Rang De Basanti (2006)
Rang De Basanti (2006)
Any Mr. Aamir Khan project is much anticipated and much awaited. This particular one won’t be easily forgotten.
Rang De Basanti revolves around a group of young adults from varying backgrounds who find themselves involved in a film project about India’s patriots from yesteryear. The fact that the project’s coordinator is a young lady from Britain only adds to the potpourri of characters that the audience is exposed to. At what point do the disillusioned youth of today find vision in the teachings of yesterday becomes the film’s destination. The film flirts with marrying history to the present, and eventually does, but in a very relevant and beautiful manner. Many colors eventually make Rang De Basanti what it is, but this is clearly a one-man show and it marks a welcome return for Mr. Aamir Khan.
The ace actor returns to the silver screen for the first time in a longtime as only an actor, not involved in his film’s production or direction or anything behind the cameras for that matter, like his last two films, Oscar-nominated Lagaan and Mangal Pandey. The focus and dedication is evident as Mr. Khan breezes though the roles of Daljeet (DJ) and Chandrashekhar Azad. It is hard to believe that almost 18 years have elapsed since we first saw Mr. Khan dancing around trees and telling us he hasn’t planned anything for his future as a college student in his debut film Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak.
His maturation as an actor is laudable and it is no surprise that he is the heart and soul of Rang De Basanti. Mr. Khan makes Daljeet his very own and after a while Daljeet becomes your very own. One cannot imagine any other actor in the role of the protagonist and like a great player it is actually Mr. Khan who makes his surrounding cast better than they probably are. He raises the bar and to their credit, the supporting actors and actresses are on par.
Mr. Khan will make you laugh, make you cry, and every young person who is disillusioned about their country or life for that matter will know that Daljeet is a reflection of their very self.
Mr. Siddhartha is the other notable in the film, portraying the troubled son of a rich industrialist, Karan, as well as Bhagat Singh in the flashback scenes. Once an assistant to famed director Mr. Mani Ratnam, Siddhartha enters his first Hindi film with a restrained performance; just the perfect foil for Mr. Khan. His get-up, eye expressions, and emotions are as sincere as his performance.
The remaining cast members have each given worthy performances. Mr. Sharman Joshi as Sukhi and Rajguru, has grown from his days and roles in Shaadi No. 1 and Xcuse Me. Mr. Kunal Kapoor as Aslam and Ashfaqullah Khan has come a long way from his small role in Meenaxi, and it is notable that he has also served as an assistant director on Aks. Mr. Atul Kulkarni as Laxman Pandey and Ramprasad Bismil is fast growing as a dependable and regular character actor in Bollywood. Ms. Alice Patten as Sue is probably known for her work in a few TV series in Hollywood but her Hindi delivery for Rang De Basanti is good and her chemistry with Mr. Khan is also rather natural. Ms. Soha Ali Khan as Sonia and Durga Vohra really gets to show her acting skills towards the middle and end of the film and her role is significant in terms of progression of the story though her minutes on screen may not amount to much. The special appearance by Mr. Madhavan as Captain Ajay Rathod is also vital to the film and cannot be ignored. Mr. Madhavan remains a fine actor who is sadly under-used in Bollywood. Other cast members include some heavyweight names such as Mrs. Waheeda Rehman, Mr. Anupam Kher, Mrs. Kiron Kher, Mr. Om Puri, Mr. Lekh Tandon, Mr. Mohan Agashe and Mr. Steven Mackintosh and all do justice to their small but valuable roles.
Direction is provided by Mr. Rakesh Omprakash Mehra, a man known more for his ad-film works than his last project, the 2001 supernatural thriller-caper Aks, which starred Amitabh Bachchan and Manoj Bajpai. Though he may have missed the mark with Aks, there is no repeat of that this time, as Rang De Basanti is spot on!
Mr. Mehra shows great directorial skill in ensuring his film flows smoothly and at a good pace. Not once in the narrative does the viewer suffer from boredom and the build-up to the climax is both enthralling and enticing.
The first half of Rang De Basanti is a bit slower than the second, and it may best be described as the dealing of the cards before the actual game begins. With many characters, each of whom is important in the overall scheme of things, Mr. Mehra spends great detail in showing the intricacies of the relationships and the complexities of the idiosyncrasies that the “cards” are bringing to the table.
In the second half the pace picks up, things start happening and the finished product’s beauty is revealed.
One of the most impressive aspects of Rang De Basanti is the way it shows the spirit of rebellion transcending time and age with such a “real” feel to it. Throughout the film you can see how the young adults depicted could be anyone of us today and their lives mirror the kind of lives the youth of today lead - namely a self centered and materialistic existence where ideas like patriotism and making a change are strictly the stuff history books are made of.
Technically the film is brilliant. The scenes from the past and present are juxtaposed against each other, rendering a unique slick treatment, which serves to showcase the slow change in mindset and attitude that overcomes the group through the process of the film. The film thus doubles as a narrative on the changes in perspective and values the young adults go through as they shoot for the film project headed by the British young lady.
Mr. Renzil D’Silva’s screenplay is au naturale and as perfect as can be.
Music is by the talented and luminous Mr. A. R. Rahman and is very appropriate for the film. The songs ensure the story maintains the viewer’s curiosity without ever seeming like a drag and added to this all is the unique “Rahman” stamp of perfection.
Rang de Basanti is a youthful drama, yet light hearted in moments, while tackling a rather serious underlying theme. It is as brave a project as the characters and incidents that make up the colors of this beautiful Bollywood rainbow. I can predict many awards for this film and if you are into intelligent cinema then you are sure to enjoy the “Rang De Basanti”.
