Life has its hues

Rating: 9/10 (20 March 2006)

(Contains traces of the climax. Read only if you have watched the movie)
When I saw the trailers of Rang de Basanti on TV, a particular scene appealed to me. Four men exuding so much freedom, running about like they give a damn to anybody else in the world. They looked free, they looked happy, they looked like they were filled with all the exuberance of youth . They looked true. And I decided to watch the movie. I wasn't disappointed. The four friends were just what I thought they'd be  friends who lived for each other. Friends who died for each other. Friends who thought the world about each other. Friends who remained true not just to each other but to their dear pal who died fighting a lonely battle. I should actually be saying five friends as the four are joined by the person who probably ridiculed their friendship the most. But remained with them till the end. Rang de Basanti is a beautiful movie. Beautiful from the start to the finish. The characters are convincing. Each one has celebrated life and patriotism in his own true way. Alice Patten as Sue touches your heart with her sincere desire to live her grandfather's dream. Soha (Sonia) looks very endearing and innocent and is loved by all. Her friends dote on her. Kunal Kapoor as Aslam is more serious than the rest but believes in his share of fun despite protests from home. Athul Kulkarni is irreplaceable as Lakshman Pandey. Aamir Khan's Dijje (as pronounced by mum Mitro) stands tall and true specially when he starts realising Sue's dream and slowly falls in love with her. But the people who I found most endearing were Siddhart (Karan) and Sharmaan (Sukhi). Sukhi is adorable. He's like this joker of the group. He tries his best to make his friends laugh when they feel low. His famous last words that he's still a virgin will surely make u smile despite yr moistened eyes. Siddharth was fabulous. He looks like your boy next door and smiles at every joke with that coy boyish smile. But chances are, you will fall in love with Karan and adore him till the end.
Rang de Basanti has fun and seriousness beautifully superimposing each other. The boys are boys in their mirthful world- drinking, dancing and generally making merry- but mature convincingly into fuming, outraged patriots. And when they die, they are smiling, holding on to each other and being proud of what they did for their friend, their country. They become one in spirit with their martyrs who had gone to the grave not in silence, not screaming but with a proud and triumphant smile on their faces.