May 16, 2005 02:15 PM
6626 Views
(Updated Jun 11, 2005 01:52 PM)
Shyam Benegal is back after Zubeidaa(2001). This time with a historical epic, a biography of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.
This movie is about the last 6 years of Netaji, from 1940 to 1945. The movie starts when Netaji (Sachin Khedekar) is arrested and kept at Presidency Jail, Calcutta. He decides to fast unto death. So after 15 days, he is taken back to his house and was in a under house arrest. Here he gets a chance to escape from Calcutta. Helped by his nephew Sisir (Jishu Sengupt) and niece Ila(Divya Dutta), Subhash escapes from Calcutta and reaches Peshawar. Here Bhagatram Talwar (Rajpal Yadav) takes him to Kabul.
Netaji intended to reach Moscow from Kabul. But circumstances force him to proceed to Berlin. In Berlin, Netaji comes to know that Rasbihari Bose has formed an Indian National Army in Japan and he wanted Netaji to head this army and use them for India's independence. Hitler helps Netaji to proceed to Japan by providing him a submarine. Netaji reaches Tokyo in 1943. Here he formed the Azad Hind Fauj.
Netaji also took females in his army because he thought that if Rani Laxmibai could fight, other girls can also do the same. Netaji's Fauj took over Kohima and Imphal in 1943 and hoisted the tricolour there. But this success was shortlived. Japan could not fulfill his promise and this became impossible after the Americans dropped atom bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6, 1945 and August 9,1945 respectively. After that, Netaji loses his life due to a plane crash on August 18, 1945.
After 2 years, India got freedom. But Netaji was not present at that time to see the joy of crores of Indians. But if he would have been not there, India would have not got freedom.
Everyone had done a brilliant performance. Sachin Khedekar looked ditto like Netaji. Rajpal Yadav was at its best. Others like Surendra Rajan (Gandhi), Khubhushan Kharbanda, Rajeshwari(Dr. Lakshmi Sahgal) and Kelly Dorje (Japan PM Tojo) were also fine.
This movie also threw light on the love life of Subhash Chandra.
The songs were the best, especailly 'Tanha Rahi', 'Hum Dilli Dilli', 'Kadam Kadam' and 'Azaadi'. A R Rahman's music and Javed Akhtar's lyrics create magic.
In the end of the movie, a 5 minute video clip is shown of the true Subash Chandra Bose. If the cilp and the movie is compared, one will find no difference in the location, acting and the incedents.
On the whole, NSB is a must watch, esprecially for those who are history-lovers and who want to have a glimpse of the life of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.
