Not only the youth ... the government should learn too!

Rating: 8/10 (26 January 2006)

What can one expect when artists of high caliber work together and try to make something unconventional? It has been seen in the past that they usually falter (according to the box-office)! Take for instance movies ahead of their times such AKS! The movie was brilliantly made ... technically sound and with a well said story. Yet it seemed indigestible most of the viewers! Going into the theater to watch Rang De Basanti (RDB), did not create doubts in my mind that it would be unconventional, yet for some reason I had this urge to measure it against Dil Chahta Hai (being a very commercial film -- But 6.5/10); perhaps due to the campus life stressed on by the promotions. Once the ride began, I was in splits by the time the movie had an interval. Sharman Joshi (Godmother, Style) being the naturally comic maestro, was the source of this and well supported by Aamir Khan (Lagaan) in the department. Serious sentiments were stimulated by Atul Kulkarni (Page 3) and Kunal Kapoor (Meenaxi: Tale of 3 Cities) once in a while (Hindu Kulkarni disliking the Muslim Kapoor). Alice Patton should be proud of her excellent dialog delivery in Hindi (fine acting too) ... Soha Ali Khan (Antar Mahal) was apt till the interval but quite an actress in the later parts. Siddharth (Boys) was the perfect actor cast as the carefree and aimless son of an official military dealer, Anupam Kher(Saraansh, Maine Gandhi ko Nahin Maara) who just wants to leave the country because of the going-ons in this day and age (read "the system").
Post-interval the movie deflects into a totally different direction due to R. Madhavan's (Rehna Hai Tere Dil Mein) death and the subsequent events that unfold! Aamir Khan touches the audience with the sentiments and with the brilliant mix of humor thrown in here and there. In fact since all the actors were so good I would like to elaborate, but it would be a waste of space ;) Overall, RDB is very well made. Youngsters can identify themselves here and so can those who have delved deep into corruption. In fact the movie has the power to make people have second thoughts to induce/accept illegality. Finally, the movie has a very unconventional ending; the sort I was hoping for. I was not sure how the campus culture could be shown gelling in with the 'Indian struggle for Independence story', but to my surprise, Rakeysh Om Prakash Mehra (AKS) pulls it off, in a grand style!! Hats off mate! Easily one of my top ten favorite Hindi movies. I give it an 8/10.