man with declining aura and diminished authority. Just like present times, even then Hindu-Muslim issue had successfully divided Hindu society.

Bingo…Bollywood had found its Secular King right in 17^th century. 200 years before Nehru made Secularism the fulcrum of Indian politics.

Bhansali wanted to project Bajirao as Secular leader, ostracized by his own Brahmin family for trying to win respect and acceptability for a Muslim dancer, who he loved.

What actually happened?

Instead Bajirao become a Hindu icon. A Hindu King, who expanded Maratha kingdom at the cost of brutal Muslim rulers. The image that Muslims were always braver than Hindus took a serious dent. And the Secularism angle was completely lost! And though it started as an exercise to project Secularism as an old Indian enduring social value, it ended reinforcing Hinduism-on-the-rise image; and only helped Hindu cause.

Now coming back to Dangal…And choosing fights! Let me say it again. Aamir Khan rightly got what he deserved for “Intolerance“ comment! And should be pilloried for it, whenever there’s an opportunity.  However, not watching Dangal is not the way to go. By doing that we may or may not punish Aamir Khan but surely will do injustice to Geeta and her younger sister Babita Phogat, and even bigger injustice to their father Mahavir Singh. He, against all odds, created two women champion wrestlers from an ultra-orthodox household and an unknown small Haryana village named Balali. 

I am sure you agree, we need more sport persons like Geeta and Babita Phogat. And there is no more powerful medium than Bollywood to highlight their glory. And no better movie maker than Aamir Khan to do the job!

I believe RW need to divert its attention to something which is really dangerous for the country. Shahrukh Khan making ‘Raees’ on life of dreaded Muslim gangster Abdul Latif and green-washing his sins with Islamic color (Who was Latif http://www.opindia.com/2016/12/the-story-of-abdul-latif-on-whose-life-srks-upcoming-movie-raees-is-based/ ) should worry us more. And we must concentrate on making sure Raees bombs at the box office.

Let us go all out and make sure not even one Hindu spends money on watching ‘Raees’.

Going after ‘Dangal’ will unnecessarily tire us and make battle weary.

Another point. Aamir Khan is a shrewd operator. He has done well to choose World Championship winner Geeta Phogat as Hero of Dangal. It’s going to be super-duper hit – it has already raked in 200 Cr over 7 days. 

We cannot stop it. No point being emotional and taking on an adversary who’s looking unbeatable for now.

Let us wait for a more opportune time.  Just as ‘Bajirao-Mastani’ made us proud, revived the memory of forgotten brave Hindu warrior Bajirao Peshwa, ‘Dangal’ will ensure Phogat sisters and their father is taken to every Indian home. And will inspire many more to excel in Sports in this country starved for Sports Heroes.