~The flight with clipped wings~. Review on Udaan

Freedom– of choice, of living and of comfort. Naah! That’s just hypocrisy, because when the time comes to choose between freedom and comfort, one alwayschooses comfort. What? What is it I hear? I have to work one extra day of the week. No more Saturdays? This won’t do! I’ll fight for it. But wait… you said I have to give up my coffee. I mean, I care about all those starving children in Africa; I reallydo, but don’t make me give up my coffee. Please! I’ll adjust, it’s no problem. What’s one less day of holiday, eh? At least I’ve got my coffee…

Have you wondered how the birds soar so high in their sky? What is the logic behind their ‘udaan’, their flight? What would happen if the sparrow never left its home, knowing that leaving would mean abandoning its child alone? What would happen if the Koyal never sang, knowing that the sound of her voice would alert the eagle that is harbouring nearby, and could spell doom for her? What would happen if the little birds never decided to take the plunge – their first flight; knowing that they are afraid of heights and learning to fly might not be the easiest thing to do? What would happen… if all our human insecurities were acted upon by birds? Will they ever gather the courage to fly again, and be ever so graceful in their flight? Of course, scientists would argue that birds do not share the intellect of humans; that they are not capable of such analysis. However, the same insecurities which bog us down push them to prosper and do what they do so well – soar! Imagine, if all the birds decided to choose comfort, never to leave their homes. There would be no flight, no ‘udaan’, and no freedom. It would be a flight with clipped wings, for their wings aren’t clipped, it is the fear of making a choice which has made them redundant from doing what they excel at. What is your choice – freedom or comfort…?

Plot:

I shouldn’t disclose much. Udaanis not a ‘multilayered film. It is a simple film with a clear message. The essence of the film, I’ve already disclosed in the first two paragraphs. Rohan is a teenager studying in a boarding school. He and his friends are expelled when they are caught watching a film of ‘questionable’ nature. He returns to his dad (played by Ronit Roy), who has not at all been a father figure to him. And lo! Here comes the crisis – how to balance the wishes of the family against your own? The father wants him to join the factory; after all, that is the saferoute. It is an established business. But the son wants to be a writer, a WRITER for god’s sake!!Is it even a real profession?? Add to this, a step – brother who may be a victim of abuse and other odd job characters and you have a mix of angst, despair and escapism. To rise against this, or not to rise against this, that is the question? For, what is the guarantee that there is a better life than this?Maybe, the answer lies in rising abovethis, and not against it…

Themes:

If you care at all, you get good results; if you care a lot,you get incredibleresults. You can go around wielding a hockey stick or a cricket bat, pretending you’re Dhyan Chand or Sachin Tendulkar but that doesn’t get you anywhere in life. If you reallywant respect in this society, study hard. If you don’t get good marks, you don’t get a job; you don’t get a job, you have no money; you have no money, you have no respect. Maybe, somewhere in the West, where people are ignorant and clouded by idealistic notions, you might actually believethat you’re going somewhere even without academics, but let’s be sensiblehere, for God’s sake!

We’re realistic people. We study hard, go to university and get a real job. Or you study even harder and get a respectable job like a doctor or an engineer. Respect is everything in this world and you have to work hard to earn it. You don’t go around makingup professions like writing. That is just horrendous! Too many people have wasted their lives for that…

Believe me; I’ve heard this a thousand times. Udaanis a credible satire on Indian society and especially this mentality. Coming from a person who has struggled to become a writer as well, I understand the situation as good as the back of my hand. Safety first – it’s always been that way. Udaanasks you to make a choice – safety (conformity) or your life? Are you ready to sacrifice your life or is it just a bit too much to ask?

If we go a decade or so back, the answer would have been simple – the hero dare not even ask the question. His heroics would be lauded in the sense that he sacrificed his dreams for the benefit and welfare of the family. He would have contemplated the choice, but the final answer would have always been the same. Considering the globalization prevalent today, the clash between individuality and family culture was bound to happen. What happens when both sides are 50 – 50? What if the hero is no longer willing to be a sacrificial lamb? It is the changing face of Indian society where Gen X is willing to follow their dreams, damn the consequences. But there are always consequences…

Also, I’ve lived in a hostel and I know it first hand. The hostel sequence seemed a bit caricatured to me. Anurag Kashyap has been fascinated with the ‘dark’ side of cinema. In fact, ‘dark’ cinema has become synonymous to realistic cinema. If the film is dark and gritty, it is deemed ‘realistic’. Ha! If Udaanwent to this path as well, I was ready to criticize it for advocating a misconception. CONTINUED...