People would slap me if I said that No Smoking is a good film. In fact, had I constrained myself to watching this film only once, even I would slap myself if I said that it is a good film. But I watched it again for Anurag Kashyap, hoping there could be something I missed during the first watch. And, I liked it. Now, was it because of my already-accepted-the-bitterness mindset or was it because of the unusual execution involved in the film? Let me analyze….
the story’s POINT OF VIEW
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“Everyday, thousands of people quit smoking, by dying…...”
‘K’ is obsessed with Smoking. Even in his bizarre dreams, where he is about to get killed, his last wish is to ‘have a cigarette’. Smoking forms his individual choice, his individual self and his individual compulsion; and also, his soul. His wife keeps nagging him to leave the injurious habit. He hardly cares. But, when she threatens with a divorce, he agrees to go through a mysterious treatment by a certain Baba-Bangali-‘proyogshala’.
His journey of experience in Baba-Bangali-prayogshala forms the crux of the remaining story. And in the end, ‘K’ has only two options to give up smoking: to die OR to submit his soul.
my POINT OF VIEW
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‘No Smoking’ questions the difference between the two options ‘K’ ends up having. Or in other words, the film emphasizes the similarity between those two options.
The film is Anurag Kashyap’s ‘Point of View’ on how Reality treats a Hoard-Roark-ish man, when he, living by his individualistic rules, tries to go against those of the real world. Contrary to what I expected and perceived initially, this film has less to do with the ill-effects of Smoking! Smoking, as an injurious habit, though appears on the surface of the film, is just a thrown-at-a-corner string of the film. But at the end, it all sounds meaningful, at-least in my ‘Point of View’.
From my point of view, this film deals with the Battle between Self-Independence and Society’s Indulgence. Smoking may be an unhealthy habit, but it is also K’s assertion of independence. He does not want to leave it, just because the world around him wants to. If he leaves, it has to be his own choice, rather than that of others. But he never wants to leave smoking. On the contrary, he is so much addicted to it that, in his dreams, he fears of future situations when he may not be able to have a cigarette. So quitting smoking is out of the scope of his individual, independent choices. But how far will the society let him carry his self-independence? Family and friends, and several recognition-greedy, anti-smoking institutions pose several propositions against one’s independent smoking habit!
Even Rama, in Ramayana, has had to ignore his inner-voice and send Sita to exile, because the society has its own nagging ways of suspicions. According to religion, he who respects the society is Wise. And on that regard, Rama is considered The Wise Man. And in today’s world, many give away their soul to societal absurdities, probably, to get labeled as ‘Wise’!!!
anurag’s POINT OF VIEW
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Further on a film-making perspective, ‘No Smoking’ is the Battle between Anurag Kashyap and the Society around him. It, in Anurag’s own words on his blog, is his most personal film. He made this film against all those peoples who have fire-walled Indian cinema, within narrow borders of romantic themes and colorful musicals. No Smoking, in almost every aspect, cross the borders and dwells mostly on the unseen territories of film-making. Check-out the usage of bath tub as K’s medium of transition between the real world and the surreal one. Smart and well-reasoned (it’s only when one relaxes, he/she can think about the things/world beyond the existing; and K relaxes mostly in his bath-tub)!!!! Or try to think about the narrative: fully fluid…. it has enough space in its density for a free audience interpretation. Each person may make his/her own… the narrative leaves such huge scope for a wide spectrum of perceptions. Kudos to Anurag’s script!!! As expected, the critics have slammed the film, because it doesn’t fall within the confines of their pre-set perceptions.
Through the film’s story, where K ends up submitting away his soul so as to survive, Anurag expresses his anguish over the current system, where he has less scope for his form of expression; and to survive in the system, he is compelled to dwell within the limitations devised by the influential peoples. But for ‘No Smoking’, Anurag hasn’t compromised with anyone or anything and his film did not give away its soul; thereby, got (physically) killed by the critics’ low rating…. i.e. out of the two options he had, he chose the first one for his film!!!!
again, my POINT OF VIEW
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Having written the above, I don’t personally submit myself to the ideology that one must adhere only to one’s individualistic view and ignore the opposing society. From my point of view, independence may sound great, and even fashionable; but on a broader note, it is as injurious as Smoking. Self-reliance is good but when it leads to over-self-indulgence, it may result in self-destruction. There are always better ways of balancing life on an ‘Interdependence’ note. To understand better about Interdependence, fall in Love!!! Trust me…. Everything gets clear on why: more than an individualistically arrogant decision, a simple sacrifice leads to a better Life! One will understand why Rama’s decision to respect the society has a broader significance than one’s instinctive viewpoint that he has disrespected his chaste wife. Finally, one can realize that Soul is not about being independent, but respecting “your existence with others’ existence”.
After watching the film, one can also infer that, Anurag Kashyap has a wonderful knack of film-making. Not doubt of it!!! But he independently and individualistically, smoked! He arrogantly smoked a lot!!! Thus, at the box-office, his film burnt down to ashes. Smoking is Injurious!!!!
for the audience and their POINT OF VIEW
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Even if people would slap me, I prefer to stand by my soul: ‘No Smoking’ is a good film. But on my preference to recommend it to others, I prefer to step back. Barring my linguistic lapses, the above mentioned review should make one realize their own individualistic choice of watching the film.
from the credits’ POINT OF VIEW
John Abraham played ‘K’; Ayesha Takia, his wife and Paresh Rawal, Baba-Bangali!!
Vishal Sekhar provided the BGM and also co-produced the film!
Anurag Kashyap has written and directed this film.
the readers’ POINT OF VIEW
*Slaps and Pats from each one’s point of view are heavily expected, eagerly anticipated and warmly welcome!!!!
