“Medalist pedh pe nahi ughte… unhe banana padta hai…pyar se, mehnat se, lagan se”

I was excited to watch “Dangal” since the time trailer was released. However, missed it last week because of prior engagements but didn’t want to miss this weekend. What an amazing start of new year with the movie which inspires and teaches you many facts of life as a child and as a parent. Let me tell you I am not Amir Khan fan and I did not go to watch him. I went to watch a true story of a father and his two daughters. Though I never discuss about a movie but this one left a very strong impact on me so thought to share some of my takeaways from the movie:

Every home needs a parent who dares to dream of contributing to the society. Here, father had a dream to get a gold medal in wrestling for the country. So, setting a goal for your child is utmost important. In order to achieve any goal sometimes you have to be tough with your children. You may appear as their enemy but deep down the fact is that you are their only true well-wisher.  As a parent one needs to coach and mentor their children continuously.

Film has shown that how gender biased society cannot come in between if you make up your mind. Anything is achievable if you ignore “Log kya Kahenge”!! The father and daughters lived in a village of Haryana that has the worst sex ratios in India. But inspite of all this the two sisters went on to win various tournaments and make India proud. “humari Chhoriyan Chhoron se kam hai ki?” “Gold to gold hove hai Chhora lave ya chhori”. Girls lived up to the expectations of their father.

The turning point of the movie was when they realized or was made to realize by their friend on her wedding that they are fortunate that their father was fighting with the society to make a career for them, rather than getting them married. It is important to recognize what we want in life. Girls realized that their father was not looking for an ordinary life for them.

How much parents do for us and like any teen we start to feel that others are right and not parents and exactly same the girl felt about his new coach, just to realize later that no other human other than parents on the planet can give you the right guidance and forgive you without any expectations. The best example was when the Coach says “Itni buri tarah se na har” and father says “ Haarna Nahi”! Father never stopped believing in his daughter.

The biggest take away for me from the movie was that never forget your roots from where you started, what all were sacrificed for your dream. The moment you are distracted from your goals rectify it immediately. Though the girl performed poorly in her initial international tournaments, she makes a strong come back with clearly defined goal what her father had set for. I loved the scene when the girl cried over the phone with father on the other side. No words were exchanged but she realised that her father is there for her always.

In the final match when father was not there,  the girl was impatiently waiting for him but later she recollected her swimming training when her father said “As a father,I will not be there always to protect you; but I will always be there for you as your strength”. The girl learnt to fight her own battle. We need to assure our children that they are not fighting their battle alone we are always with them in every circumstances.

The best moment was when the National Anthem was played once the the girl wins the gold. I literally had goosebumps when everyone was charged up with the emotions in the theater and stood up and clapped.

Wrestler  Mahavir Singh Phogat with his wrestler daughters 

If you have a dream/goal and you are facing real difficulties to achieve please go watch “Dangal” and don’t forget to make your children watch it too.

Would love to hear your takeaways from the movie.

Love

Shreemi