We all watch movies. We watch movies because we want to take break from daily stressful life and submerge into different world. Many of them are pure entertainment or social enlightenment. But, There comes once in a while movie which forces you to think, which forces you to stand up, which forces to take the blame, and which forces you to do something. Rang De Basanti is one of them.
They say youth is true force of any country. Rakesh Omprakash Mehra’s Rang De Basanti (2006) is a story about the youth's role in Indian society. As its tag line says “A Generation Awakens”, RDB is a wake up call and introspection for young generation of India.
Story
A young, London based idealistic filmmaker Sue (Alice Patten) finds the diaries of her grandfather, who served in the British police force in India during the freedom struggle. She makes plans to shoot a documentary on the Indian revolutionaries mentioned in the diaries.
She comes down to Delhi and casts a group of ex-university students-cum-friends from different backgrounds to play the pivotal roles of revolutionaries - Daljit Singh/Chandrasekhar Azad (Aamir Khan), Karan/Bhagat Singh (Siddharth), Aslam/Ashfaqullah Khan (Kunal Kapoor), Sukhi/Rajguru (Sharman Joshi), Laxman Pandey/Ramprasad Bismil (Atul Kulkarni), and Sonia/Durga Vohra (Soha Ali Khan).
The modern-minded youngsters initially refuse to be part of the project, as they don't identify themselves with these characters from the past. But, as they started rehearsal and shooting of the documentary, the line between past and present getting blurred, they grow gradually, and finally realized real aim of the youth.
As fate decides, Ajay Rathod (Madhavan), Sonia's Boyfriend getting killed in plane crash. Foreign minister blames Ajay's recklessness instead of inquiring real reasons behind Ajay's death. As youngsters loose their faith in the governing body, lesson learned from the historical documentary comes alive in present, and they take similar route to take on the corrupt system.
Analysis
RDB is powerful, message-driven, thought provoking, and inspiring saga. As Aamir Khan says in the movie “There are two choices we have - accept conditions as they exists or take upon the responsibility to change them''. It’s never late to take responsibility to clean up the house. If we don’t act right now, it will be too late. It’s our actions, which will decide whether we will retire in beautiful, well-administrated, environment-safe, corruption-less country or not.
RDB is rare movie where viewers are forced to think three threads at the same time - Past, Present, and Future. Movie masterfully interweaves past and present threads by showing how two generation fought for their cause and force viewers to act on future thread. As a viewer, as you are watching similar incidents taking place of past and present, you are forced to think of future political, industrial, environmental, economical situations of the country.
Much has been written about movie’s anti-positive climax. RDB, as its name implies, took violent sacrifice approach (color of yellow represents sacrifice), as martyrs did against British. To be honest, I am also against violent ways to solve the problems. But, RDB is all about one must take steps - It doesn’t matter whether it’s violent or non-violent or co-operational. Bottom line is we need to work together, change our attitude and mindset towards better goals, and act sooner than later to get rid of corruption from the society.
One of the most unique parts of the movie is its innovative screenplay. It's convincing comparison of Bhagat Singh's life with the 21st century India is simply mind-blowing. Its amazing to see how much similarity in parallel creation of both British India of past and the India today – how they have aimless life at early stage of life, how they realized youth’s role in their respective society, how both stories getting blurred after half way point in the movie, and how both stories intersect with each other at very crucial point in the climax.
RDB has many awe-inspiring moments. If you think movie shows Indian youth as carefree generation who doesn't care about their ancestors, religions, traditional values then check it out some of scenes shown in movie - Aamir asks Karan to put off cigarette when he sees his grandpa coming out the house (respect for elder), Kunal doesn’t want to talk about Hindu-Muslim’s division when his father and brother trying to convince him to make friends of their own religion (belief in secularism), Group of documentary unit visits Golden Temple and they take a bath in the religious tank (respect for temple traditions and belief in religious ceremonies). That shows today’s youth believes in their values, traditions, patriotism under the cloak of self-centrism, westernization, and materialism, It shows nothing is lost yet. It’s only a matter of time when we awaken again.
RDB belongs to one and only one - pivotal character of Alice Patten as Sue. From the very first scene to last scene, she is core integral part of the story. Her Hindi accent is foreigner like but her behavior, her constant friendly smile makes her Indian-viewer-friendly. From the very first line she says in Hindi ''Teri Maa Ki Aaankh'', she jumps into Indian viewers heart and never looks back. We as an Indian viewers, immediately accepts her as part of our own society. She no longer remains foreigner and white girl from England. To me, that was one of the best parts of the screenplay where director and writer took extra effort to make her Indian like so, audience feels ease and start looking at bigger picture beyond Alice.
All major youth characters are unique in terms of personality and portrayed by near perfect cast. Aamir Khan as DJ is naughty and pessimistic. He is flawless in comic situations with fluent Punjabi accent. He proves again that he is most versatile actor in Bollywood. Siddharth as Karan is serious because of domestic problems. He is serious enough that he is the last person to congratulate his friends and join in their engagement celebration. Kunal Kapoor as Aslam is smiley, quiet, poet, and most controlled human being in the group. Sharman Joshi as Sukhi is happy-go-lucky vulnerable kid and believes that he will die without getting married. Atul Kulkarni as Laxman Pandey is fundamentalist. Soha Ali Khan as Sonia is group's only girl and focal point. Madhavan as Soha's boyfriend is free-spirited patriot air-force pilot. He is real gentleman in the chaotic group of youngsters. All other actors as a supporting cast - Waheeda Rehman as Ajay’s mother, Anupam Kher as Karan's father, Om Puri as Aslam's father, and Kiron Kher as DJ's Mother are nothing but decoration.
A.R.Rahman’s unique modern music numbers and thunderous background score is highlight of the film. Some of the numbers especially Paathshala, Roobaroo are groundbreaking.
Conclusion
I would definitely put Rang De Basanti as one of the finest films made in Indian cinema. It is at par with recent message-driven classics like Matrubhoomi, Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi, Pinjar, and Chandani Bar. It’s cinematic achievement and monumental movie in Indian filmmaking history. It’s a must see.
Story is influenced from DVD text.
