FILM REVIEW: RANG DE BASANTI (2006)

Director: Rakeysh Mehra
Cast: Aamir Khan, Soha Ali Khan

Rakeysh Mehra who gave Aks five year back has come up with a brilliant theme of self realization through his film Rang De Basanti, which our country needs desperately. The narrative of the story is filled with fun, laughter and mischief which everyone will enjoy and particularly college goers will relate to.

Rang De Basanti is a film which compel the today youth to understand that to solve problems like corruption, disloyalty, illicit works that are prevailing in the society, they should stand up against them and should try to take things in their hands rather than ignoring or avoiding them.

The film does not bore viewers with heavy dialogues and patriotic moves instead the five youths - DJ (Aamir Khan), Karan (Siddharth), Sukhi (Sharman Joshi), Aslam (Kunal Kapoor) and Sonia (Soha Ali Khan) - are a bunch of fun driven comrades who will entertain you from their carefree, reckless and wayward antics.

They all come across a young woman from England named Sue who has come to India to make a documentary based on her grand father’s diary which was written by him (a soldier of the Raj) in 1920s and 30s about the sacrifices he and other people gave for independence. Her grandfather’s immortal words had motivated her to make a documentary on Indian revolutionaries. After meeting them she feels that they will be just right to play the leads in her documentary. In DJ she sees Chandrashekhar Azad. In Karan she sees Bhagat Singh and in Aslam she sees Ashfak.

But, contrary to Sue’s expectations, the youth have no feelings for their country. To them issues like patriotism and giving one’s life for one’s beliefs is the stuff text-books are made of. They think the world outside their campus is full of corruption and they are disillusioned with its state of affairs. Very reluctantly they agree to be a part documentary since they don’t relate to their characters they are about to play. Atul Kulkarni (Laxman Pande) an anti-western culture campaigner also joins them later. Also part of the group is IAF (Indian Air Force) pilot Ajay Rathod (Madhavan), the love of Sonia. He is the only one in the group who has dedication to serve the country.

Sue documentary showcases the efforts of Indian revolutionaries and the enormity of their contribution to the freedom movement in India. Her film makes DJ and the others involved in the project, to pause and to take a good look at their life (materialistic and irresponsible). They being the actual descendants of these great men never recognized and celebrated their courage and spirit. As they play the historical characters, their perspective about the present, and their own role in it, changes forever. And this is what the movie is all about, to make today’s youth stand up for one’s beliefs, to ignite their courage and spirit against wrongdoers.

The narrative progresses to the climax where Ajay dies in a MiG crash due to technical complications that arise because of cheap parts used in the flights by the defense ministry. Defense Minister unwilling to accept his shortcomings put the blame on Ajay saying that he was not a capable pilot. The group decides to bring out the truth in front of the world and like extremist revolutionaries …… Watch it in the film.

Aamir Khan who is playing half his age as DJ is fun to watch. He is the mischief leader of the gang. Again he has done his part just right neither overdone nor halfdone. The best part is that he has merged himself along with the group. Watch out for - interactions between DJ and Sukhi in their respective accent, DJ speaking in Hindi thinking Sue doesn’t understand it, DJ introducing Sue to his mom (Kiron Kher).

Others in the group have given remarkable performances. Watch out for their collaborative effort in special scenes like Auditioning of DJ gang, interaction between the gang in the lounge about country and issues.

Siddharth who is playing son of an industrialist Rajnath Singhania, Karan has a performance driven role in the end part of the movie which will get noticed.

Kunal Kapoor is a middle class Muslim boy Aslam, who lives in the bylanes near Jama Masjid, poet, philosopher and guide to his friends. He shares some good scenes with Atul Kulkarni.

Atul Kulkarni is playing Laxman Pandey, the fundamentalist in the group, the only one who still believes that politics can make the world a better place.

Soha Ali Khan as Sonia has performed her part well and is improving her acting stills film by film. She is the only girl in the group tomboyish and vivacious spirited.

Alice Patten as Sue is the linking force in the movie who help in keeping the narrative going. She is looking sweet and charming in the film.

The film has some veteran actors like Om Puri, Kirron Kher and Waheeda Rehman, who has small yet important part to play in the film. The cinematography, the editing, the story, the dialogues, the songs - everything is beautifully woven together, giving a contemporary feel to the youth’s awakening.

RS Rating: 7/10

Credit: This review was submitted by Ankit Jain of Footprints.in. They run their own movie Blog at DCECinemas. To submit your own review for posting on radiosargam.com please email.