Jul 06, 2008 10:06 AM
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(Updated Jul 06, 2008 10:09 AM)
Black & White. I know I am not exactly the first one to watch this film here (in fact might be one of the last - or so the list suggests!) but I want to write something about this film for what it is. For being a representation of something that transcends the definitions of a mere film or just terrorism or only religion.
The Philosophy (I guess it's the most important aspect of the movie)
*Black & White starts on the backdrop of Independence Day Celebrations at the Red Fort and a terrorist who has come down to Delhi to spread his belief among the less significant non-believers. To wrap up, it is the story of a young man, who is just and forthright and stands up for the values he believes in - whether they are right or wrong is subjective to no one rule.
He interacts with a Professor and his wife, a Social Activist and wants to use them to get a pass to the Red Fort aiming at blasting out his message to the world. He has adorned the identity of a youth who has lost his parents in the Gujarat Riot and knows that he is part of a minority in this democratic country and he has his right to bear grievance against the people who killed his parents. Surrounding him in this movie are characters like a famous politician who hides his face behind the veil of his religion and demands equality among the in-general peace-loving people of the country he serves but holds on to his belief that he has to kill to spread his religion. On the other hand, there is an old poet (a Shayar) who lives on the melodious sounds and the poetry of his heart - a heart that has learnt to beat thriving on the beauties of that same religion. Then there is this Professor who belongs to the other religion and yet bridges all the imaginary gaps of the society through his greatness in not only being a Professor of a different language than his own but also in trying to spread through his profession the righteousness of every religion, the fact that they are essentially all testimonials to the goodness and the enrichment of the human souls and the essence of being God's servant. And there is the Professor's wife who believes in and stands up for what is right - the association of religion with the welfare of mankind and not the game of politics which ensure the men in power a short cut to success thriving on that side of humanity which falls easily to instigation.
All the characters in Black & White come together to show us a way and teach us something. We are and we become what we learn. We can be staunch believers of some notion but when we have the light to open our eyes to, we should shed all ego and all blocks and face it with open arms - no matter what the consequence is. We might prefer to kill whom we indict, but a man who changes and learns through and with his life, can be a bigger teacher to the world we strive to change - he might be an example and he might be the right amount of light that needs to shine through all the darkness that we despise.
Yes - and all this considering that we are human enough.
The Plot
The protagonist Numair Qazi (Anurag Sinha) is a believer - in everything he has learnt and known as the base of his religion and the one force that will make him a human being and give him the one thing that Islam is supposed to be based on. He is ruthless and he stands no escapism - a fellow terrorist who drinks at a Hindu's place is equally despicable to him as another who doesn't want to work. He stands up for all the teachings of his religion - interpreted or misinterpreted. He takes shelter in the house of an old but fiery Muslim poet-professor (Habib Tanvir) who has the sweetness of an old man, the integrity of a human being and the strength of a poet. Professor Rajen Mathur (Anil Kapoor) and his feisty wife Roma (Shefali Shah) are grand examples of simple everyday men and women who believe in the goodness of this world and most important on the grandeur of this blessing called life. They know to lead a simple life enriched with the power of hard work, inner-strength, openness and equality.
Black & White most importantly talks about human beings. True blue human beings…. Who stand by themselves, believe in themselves and believe that goodness comes from being simple, straight-forward, true, caring, sharing and open. It stands on the sole truth of life and how life can be made hell by means of the wrongs in this world. It portrays characters that are simple coz they know and understand the world as well as characters that are simple because they don't know what the truth is.
The technicalities
*In terms of execution, Black & White gives you some tender moments -
Where Professor Mathur first meets Numair and explains the quotation from Quran.
Where the poet-professor says a few things about Professor Mathur to the TV crew.
Where Numair realizes that the world has taught him perhaps the wrong things (And it later shows that he imagines that he is fighting with himself - trying to kill the self which he hated and stand by the one which he discovered in course of his interactions with people).
And the end...
The movie fails though in certain categories - especially in the execution of the climax. The story falters in it's pace and reaches a height and then slows down. Some of the scenes could perhaps have been more moving too.
As for acting, a standing ovation to Anil Kapoor and Anurag Sinha. They are awesome. Watch the scene where Mathur talks to Numair and his daughter after Roma is killed. Anurag too is awesome with his cold but intelligent looks. He emotes well with his eyes and the vengeance and ruthlessness show beyond any spoken words.
Black & White isn't really memorable - it's not brilliant in any cinematic department. But it carries a great message - with the touch of reality and belief. Subhash Ghai saab - thanks for the subject on the whole. It teaches a lot of things here and there - and most important it teaches the importance of knowledge and that of change!
