Encore Mr.Mehra encore!!!!!

Rating: 10/10 (1 February 2006)

I came, I saw, I was conquered. This very much sums up my reaction to RDB. No recent movie has had the kind of impact that RDB's had on me. It first propels you to the heights of fun and camaraderie, and then plummets you down to the shocks of gut wrenching reality.
It also exemplifies the aft written cliché of how one incident can change the life/s of a person/s forever.
I haven't seen any movie in the recent past which has had a so original script and fresh approach to story telling. It simply amazes you with its narration and sets about to do what it aims for.
The sepia toned flashbacks, the colorful contemporariness blend seamlessly to an awe inspiring motion picture which justifies the phrase 'MOVIE MAGIC'. It's nothing short of magical to make a world wearied, hard boiled cynic like me to laugh, cry, get inspired and pretty much feel all the emotions which the characters undergo.
Though the actual movie doesn't take off until intermission, the pre-interval portions builds up a neat platform to launch the issues depicted in the latter half of the movie. Each character has been built in detail. Their beliefs and their understanding of the society have been portrayed in an easy manner without boring the audience. Post interval grabs you by the throat and delivers a punch to your stomach, which leaves you breathless and gasping.
I don't want to comment on the plot, the acting or any other technical aspects of the movie. But want to address some of the criticisms leveled on the way the movie has been handled.
It was a masterstroke to draw parallels to the saga of the revolutionaries and the deeds of the characters of the story. Many people have said to me that the likes of Azad and Bhagat Singh should not have been compared with the beer gurgling, bike racing protagonists of the movie. But I beg to differ here. The deeds of our revolutionaries cannot be and must not be compared to anyone as we are incapable to be a fraction of those people. Here the director has drawn parallel to the story of the revolutionaries and has created situations in present scenario which were similar to what Azad, Bahagat et al faced in pre-independence era i.e. the oppression, double handedness, and out right lawlessness of the British then and Politicians now (The director's intention is pretty much evident in the Jalianwala Bagh scene where he alternates the image of Dyer with that of the minister).
The director also presents the characters with a solution to their problems. Take the path trodden by their ancestors till the very end.This too has come under criticism by some of my friends. "Does taking up arms is the solution?" they ask. Again according to me the director doesn't convey that arms are the only solution. A character even tells at the climax that what they have done may be wrong, but it seemed to be the effective way to jolt the society which is sleeping under the burden of hopelessness, inactivity and general unconcern. I too do not support violence, but if you need to grab the attention of the whole nation, there has to happen incidents which will force you to take notice and act upon it. Also everyone knows that our independence is not the result of non-violence only. Revolutionaries also played a major role.
Other thing which drew criticism was the climax. My friends wanted the climax to be different than what it is. According to me it wold have diluted the impact of the movie. The climax is perfect.
Acting, cinematography, music, editing, dialogues are of top notch. And of course direction is truly wonderful. Thank you Mr. Mehra for the audacity to make such movie which makes one laugh, cry and get inspired. In short, thanks for the MOVIE MAGIC.