Aamir launched a new song from Dangal a couple of days ago, and carefully avoided commenting on anything controversial at the launch, from the monetary thing-I-don’t-fully-understand to the terrible thing that is too emotional for me to talk about. Maybe that’s why Aamir isn’t talking about it either? Or maybe it’s because he wants this movie to actually release without controversy.
No subtitles, gosh-darn it! But the visuals tell most of the story. In the middle of their childhood, Aamir suddenly announces to his two oldest daughters that they are in training now. And then they train and train while the girls sing a song about how mean their papa is. Yes? Is that more or less it?
It’s a super cute song, and I really like how it is from the kids’ perspective. Not just that it is their voices singing the song, but it is kind of a kids-eye-view of life. Mama, Papa, school, having to do things you don’t like every day, no sense of anything bigger than that.
I also like how they are handling the story of Aamir training his daughters. It’s not saying that this was easy or fun. These girls had a tough childhood and didn’t want to do all the things he made them do. And it’s acknowledging the shock of changing from a girl who wears modest clothes and goes to school and helps at the house, to being expected to run around the village in shorts every morning at dawn. Gender roles and expectations are hard to change, within yourself, even at a young age.
But it’s not saying, so far at least, that it was extra-hard because they were girls. That there was anything they couldn’t actually do, that he was asking too much of them, that he should have been easier on them just because of their gender. He was a tough Papa, just because he was, not because girls shouldn’t be asked to do that.
dontcallitbollywood 
I’m not one to think marriage is the end all be all, but I am glad one of the sisters recently married. I hope it means this tough childhood didn’t keep them from a full life!
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Yes! Often it seems like women are forced to choose between great achievements and romantic fulfillment. I’m glad these sisters (at least one of them, and hopefully the others later) were able to have both.
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> And then they train and train while the girls sing a song about how mean their papa is. Yes? Is that more or less it?
Right! I didn’t understand much from what I heard, so I cheated.
I just found translated lyrics and read it – http://www.bollynook.com/en/lyrics/19628/haanikaarak-bapu/ .
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Aw, I love the lyrics! Especially because they nail that particular kind of exaggeration that kids do, because everything that goes wrong is the worst thing ever. When I was that age, I had to write an imaginary autobiography for school, and I titled it “SHE REALLY SUFFERED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” with exactly that many exclamation points. I believe my complaints revolved around having to load the dishwasher after dinner every other night?
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Can’t stop laughing! )))
Yeah, and when I had to do my bit in the orchard, I couldn’t help thinking of those “not so yet passed” days of slavery.
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Really, complaining about work is kind of a sign of a happy childhood! The real child laborers are too worn down and acclimated to think it is wrong. But if you happen to have an extremely easy and happy childhood, those little moments when you need to do something for the household just seem like TORTURE.
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>Really, complaining about work is kind of a sign of a happy childhood!
Agree!
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You mean setting the table and helping make dinner was NOT child exploitation on my parent’s part?? What???
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They made you help make dinner?!?!? That’s terrible! I just had to set the table. Well, set half the table. My sister and I shared the duties. It was a nightmare.
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My brother was useless! (never mind he was 6 years younger..) Oh, the troubles we’ve seen….
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