The Color of Revolution. Review on Rang De Basanti

Film Review: Rang De Basanti

Cast: Aamir Khan, Alice Payton, Soha Ali Khan, Madhavan, Atul Kulkarni, Kunal Kapoor, Sharman Joshi, Siddharth, Waheeda Rehman, Om Puri, Kiron Kher, Anupam Kher, Lekh Tandon, Cyrus Sahukar

Cinematography: Binod Pradhan

Art Direction: Samir Chanda

Lyrics: Prasoon Joshi

Music: A.R. Rehman

Director: Rakesh Mehra

The Hindi film industry is churning baggage of films every year but only a small number of films are worth mentioning and an even smaller number have any positive impact on the society. It’s doubtful if the movie could create any big impact but its films like these - Yuva, Hu Tu Tu, The legend of Bhagat Singh, Swadesh and Rang de Basanti - that serve as wake up calls for the confused younger lot of today.

Let’s start with briefing of film. A British girl Sue (Alice Payton) is very passionate about freedom fighters of Indian Independence Struggle. The seed has been sown by a diary written by her grandfather who has actually seen the struggle with his own eyes during his job in the British Police force in India. She is fascinated by the courage and spirit of Indian freedom fighters and wants to make a film on them. She lands in India to make the film. She knows only Sonia (Soha Ali Khan) here who helps her for her project. But soon she realizes that the country she envisioned is far from the real thing - nobody really cares for freedom struggle and the real heroes. There is no passion in youths studying in college where she comes for audition. Patriotism remains at a very superficial level of painting tricolor on bodies and clothes and Pakistan bashing. She gets totally disheartened. Then she meets friends of Sonia who are enjoying their college life. The team comprises of DJ (Aamir Khan), a Sikh chap who takes nothing seriously; whose life is full of adventure and careless fun, Aslam (Kunal Kapoor), a Muslim youth who is an artist, who is a teetotaler unlike his friends and (Om Puri plays a cameo as his father), Karan (Siddarth), a millionaire’s son who’s disillusioned about the current state of the country, and Sukhi (Sharman Joshi).

Sue finds the characters of Indian freedom fighters for her film in these youths. They initially take her and her film trivially but in due course of time throw themselves into the project body and soul. There is right wing party enthusiast, Laxman (Atul Kulkarni) from the same college who interferes and spoils their celebration in the name of Indian culture. The party sees this youth just as an instrument for increasing popularity of their party, but this youth is passionate and wants to do something for his country. He is so misguided by the pseudo philosophy of party that he sees every Muslim as Pakistani agent and anti-national. On the contrary, DJ and his friends are from different religious and cultural backgrounds but very good friends and therefore they could not take unjustified allegations and enmity against their beloved friend Aslam, a Muslim. At the same time, Laxman has a great respect for freedom fighters and wants to play a character in this film. After several vociferous objections from DJ and his friends, Laxman is finally accepted by all to cast in the film. This team has one odd friend Ajay (Madhavan) who is the flight Lieutenant in Indian Air force. He is boyfriend of Sonia. He is ready to give his life for his country. He believes that there is no point in cursing the system and things can change when we take the responsibility for it.

The director (Rakesh Mehra) has demonstrated the unique way of story-telling by interweaving the freedom struggle of Bhagat Singh and his companions, stirring the conscience of this casting crew and kindling the spirit of patriotism in a very subtle but powerful manner. With a minimum of fuss, and sparing us the melodrama that is so typical of Bollywood flicks, Mehra draws on our freedom struggle and communicates his view on patriotism in a very subtle vein.

The Film proceeds in an interesting manner. In an accident of MIG fighter plane Ajay dies. Defence minister (Mohan Agashe), blames the experienced pilot Ajay for his own death, instead of taking responsibility of sub-quality spare parts of the plane. His statement sparks the suppressed flare in these youths. They make a non-violent protest and demand for an enquiry to be set for seeking truth behind the deal of sub-quality spare-parts for MIG and the corruption behind that

In return, however, they are subjected to Lathis from policemen. When Laxman tries to seek help from his communal party men, he finds out they have neither concern for the lost life of Ajay, nor any concern for the injustice to them. On the contrary they are opportunists who are hand-in-glove with the corrupt minister. He gets a taste of the truth and realizes that he is a mere pawn in the party for spreading hatred against Muslims. The disillusioned youths take the path of violence and kill Defence minister. Though the director has shown a very strong parallelism between killing of Simon, a brutal Englishman (in pre-independence era) by Bhagat Singh’s companions and killing of corrupt Defence minister, not many viewers will agree with the complete analogy as times and backgrounds have changed. The path taken by these youths to change the system is questionable and this is a small flaw but this could be easily forgiven as the bottom-line is not to give literal solutions to all problems of India but to awake our lost or slept spirit.

Even after killing him, they don’t get justice as instead of minister being exposed, he has achieved martyrdom. Then they decide to tell whole world about there act and the cause behind that even if it costs them their lives. Here again director draws beautiful parallelism between them taking the responsibility for murder and Bhagat singh and his comrade’s bombing the assembly and being caught by police. The film ends in an anti-climax.

Barring some small flaws like almost nil security of Defence minister and his easy murder which is not possible in reality as easily as shown in film, rest of the film is beautiful and engrossing. It’s poetic in its narration but nowhere dramatic. Performances are excellent by all. Even in very small roles Waheeda Rehmaan (as mother of Ajay), Om Puri (as father of aslam), Anupam Kher (father of karan) and Mohan Agashe have shown their presence. Cinematography and music are perfectly in line with the spirit of the film. Both take care of the backdrop of Delhi and Punjab. The Scenes are beautifully crafted like a painting. Jokes are situational and the timing of the delivery is perfect.

Filmmaker’s message is simply yet powerfully expressed. “Either you live with the system bearing all the injustice associated with it or take the responsibility to change it”. He has embedded his messages even in gossip chats of these friends. Like “No country is perfect, we have to make it “. A. R. Rehmaan has pumped all the passion, masti, and emotions needed for this film.

But above all this is Rakesh Mehra’s film. After “Aks” Rakesh has presented us a complete film. Aks was great on technical aspects but was average in plot, but with this film he has ensured quality in all departments of film-making.

Don’t miss the film and preferably watch it in theatre to feel it holistically