Movie Review: Rang De Basanti - Watch The Film

*********WARNING: ALMOST NO SPOILERS*********

Rang De Basanti is a good movie. A movie with a heart. A movie that will make you laugh a lot and allow you a tear or two. A movie with excellent music and great cinematography. A movie edited well. A movie where the roles of at least 15 characters are well-developed, well-thought and well-defined. It is not without flaws, but it is the number of winners that tilt the balance in a game. It is not an ace, but a well thought out Winner.

This is a coming of age movie. I love the movies and novels that open with one point of view, one life style, and then the narrative, the small events alter both the world and the person into becoming something else, someone better. A British grand-daughter comes to India to shoot a movie on revolutionaries and must work with a gang of students who have only 'fun' on their mind, and are, like most of us, totally disgusted with the system. So disgusted that the stars of freedom struggle have started to fade in our memories, so disgusted that we keep on living our lives cutting out our morals and ambitions to 'adjust' to the world around us. This is a movie, where such individuals discover their redemption, their life's true meaning and agenda through the documentary being shot by a foreigner. This is as much as I will say in this review, without divulging anything significant about the story.

Aamir Khan has for nearly two decades shown a calibre that he utilizes extremely well to essay the role of DJ in the movie. His friends, Soha and Alice fit their roles well; the former essaying her first role worth remembering; the latter looks believable and must have worked hard to play her part this well. Siddarth, Sharman and Kunal are quite a revelation, Atul Kulkarni brings his celebrated fervor into the role of a saffronist, while Madhavan essays his short performance nicely. The presence and performance of Waheeda Rehman, Om Puri and Kiron Kher in all the screentime they have is powerful and poignant: they are really accomplished actors and each in his/her role leaves a memorable impact.

One of the most likable aspects of the movie is that the songs are woven in extremely well, and they appear at the most appropriate moments. The moment Lata's voice is heard is bound to make many cheeks wet, and both AR Rahman and the lyricist Prasoon Joshi deserve kudos for wonderful songs that span the movie. The director, Mehra has done a good job, and Prasoon Joshi is impressive in dialogue writing as well. Uttered in very comtemporary style, the words will go well with audiences all over India.

Its a movie about the youth, for the youth. It is in some respects like Yuva, perhaps only better. The humor, especially scenes involving Aamir, are incredible. The shots of Punjab as well as Delhi are beautiful. The controversy about MiGs is an integral part of the movie, and rightly so, it must be there to emphasize how we have allowed so many brave pilots to lose their lives in these planes that are either not maintained properly, or need to be decomissioned for the safety factor. The movie does ask some very good questions, and that I guess is the biggest strength of the movie. A movie where people clap around a dozen times during the performance and end the movie with a thundering applause, my friends, needs to enjoyed in the hall.

Go watch it. I think I will be watching it again soon. It deserves another applause and ovation.