Sultan: How 'happy-ending' Salman Khan story becomes tragic when viewed from Anushka Sharma's point-of-view!

Sultan to sum in a single line is a film where underdog wins against all odds. But that's like saying, all superhero films are same where world is at the cusp of extinction and then a superhero arrives to fight all evil forces. Sultan has many side plots apart from the story of its protagonist Sultan Ali Khan (played by Salman Khan). Of the many plots, one that intrigued me was of female protagonist Aarfa (played by Anushka Sharma).

Sultan is a breather in otherwise myriad number of Salman Khan movies where female leads are merely used to move their bodies to peppy dance numbers or say that one catchy dialogue (remember 'thappad se dar nahi lagta..' from Dabangg? ) and disappear. Just go away. But Aarfa had her share of the story and screen space which is otherwise rare in Salman's movies. She is not another ordinary village girl who in our films dreams to get married to dashing hero who comes on sports bikes with oiled muscles. In fact she wants them not. She desires for an Olympic gold medal. It is her and her father's dream. They run a gymkhana in village where they train wrestlers to fight in national and international tournaments. Aarfa is no-nonsense girl who in Olympic gold medal has a single minded dream. We are made to see her fight in mud and in ring which are beautifully shot. It is treat to see her fight and toss opponents down. Fast forward in flashback and we see how she makes an illiterate village guy Sultan, who works at his father's dish service centre falling in love-at-first sight with Aarfa but knows nothing of wrestling is taught the art by this girl. One technique after the other. They both are now trained wrestlers eyeing medals. There names come up for Olympics but here is where her story falls of. His continues but not hers. I know it's titled Sultan and is story of him but still my heart ached for her. Because initially she was introduced in grand canvas, it was she who teaches him to fight, she who prepares and we learn how he in his 'arrogance' leaves her to herself to win more laurels for the Sultan. I know it's all part of Sultan's story and I can't complain. I understand that. I understand she has to leave her dream of Olympic gold medal to bear their child and stay home like any typical Indian girl. I get that. But couldn't we have introduced a single line in story where Sultan after all the highs and lows, after shedding his 'arrogance', at the end when movie reaches its climax could have said, thanks to her. It's this missing credits to her sacrifice to make the Sultan out of an ordinary village guy that pained me. I was ouching for that single line and it never came up.

Just imagine Sultan minus Salman Khan like NH10 of Anushka Sharma. Imagine it as her story more than his. See it from her point of view. Did the film which had 'happy ending' when you watch it from his point of view, has the same happaywala ending when you see it from her point of view? I fear not.

All said, I did enjoy the film. It was good to see Salman finally voice dialogues that were sensible although his haryanvi was lot different from other cast members. I'm told movie has gone on to become highest opener of this year and more. It may shatter all records like another Salman Khan movie. May it break more such records.

If you have not seen the movie so far, go watch it in a cinema hall near you. It's total family entertainer. Everyone have essayed their parts beautifully. Amit Sadh apart from the raw Salman Khan and glamorous yet tough Anushka Sharma is in brilliant form. If you've seen the film already, do comment your views below.

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