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Sultan: A Journey of Redemption

Sultan is a 2016 Indian sports drama film directed by Ali Abbas Zafar that stars Salman Khan as the title character, a fictional retired world champion wrestler from Haryana. The film focuses on Sultan's rise from a local wrestler to champion, which is successful but creates rifts in his personal life when he neglects his wife Aarfa, also a wrestler, when their newborn son tragically dies due to Sultan's rare blood type. The film was a major box office success, grossing over 623 crore worldwide.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
370 views2 pages

Sultan: A Journey of Redemption

Sultan is a 2016 Indian sports drama film directed by Ali Abbas Zafar that stars Salman Khan as the title character, a fictional retired world champion wrestler from Haryana. The film focuses on Sultan's rise from a local wrestler to champion, which is successful but creates rifts in his personal life when he neglects his wife Aarfa, also a wrestler, when their newborn son tragically dies due to Sultan's rare blood type. The film was a major box office success, grossing over 623 crore worldwide.

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© All Rights Reserved
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Sultan 

(2016 film)
22 languages

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sultan

Theatrical release poster

Directed by Ali Abbas Zafar

Written by Ali Abbas Zafar

Irshad Kamil (lyrics)

Produced by Aditya Chopra

Starring Salman Khan

Anushka Sharma

Cinematography Artur Zurawski

Edited by Rameshwar S. Bhagat

Music by Score:

Julius Packiam

Music:
Vishal–Shekhar

Production Yash Raj Films


company

Distributed by Yash Raj Films

Release date 6 July 2016

Running time 170 minutes

Country India

Language Hindi

Budget ₹90 crore[1]

Box office est. ₹623.33 crore[2]

Sultan (transl. King) is a 2016 Indian Hindi-language sports drama film[3][4][5] directed by Ali Abbas


Zafar. Produced by Aditya Chopra under the Yash Raj Films banner, the film stars Salman
Khan as the title character opposite Anushka Sharma. The film focuses on Sultan Ali Khan, a
fictional pehlwani wrestler and former world wrestling champion from Haryana whose successful
career has created a rift in his personal life.[6]
The film was released worldwide on 6 July 2016. It received positive reviews from critics and has
grossed ₹623.33 crore ($93 million) worldwide,[2] and is the 9th highest-grossing Indian film ever.

Plot[edit]
Sultan Ali Khan is a middle-aged local wrestler and ex-wrestling champion living a lonely life in a
small town of Rewari, Haryana. Aakash Oberoi, the founder of a private mixed martial arts league
backed by Mr. Patel, is encouraged by his father to recruit Sultan to salvage its popularity. After
traveling to Haryana, he gives the recruitment offer to Sultan, who bluntly refuses and says that he
has completely retired from wrestling. In search of the reason behind his retirement, Aakash
confronts Sultan's close friend Govind, who narrates how Sultan's career began.
According to Govind, in 2008, Sultan fell in love at the sight of Aarfa Hussain, a state-level wrestler
and the daughter of a local wrestling coach. Although she is initially cold towards him, she accepts
Sultan as a friend. When he claims that they are committed, she insults him, saying she would
only marry a well-trained wrestler. Determined to win her respect, Sultan dedicates himself to
intense training and ultimately wins a state-level wrestling tournament, as well as Aarfa. The two
get married and become recognized wrestlers, representing India in various international games.
When the two are selected for the Olympic contingent, Aarfa discovers that she's pregnant. She
gives up her childhood dream of winning an Olympic gold medal for India, which Sultan then
fulfills. To her surprise, Sultan's accomplishment makes him arrogant, and he slaps a reporter at
an event. He also leaves Aarfa nearing her due date to win a gold at Turkey. Upon returning, he
finds that his newborn son had died due to severe anemia. The baby had a rare O- blood type,
identical to Sultan's, whose absence deprived the child of a donor. Angered, Aarfa decides to
leave Sultan and reside with her father. Depressed from losing his wife and child, Sultan raises
funds to open a blood bank of his son's name.

