Rang De Basanti – It’s Different

Welcome here, avant-garde genre films meet commercialism. Yes this is yet another review of the latest Aamir Khan movie “Rang De Basanti”. One might be wondering why so many reviews for this movie, is it such a great movie. I wouldn’t say it’s a greatest movie of all times but I guess it has to do with what the movie says “A new generation awakes”. It’s been a long time since I wanted to see a movie more than once. This movie is one which I would love to see time and again.

One thing I have tried my best to do is not to let out the plot of the movie. It’s a wafer thin plot which loads of sensible subject in it. Does that sound bit Contradictory? Well then look at this. Is this a youth film with fun element in it? Yes. Is this a patriotic film with enough elements of fervor in it? Yes. It’s different since it’s a good time pass film directed by an Advertising Man, It’s short and sweet. It’s different since the director has handled the screenplay pretty well and successfully managed not to get into the preachy mode which has been the case with other movies in this genre. It’s different since this movie is completely shot in India. It’s been a long time since a big time Hindi film being completely shot in India. It’s different since the lighting is constantly switched back and forth between “Black & White” to color at the right moments, setting the right tone for the movie. The Cameraman has done a wonderful job on this one. It’s different since all the songs in the movie come as a background score. The title track “Rang De Basanti” is colorful. The marketing team of India’s Tourism board can even add this one in their “Incredible India” campaign. The genre of music is contemporary. This is yet another feather in the cap for A.R.Rahman. I enjoyed the title track the most. In recent times critics have said that the director just inserts the songs for commercial value. Kudos to the director, there couldn’t have been a more appropriate place for the “Lukka Chuppi” song by Lata Mangeshkar and A.R.Rahman. It’s hard hitting, this is where it really makes the viewer get involved with the film. Just note the songs while watching the movie; you would know the contribution of the lyricist Prashoon Joshi. It’s a commendable job he has done. I hope he gets the same kind of opportunity in the future too. At least that would end this Re-Mix era and junta would start listening to the OST’s. Aamir khan has given a yet another good performance. He speaks the Punjabi accented Hindi with ease. (Now here only a Punjabi can tell that how much authentic it was not me who has never been to that part of the country). The other lead characters have matched Aamir’s performance to an extent. You get to see Om Puri, Waheeda Rehman, and Kiron Kher in cameo roles. You know how their performance would be. One part I really enjoyed in the movie is when the foreigner auditions the Delhi college students for a documentary. That’s fun. I felt the movie dealt more with the subject of Non Violence than patriotism. It just says that violence is not a solution to everything. One of the protagonists realizes bit lately when a School master says that they have set a wrong example by resorting to violence. This movie clearly depicts that an Indian’s attitude towards this Nation has changed a lot over the past fifty years.

My Perception: A Time Pass yet a Sensible Film.

Warning: Never ever read a review which has the plot of this movie if you are planning to watch it. It would spoil the surprise element when you watch it for the first time. Probably that is why people said “Ignorance is Bliss”.