How DANGAL became India's Most Profitable Film Ever (Hint: Thank China)

Introduction. More than 2,000 films are made in India every year. Indian Cinema has a century long history. On top of this massive heap of films sits one king: Dangal (2016). A sports biopic that's the most profitable Indian film in history. Let's understand Dangal's success👇

Great formula. Dangal is technically a great film. It takes the Hero's Journey and makes it a Heroine's Journey. Unexpected Underdogs take on the world with an old, Yoda-like guide (their father) and ultimately triumph. Solid storytelling at its core. But that's never enough...

Star power of Aamir Khan. Aamir is one of the world's biggest movie stars. Known for his expert project selection and an infamous "quality over quantity" approach, Aamir plays a devoted and driven father in this movie, fulfilling his dream via his daughters. And then...

Government blessing: Because of its female empowerment theme, Dangal got a tax-free status in multiple Indian states. There were official tie-ups with the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao program. The tickets became cheaper and the movie developed a halo of virtuous entertainment...

Korea's loss, India's gain. BUT almost half of Dangal's profits came from China. Before Dangal's release, China had banned the ultra-popular Korean movies & shows because South Korea accepted American missiles on its soil. This hunger for non-native content was filled by Dangal..

7 years before Dangal, Aamir Khan starred in 3 Idiots. Theme: how traditional education and exam pressure stifles student creativity. In China, a nation obsessed with competitive exams, the theme resonated and 3 Idiots became one of the most pirated movies of all time.

China's sex ratio. So, by 2016, Aamir Khan is already India's most popular star in China. And then Dangal gets full support from the Chinese government who want to spread the message of female empowerment to correct China's terrible sex ratio (90:100, global worst).

So - Dangal was pre-packaged with a great story and Aamir Khan's incredible popularity. Post release, it found the cultural climate of India and its Asian neighbor China uniquely suited for its story and deeper themes. It earned 1.3 billion yuan and became India's biggest hit.

Here's the man himself, Aamir Khan, on Dangal's success: "The reason Dangal has become so huge in China is that people connected on an emotional level with the story. It made them realize what their parents went through. Many of them called up their parents and cried."

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