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"Sultan" intertwines the themes of redemption and sacrifice by illustrating Sultan Ali Khan’s path to reconciling his personal failures. His wife's sacrifices, like forgoing her Olympic dreams and enduring personal loss, highlight the cost of his successes. Realizing this, Sultan sacrifices his ego, striving for redemption through a renewed commitment to his family’s legacy and community. This redemption is symbolized through efforts like establishing a blood bank, suggesting both personal and broader social impact .

Aarfa Hussain is a central influence on Sultan's actions and evolution. Initially, her expectations motivate Sultan to pursue wrestling; her ambition acts as a catalyst for his relentless drive. Her decision to leave Sultan after their son's death, which she indirectly attributes to his prioritize professional ambition over personal responsibilities, prompts Sultan’s eventual introspection and transformation. Aarfa’s influence extends beyond motivation, catalyzing a journey of humility and redemption for Sultan .

The strain in Sultan Ali Khan's personal life is primarily due to his overwhelming commitment to his wrestling career, which leads to neglecting personal responsibilities. His ambition causes him to leave his pregnant wife Aarfa to compete internationally, during which time their newborn son dies due to Sultan's absence as a potential blood donor. This tragedy and his prior arrogance strain his relationship with Aarfa, ultimately causing her to leave him .

The film "Sultan" employs metaphorical elements, such as wrestling, to symbolize life's battles and challenges. Sultan's physical wrestling journey metaphorically parallels his internal struggles—his matches on the mat reflect his fight to overcome personal flaws and losses. Establishing a blood bank signifies redemption and giving back, transforming past failures into future hope. These metaphors enrich the storytelling by drawing parallels between sports and life's moral complexities .

"Sultan" uses the technique of juxtaposition to portray the conflict between personal ambition and familial responsibilities, highlighting contrasting scenes of Sultan's professional triumphs against personal losses. Flashbacks illustrate his rise and fall, while dialogues and character interactions emphasize the emotional turmoil. The narrative structure progresses from ambition-driven successes to personal realizations and reconciliations, effectively using conflict to drive character development and theme .

Sultan Ali Khan's journey begins with a passion-driven pursuit of wrestling, aimed at earning respect and love from Aarfa. His initial success breeds arrogance, leading to personal loss. The death of his son and estrangement from Aarfa catalyze his realization and personal reformation. Sultan ultimately seeks redemption by reviving his wrestling career, fostering a blood bank in his son's memory, and regaining his respect and loved ones .

The film "Sultan" critiques fame and ambition by portraying the protagonist's journey through immense professional success that engenders arrogance and neglect of personal bonds. Sultan's ambition, initially noble, spirals into self-centeredness, exacerbated by fame leading to significant personal loss—his son's death due to his absence underscores this point. This addresses the adverse effects of unchecked ambition and the importance of balancing personal and professional aspirations .

The setting in "Sultan," primarily the rural backdrop of Haryana, significantly impacts the narrative by grounding the story in the cultural context of traditional wrestling. This backdrop not only informs Sultan Ali Khan's career decisions but also shapes his identity, influencing character interactions and societal perceptions. The setting provides authenticity to the protagonist's struggles and motivations, reflecting local values which drive both individual determination and community reconciliation .

The film "Sultan" embeds the cultural significance of wrestling in Haryana deeply into the narrative. Rural Haryana is depicted as a traditional wrestling hub, reflecting the sport's importance to the region's identity. The protagonist’s journey is intertwined with the local wrestling culture, emphasizing themes of pride and perseverance rooted in regional traditions. The film not only highlights the sport's influence on personal and professional life but also uses it as a leitmotif for character growth and reconciliation .

Aarfa Hussain character challenges traditional gender roles by being a formidable wrestler in her own right, initially motivating Sultan to improve himself. Her character defies the stereotype of male-dominated sports, illustrating women's contribution to wrestling. Aarfa’s personal sacrifices and her initial rejection of Sultan until he achieves her level highlight themes of gender equality and the dual nature of personal and professional sacrifice women face .

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