Rang De Basanti : a well crafted film

INT. DAY/ ALL INDIA RADIO, DELHI

Karan: “Maine aur mere sathiyon ne milkar Defense Minister Shastri ko mar dala”

Can anybody believe that Defense Minister of world’s 2^nd largest standing army could be assassinated so easily in his own backyard????

Well a maverick filmmaker made it believe, though not convincing, yet he did, his name is Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and the film is Rang De Basanti.

Rang De Basanti not only revolutionized the mass movement in India, but also the technique of filmmaking.  Viewing the trailer of the film at initial promotions, anybody would have hardly predicted that they are going see one more Bhagat Singh movie. As many as half a dozen movies on Bhagat Singh were already been made in the same decade and most of them were box office nightmares.

So what drove this film that it generated a wave in the youth and masses??  RDB related the legends with the problems and anguish faced by youth in India, a bonding that was hardly seen in previous movies. RDB is perhaps the best case study to study consumer buying process, see how the filmmaker sells an almost impractical idea so flamboyantly. First half of the movie clearly dedicated to set the ground for so called impossible climax (Assassination of Defense Minister). Effectively controlling the emotions and charging the young guns of India with patriotism Rakeysh Mehra effortlessly executives the plot in the second half.

Considering the flow of the movie filmamaker was well aware of his offering. He knew that the climax is the biggest loophole in the script. But with effective visual narrative and referencing the act with heroics of most popular revolutionaries, he succeeded in it.

Apart from one of the extraordinary screenplays Rang De Basanti was also a technically sound film.  The cinematography by Binod Pradhan is excellent. It’s a treat to watch him bringing both eras live and switching between both with panache. RDB is perhaps the best work of A.R. Rehman apart from a Mani Ratnam movie. Dynamism in the music of Rehman is so brilliantly exploited that there is nostalgia and energy at the same time. Well to mention about his music in RDB and not mention the ethereal, nostalgic Luka Chupi by Lata Mangeshkar would be an understatement. Special mention must be there for sound recording and editing, as switching of eras would require them to understand the mood and the ambience, which they did brilliantly.

Amir Khan proves yet again his metal. He yet again shows that why he is an actor first and then a superstar, allowing the Director to take a lead as it was a director driven movie.  Siddharth is yet another discovery in the movie and lives Karan with flesh and blood. The chemistry between Atul Kulkarni and Kunal Kapoor is one of the highlights; see the scene in which Atul confesses his guilt in Kunal’s house.

Though the film is best in all the departments, there is a small loophole; the act of assassinating the Defense Minister should have been shown in more detail as it appears very casual on screen.   But this loophole is been covered by the dynamism of the movie from the word go. The climax at the AIR is one of the heart wrenching scenes that will sure tug the tear buds of the audience and will keep the film in the memory even if they leave the theatres.

Finally Hats off to Rakeysh Mehra for such a brilliant film ………………