Nov 11, 2007 06:39 PM
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Why would a film maker of Sanjay's calibre do a complete volte face(turn around) on his unusual, competitive and brave making? Maybe he wanted to do an Indian moulin Rouge? Maybe he wanted to explore a new territory called a MUSICAL? Maybe he got tired of expressing the same language and just expressed himself in a world of DREAMS!
There is a very simple thread that Sanjay Leela Bhansali has woven into his film, **the thread of a Dreamer, who weaves Happiness into the lives of people who are laden with sadness!
That is the premise of his filmSaawariya!
Sanjay Leela Bhansali, **has really experimented here. He has given us a theatrical presented on the celluloid screen. Its like a Pied Pipers Dream! He came, he played and he carried all the bad energies away.
This story is of a young lad, Raj(Ranbir Kapoor),who has landed himself a job as the leadsinger of a bar in the R K Bar.He has promise, his eyes full of success, happiness and a complete heart of GOLD.He is the Pied Piper here. He spreadshappiness in the sad lives of the prostitutes who live by the night and dream by the day! Rani Mukherjee(Gulabji),also a famous, most sought after Queen Bee of the trade, is smitten by this youngster who promises laughter in the lives of these ladies who are ruthlessly trodden upon. The entire street is happy and singing!
Raj chances upon Sakina(Sonam Kapoor),who is a girl full of sadness. He is not only smitten by her beauty but is intrigued by her sadness. He tries to fill her life with his youthful exuberance, jabs about how unhappiness is going to keep knocking her down and how she needs to stand up to it and fight it! She instills in Raj the desires, the palyfulness and the song of the heart! She infuses the thread of emotion in Raj's life.
Onr fine night, she tells Raj about her true love and shatters his heart. She tells him about Imaan(Salman Khan), and her undying love for him.He is the reason for the sadness in her eyes. He is the reason she waits for with tears in her eyes. She is the personality of EMOTION in this film.
Starngely enough, every name has a meaning in this film and it largely relates to a very powerful emotion. **Raj, means rule. Ranbir Raj means the one who conquers and rules. Sakina, means tranquility, very devoted. Thats Sonam's role in the film. Imaan, is your inside, your pride. Thats the reason for Sakina to keep her faith, her heart intact! Gulab, means Rose. Its the most beautiful flower. Has the most frangrant smells, has varied colors also has thorns! This is Rani Mukherjee. Very sweet lady but life full of thorns! Sanjay Leela Bhansali has given a fantastic meaning to this film with use of these names!
Very Innovatively made and a very new genre for SLB to dabble in. He does it successfully. His technical brilliance is seen in the film by the way he uses his set. I must mention here that like a Broadway or Theatre, SLB has used a Set to make his film in. Its like a post independence mohalla, where he chose the flesh trade area to infuse sadness in the story. He has used Dreams of these women to portray there iron will to live and accept their fate. He has used the mid closeto close shots to explore the emotions on the faces of these characters. He has used the Jimmy Jib to give aplomb to shots where the characters run to find the other. He has used the Akeyla to show the turmoil in the minds of Sakina and Raj. He has most of all used the most brilliant colors of Green and Blue to fully empathise with the characters mind play. Green portrays progress, balance, desire to expand. When you see this film, connect it with the scene.See why Green is used very subtly in the backdrop. Whenever, Raj feels that he is getting somewhere with the lady of his dreams green has benn played very subtly. Blue, is the color ofInspiration, Sincerity and Spirituality. All the songs by the bridge or around the mohalla are shot in the night to convey these emotions. Blue infused with fog adds a very deep dimension of emotion to the scene being played. It symbolises theMoment of Truth!
SLB, has done an amazing job with only five defined characters. Raj, Sakina, Gulabji, Imaan and Raj's landladyLillian(Zohra Sehgal). **Special mention to the cameo played by Lilipop(thats what Raj calls her fondly) Zohra. She adds a lot of spice to the film. She is Raj's strength. She is his spiritual guide. She is the heart of this film.
Though the film starts as a narrative by Gulabji, it is actually a story being told by a prostituteand her unprofessed love. Its her sacrifice, her de factumof why she could not confess.
Ranbir,very natural like his father and mother, has put a whole lot of energy in his act. He has put in the youthfulness of a boy in love and also the maturity of a Man who has lost his love. He has come out a winner. SLB had probably just told him what the scene was and this man has put his heart into it. Sonam,is a natural too. Her dialogue delivery is impeccable. She has put in a lot of effort to effortlessly portray agirl in love and waiting for her love to take her away. She has the sadness in her eyes and the same joyous infectious smile that;ights up her face when she is happy. Raniis priceless! Salmanin brief role is very convincing. He has a natural baritone in his voice to convey his sincerity and his devotion to his lady love!
Do not go to see this film with a SET mind. Be open to the newness of the theme. Enjoy the true colors of this theatrical and get yourself transformed into a world where **desire is strong, dreams are sought and emotions displayed. Be brave to confront these beautiful things of life. See them shattered, see them being accomplished!
Dream on. What you want can be yours!*
