A passionate film that ends up being merely noise and racket

Rating: 6/10 (3 February 2006)

Given the kind of response Rang De Basanti has got, one dissenting review is probably going to make no dent on the mass of celebratory reviews here and all over the internet. But then the itself movie is about rebellion, so here goes..
With an amazing amount of hype surrounding it, the best mainstream actor in the country at its helm and an immensely evocative tag line - "a generation awakens", Rang De Basanti had to be one of the best Hindi movies in recent times. However, I came out of the cinema hall disappointed. First off, the movie's politics is way too simplistic and is marked by Bollywood's characteristic lack of interest in the complexities of how the State functions. If you believe the movie, each politician is a devil whose evil deeds permeate every nook and corner of the country. The government has never done anything good and it'll always remain the same (unless you assassinate one of the big devils). So, while the movie deserves credit for criticizing fundamentalists and hate mongers, it seems to be going on a chauvinistic trip of its own. The problem with Rang De Basanti is not that it points out that things are going wrong with our country. The same story with all its action and melodrama could have been used to effectively portray the urgency of change. The problem is with impression it creates - simplistic and over the top, reminiscent of the mind of a lynch mob.
Then, the movie lacks what one can best call "personal moments". This is a movie about a group of people and finally about the whole country. Individuals don't have much of a place in it. The few moments where they do take a precedence add soul to the movie, such as Laxman's recitation of Ram Prasad Bismil's "sarfaroshi ki tamanna" or Waheeda Rahman's mourning over her son's death. Even if one is disenchanted by the course of action the protagonists adopt, one could have been made to identify with and care about what happens to them. But unlike the thoughtful and mature characterisations of Dil Chahta Hai, here the writers show a propensity towards the outer world rather than the inner.
On the bright side, A R Rahman has composed a dazzling soundtrack with some unique and earthy lyrics by Prasoon Joshi (though all the songs heavily edited in the movie). The director and cinematographer seem to be having a lot of fun with the robust and trance-like portrayal of the gang's antics in and around Delhi. The movie exudes a young and restless aura. As one reviewer puts it, this is Rakeysh Mehra's ode to Delhi. The actors mostly do a fair job, with Aamir Khan and Atul Kulkarni coming up with the best performances. Kulkarni surely has a knack to play the passionate Hindutva fundamentalist rather well, this performance reminding one of his chilling portrayal of Savarkar in Hey Ram.
With some subtlety, Rang De Basanti could have been path-breaking and transformative. But it fails. Even among those who loved the movie (and that surely includes a lot of people), how many will care to add their bit to the nation and how many have returned to their private dreams where the only reaction to the country's affairs is one of cynicism? How many of them will even care to vote? Oh no, I forgot that voting won't do and what we need is an assassination followed by a radio confession, just before the devil's henchmen arrive to snuff your life out.
So for those who prefer their idealism without the naiveté and the theatrics, steer clear of Rang De Basanti. There are always movies such as Dhoop and Saransh...