The Renaissance of Indian Cinema

Rating: 9/10 (15 February 2006)

I do believe that despite all the rubbish that we have been forced to accept as mainstream Indian cinema, there is a new dawn which will soon turn into a full blown Renaissance, one hopes, and sweep away all the Mallika Sherawats, Imran Hashmis and the entire Karan Johar camp in one fell swoop.
After watching the movie, as we drove back from the cinema, my two normally garrullous teenagers were as silent as mice. I share this with you only to indicate that this is what a good movie like Rang De Basanti can do even to young people normally prone to sneering at the nonsensical stuff they see promoted night and day on Zee and Sony.
It is easy to relate to the movie because even though it is fashionable to be bitter and cynical about the state of affairs in one's country,India, there is still within us that little kernel of hope that we, as citizens, as individuals, as Indians, would be able to make a contribution to our nation. If not that then at least dent the pernicious corruption that threatens to demolish all notions of civil society and good governance.
The question is-- how many of us actually have the courage to step out of our comfort zones and take that life threatening step to challenge the all powerful bureaucracy and ageing satanic politicians who continue to rule over a nation that has long outgrown that antedeluvian style of politics??
The story is set in New Delhi and has a wonderfully brisk screenplay (absolutely sag free)that tells of a motley group of young people, some of them quite easily classifiable as wastrels, (lounging around eating "dhaba" food, dancing at midnight on small hillocks of the adjoining Faridabad area, racing each other on motorcycles and cars)suddenly faced with the dilemma--to be or not to be?
So in essence this is what the movie is about :the classical angst of young people of any century, the love hate relationship that we have all had with our parents, the dislike of ageing and outmoded traditions and beliefs and above all to be able to stand out as individuals when it is so easy to get lost in the crowds of an over populated third world country, the slow and gradual identification with their alter egos (freedom fighters like Bhagat Singh and Chandra Shekhar Azad)--- all this is what makes Rang De Basanti a great movie.
The superiority of the movie lies in the deftness with which the director proceeds to portray the anguish of the young, even the young idealistic party worker who believes he is so superior to the westernised group of college goers. The freshness of the new actors is like freshly brewed coffee, stirring and stimulating--totally unlike the nauseatingly stereotypical performances of a lot of young actors in films today. Every actor is unique and leaves an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of even the most jaded cinema buff.
The modern day tragic protagonists move through the story with adroitness and one gets a sense of their total immersion in their role. There is none of the artifice and adam's apple bobbing that describes all of Sharoukh Khan's recent portrayals of patriotism.
Even though the subject is noir the colors, the photography and the music are not. In fact, the music is upbeat and uplifting throughout and I do believe that is in keeping with the final message of the movie which is not to say the movie is didactic but that there is definitely a message and it is a positive one. In keeping with the spirit of the movie AR Rehman creates a score that is youthful and energetic and Daler Mehndi's rendition of a particularly popular song is great. It contains all the elements of the spirit of Punjabiat, of the energy and the vigour of that most beautiful part of our country.
What else? Loved it, loved it, loved it.
Amir Khan-- Shobha De should eat her words--the foolish woman called you an over rated actor on Karan Johar's tutti fruity show. You are GREAT-- I have always said this and I am happy to repeat myself. People, go watch the movie-- for God's sake don't miss it.