Rang De Basanti (Paint It Saffron) (2006)
Reviewed by Jaspreet Pandohar
Updated 25 January 2006
Contains moderate bloody violence
Every so often Bollywood produces a rare gem like Rang De Basanti, a film that
breaks the mould by offering something more sophisticated than the standard
musical melodrama. Directed by Rakeysh Mehra and featuring Brit Alice Patten
opposite Indian superstar Aamir Khan, it tells the story of an English
filmmaker who travels to the sub-continent to make a documentary about the
freedom fighters mentioned in her grandfather's memoirs. An entertaining mix of
romance, history and social commentary, this quality production takes Hindi
cinema in a fresh direction.
When helmer Sue McKinley (Alice Patten) recruits Delhi student DJ (Khan) and
his pals to play the roles of revolutionaries whom her grandfather encountered
as a police officer during India's pre-independence era, she's perplexed by
their lack of interest. Beer, babes and US visas seem to be more important to
the MTV generation than their country's colonial past. It's only when the
status quo is shaken by an unfortunate incident that patriotic feelings and
angst begin to stir within the group, leaving the audience to draw parallels
between the struggle against yesteryear's Raj and the fight with today's
corrupt rulers.
"FLITS SMOOTHLY FROM PAST TO PRESENT"
Successfully weaving historical facts with contemporary themes and
characters, it's thanks to Mehra's smart writing and direction that you are
instantly drawn into Rang De Basanti's absorbing plot, which flits smoothly
from past to present. While Khan is on usual form, it's Patten who earns top
points as the amiable foreigner who amuses the locals with her excellent
command of Hindi. But it's the strong performances from the ensemble cast that
impress foremost, all of whom are totally convincing as disillusioned
youngsters learning the importance of personal sacrifice. Accomplished and
universally appealing, this is the way Bollywood films should be made.
Reviewer's Rating *****
http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2006/01/27/rang_de_basanti_2006_review.shtml
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