Any Mr. Aamir Khan project is much anticipated and much awaited. This particular one won’t be easily forgotten.
Rang De Basanti revolves around a group of young adults from varying backgrounds who find themselves involved in a film project about India’s patriots from yesteryear. The fact that the project’s coordinator is a young lady from Britain only adds to the potpourri of characters that the audience is exposed to. At what point do the disillusioned youth of today find vision in the teachings of yesterday becomes the film’s destination. The film flirts with marrying history to the present, and eventually does, but in a very relevant and beautiful manner. Many colors eventually make Rang De Basanti what it is, but this is clearly a one-man show and it marks a welcome return for Mr. Aamir Khan.
The ace actor returns to the silver screen for the first time in a longtime as only an actor, not involved in his film’s production or direction or anything behind the cameras for that matter, like his last two films, Oscar-nominated Lagaan and Mangal Pandey. The focus and dedication is evident as Mr. Khan breezes though the roles of Daljeet (DJ) and Chandrashekhar Azad. It is hard to believe that almost 18 years have elapsed since we first saw Mr. Khan dancing around trees and telling us he hasn’t planned anything for his future as a college student in his debut film Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak.
His maturation as an actor is laudable and it is no surprise that he is the heart and soul of Rang De Basanti. Mr. Khan makes Daljeet his very own and after a while Daljeet becomes your very own. One cannot imagine any other actor in the role of the protagonist and like a great player it is actually Mr. Khan who makes his surrounding cast better than they probably are. He raises the bar and to their credit, the supporting actors and actresses are on par.
Mr. Khan will make you laugh, make you cry, and every young person who is disillusioned about their country or life for that matter will know that Daljeet is a reflection of their very self.
Mr. Siddhartha is the other notable in the film, portraying the troubled son of a rich industrialist, Karan, as well as Bhagat Singh in the flashback scenes. Once an assistant to famed director Mr. Mani Ratnam, Siddhartha enters his first Hindi film with a restrained performance; just the perfect foil for Mr. Khan. His get-up, eye expressions, and emotions are as sincere as his performance.
The remaining cast members have each given worthy performances. Mr. Sharman Joshi as Sukhi and Rajguru, has grown from his days and roles in Shaadi No. 1 and Xcuse Me. Mr. Kunal Kapoor as Aslam and Ashfaqullah Khan has come a long way from his small role in Meenaxi, and it is notable that he has also served as an assistant director on Aks. Mr. Atul Kulkarni as Laxman Pandey and Ramprasad Bismil is fast growing as a dependable and regular character actor in Bollywood. Ms. Alice Patten as Sue is probably known for her work in a few TV series in Hollywood but her Hindi delivery for Rang De Basanti is good and her chemistry with Mr. Khan is also rather natural. Ms. Soha Ali Khan as Sonia and Durga Vohra really gets to show her acting skills towards the middle and end of the film and her role is significant in terms of progression of the story though her minutes on screen may not amount to much. The special appearance by Mr. Madhavan as Captain Ajay Rathod is also vital to the film and cannot be ignored. Mr. Madhavan remains a fine actor who is sadly under-used in Bollywood. Other cast members include some heavyweight names such as Mrs. Waheeda Rehman, Mr. Anupam Kher, Mrs. Kiron Kher, Mr. Om Puri, Mr. Lekh Tandon, Mr. Mohan Agashe and Mr. Steven Mackintosh and all do justice to their small but valuable roles.
Direction is provided by Mr. Rakesh Omprakash Mehra, a man known more for his ad-film works than his last project, the 2001 supernatural thriller-caper Aks, which starred Amitabh Bachchan and Manoj Bajpai. Though he may have missed the mark with Aks, there is no repeat of that this time, as Rang De Basanti is spot on!
Mr. Mehra shows great directorial skill in ensuring his film flows smoothly and at a good pace. Not once in the narrative does the viewer suffer from boredom and the build-up to the climax is both enthralling and enticing.
The first half of Rang De Basanti is a bit slower than the second, and it may best be described as the dealing of the cards before the actual game begins. With many characters, each of whom is important in the overall scheme of things, Mr. Mehra spends great detail in showing the intricacies of the relationships and the complexities of the idiosyncrasies that the “cards” are bringing to the table.
In the second half the pace picks up, things start happening and the finished product’s beauty is revealed.
One of the most impressive aspects of Rang De Basanti is the way it shows the spirit of rebellion transcending time and age with such a “real” feel to it. Throughout the film you can see how the young adults depicted could be anyone of us today and their lives mirror the kind of lives the youth of today lead - namely a self centered and materialistic existence where ideas like patriotism and making a change are strictly the stuff history books are made of.
Technically the film is brilliant. The scenes from the past and present are juxtaposed against each other, rendering a unique slick treatment, which serves to showcase the slow change in mindset and attitude that overcomes the group through the process of the film. The film thus doubles as a narrative on the changes in perspective and values the young adults go through as they shoot for the film project headed by the British young lady.
Mr. Renzil D’Silva’s screenplay is au naturale and as perfect as can be.
Music is by the talented and luminous Mr. A. R. Rahman and is very appropriate for the film. The songs ensure the story maintains the viewer’s curiosity without ever seeming like a drag and added to this all is the unique “Rahman” stamp of perfection.
Rang de Basanti is a youthful drama, yet light hearted in moments, while tackling a rather serious underlying theme. It is as brave a project as the characters and incidents that make up the colors of this beautiful Bollywood rainbow. I can predict many awards for this film and if you are into intelligent cinema then you are sure to enjoy the “Rang De Basanti”.
posted by SIAII at 11:24 PM
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