Friday, January 20, 2006

Rang De Basanti

Producer: Rakesh Omprakash Mehra, David Reid and Ronnie Screwvala
Executive producer: Adam Bohling
Director: Rakesh Omprakash Mehra
Cast: Aamir Khan, Soha Ali Khan, Waheeda Rehman, Om Puri, Kiron Kher, Madhavan, Atul Kulkarni, Kunal Kapoor, Sharman Joshi, Anupam Kher, Siddharth, Lekh Tandon, Alice Payton, Cyrus Sahukar
Music: A.R. Rahman
Cinematography: Binod Pradhan
Released on: January 26, 2006

A young idealistic English filmmaker, Sue, arrives in India to make a film on Indian revolutionaries Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad and their contemporaries and their fight for freedom from the British Raj. Owing to a lack of funds, she recruits students from Delhi University to act in her docu-drama. She finds DJ, who passed out 5 years back but still wants to be a part of University because he doesn't think there's too much out there in real world to look forward to. Karan, son of Industrialist Rajnath Singhania, who shares an uncomfortable relationship with his father, but continues to live off him. Aslam is a middle class Muslim boy, who lives in by-lanes near Jama Masjid, poet, philosopher and guide to his friends.
Sukhi, the group's baby, innocent, vulnerable and with a weakness for only one thing-girls. Laxman Pandey, fundamentalist in the group, the only one who still believes that politics can make world a better place and finally Sonia- the sole girl in group, tomboy and vivacious spirit, engaged to Ajay- dashing air pilot. These youngsters 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. Through her film, Sue wishes to showcase to the world the efforts of these young revolutionaries and the enormity of their contribution to the freedom movement in India. What unfolds is the inspiration behind Sue's passion for bringing their story to the world. The twist in the tale is of course the fact that more than just telling the world, Sue's film makes DJ and his friends stop and stare at themselves for being the actual descendants of these great men and never recognizing and celebrating their courage and spirit. The film thus doubles as a narrative on the changes in perspective and values the young boys and girls acting in her documentary go through as they shoot for the film. Few scenes from the past and present are juxtaposed against each other, which renders a unique slick treatment, which serves to showcase the slow change in mindset and attitude that overcomes the group through the process of film.

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