INDIA CALLING. Review on Rang De Basanti

''Much education today is monumentally ineffective. All too often we are giving young people cut flowers when we should be teaching them to grow their own plants” - John W. Gardner

''Our youth are not failing the system; the system is failing our youth. Ironically, the very youth who are being treated the worst are the young people who are going to lead us out of this nightmare'' - Rachel Jackson

Today’s youth lack a clear vision of the future and are mostly interested in the banal forms of consumption and accumulation of wealth. Due to a faulty education system and bad social atmosphere the youth does not have the sense of belonging to the country and they are unaware of their duties towards the society they live in. They are shunning the Indian culture under western influence and have scant respect for our freedom fighters. The unfulfilled aspirations causes them to rebel, or leave the country for better prospects, or despair without proper direction in life. A social change is imperative with active participation of the youth that is beneficial to the community and for creating a vibrant democracy in India. The youth should strive to create a different future for India through their actions either through social movements, crusade against corruption, civic manners, environmental concerns or in any manner.

Rang De Basanti deals with these issues of youth and tries to convey the problems of youth through different characters and situations The movie also portrays different ways the youth across the world express their concerns - and how these expressions are rooted in the socio-cultural environment they live in. The movie is about the youth’s fight against the system. The movie does not provide solutions to youth problems but it tells us that with right impetus and direction the youth can contribute towards the betterment of society in any which way they can.

STORY

This is a story of group comprising students of diverse nature and having their own views on life. While Laxman Pandey (Atul Kulkarni) is a fundamentalist with political leanings, Daljit Singh aka DJ (Aamir Khan) is an alumnus of the university who is uninterested in the life outside university campus. While Aslam (Kunal Kapoor) is a serious personality with a rational outlook towards life, Sukhi (Sharman Joshi) is a fun loving student interested in women. While Karan (Siddharth) dreams of settling abroad, Sonia (Soha Ali Khan) is adamant in dealing with youth related issues. She is engaged to a patriotic pilot Ajay (Madhavan). This group is confronted by Sue (Alice Patten) an English filmmaker and after much prodding she finally convinces the group to act in her film based on the great Indian freedom fighters. During the shoot everyone gradually realizes that they have something common with the great freedom fighters and there is a gradual change in their perspective of life. The twist in the tale comes with Ajay’s death in the MiG 21 accident. The group takes up the cudgels with the authorities. How they try to deal with the issue is the crux of the movie.

PROS

The university campus scenes with the protagonists having fun are hilarious.

The scene in the car where Aamir speaks of his shortcomings to Sue clearly showcases the confusion and directionless life the majority of youth are living.

The scene where the protagonists demonstrating peacefully are beaten up by the police.

The enmity and patch up of Atul (Hindu) and Kunal (Muslim) is done in a subtle manner avoiding melodrama.

The scenes where the characters show that if one wants to do anything for social cause then they can do it. Atul Kulkarni leaves the political party whose ideologies impress him when he witnesses that the party leader indulges in corrupt activities. Siddharth and Aamir take drastic steps when necessary.

The scenes of Jalianwala bagh masaccre and the subsequent events are replicated beautifully in the present day scenario of Mig 21 incidents. The juxtaposition is used as a device to pit the characters against various situations, which brings out their heroic qualities

The transformation of the characters is done in a gradual manner. During the rehearsals and during shooting the initial scenes the characters don’t change overnight. They carry on with their fun activities after the shoot. But as the shooting progresses the change slowly takes place and then with the death of Ajay their characters metamorphose drastically. This makes the characters believable (even in the climax).

The climax, though it may seem extreme, is excellent because the intention is to incite the youth.

CONS

There seems to be some compulsion on directors part to nurse some age-old stereotypes and clichés like for instance the Hindu-Muslim enmity and the fact that though politics is in shambles it continues to be an enemy to be fought violently.

Soha Ali Khan’s character could have made a little substantial in the second half after his fiancés death.

The viewpoint of the pilot’s mother (Waheeda) is not elaborate and hence dilutes the emotional effect of the accident somewhat.

TECHNICAL CREW

Rakeysh Mehra’s direction is harsh and unrelenting and he has kept the narrative going at a steady pace carrying the viewers along with it. He has avoided the use of preachy dialogues or pseudo-philosophy of social responsibility and instead has presented the stark truth that you have two choices either to change the system and do something or endure the faulty system. The narrative has all the ingredients of a commercial movie but for once the intention is not only to entertain but also create awareness. The narrative being cyclical in construction the characters go through the motions at the confluence of the past and the present.

Story and Screenplay by Kamlesh Pandey, Rakeysh Mehra & Renzil DesilvaThe phases of character developement, the images and metaphors employed for the exploration of psyche of the characters and the cyclical construction appear clearly upon well written scenes which weave a pattern back and forth in time. The screenplay effectively highlights the undercurrent tension in the movie in the second half. The characters are so well written that they become the carrier of our guilt in living our dark desires and devoting time to materialistic pleasures and shunning responsibility.

Editing by PS Bharatiis taut and pacy not allowing the audience to become restless.

Cinematography by Binod Pradhanis excellent. Be it the sepia tinted scenes of the past or the colourful presentation of Punjab or the emotions of the characters, everything is aesthetically and effectively captured.

Dialogues by Prasoon Joshisuit different characters and situations to perfection. While the carefree youth uses campus lingo the more serious scenes have hard-hitting words. Aamir mouths one dialogue “We are peeing on the present by keeping our one leg in past and one in future”. Though he says it in jest it speaks the truth. Witty one liners are fun to hear.

AR Rahman’s music and Prasoon Joshi’s lyrics blend well with the theme of the movie. Daler renders an award worthy title song Rang De Basanti. The foot tapping Patshaala is the typical AR number outlining the carefree campus atmosphere. Rubaroo is a kind of Indi-pop song appealing to the youth. Tum Bin Bataye soothes your nerves with Prasoon in top form. Khalbali, Luka Chupi and Khoon Chala fit the situations perfectly.

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