Rang De Basanti (2006)

[madali]

Rang De Basanti (2006)
IMDB Link

Someone, somewhere, at some point in time, probably had a good idea. But from the initial idea to the final production of the movie, it has most likely gone through so many processes and so many paid professionals, that it has lost focus of the idea.

Here is the idea. Why not make a political movie, comparing the youth of today in India, with the young revolutionaries back in colonial British-India? They can make parallels to the administration of both governments, and apply the century old proverb of, “Meet the new boss, same as the old boss”.

Good idea? Could be. Depends on the execution, right?

Well, execute it Bollywood style!

Meaning that this idea is swamped under a lot of songs, Indian style youth humor, speck of family drama, tragedy, and driving through fields of green, while the camera zooms around. What we are left with is a film with one foot in the typical Bollywood style section, and another foot…actually, more like a toe…in the non-Bollywood style area. The movie is not that good.

Visually, the film is done well at times, but it still showcases an undeveloped film industry. The filmmakers can not resist silly music-video style camera work. Blurring, slow-motion, sepia, somehow the filmmakers assume that filters can tell a tale every time. Nothing shows a lack of confidence, then a filmmaker that uses every visual technique that they are able to get their hands on. Do you know why great directors don't constantly use filters? Do you honestly think they don't know where the "sepia" option is in their Film Editing Software?

When it comes to the duration of the movie, Indian films still have not found how to edit perfectly. India needs to break free from its insistence of making every movie 3 hours long. A professional and experienced filmmaker needs only a few minutes to tell a great story, India needs the same minutes to have people dance and sing. These minutes add up.

As a comedy, this movie does work. It is a funny movie, and I am finding a certain charm in Indian comedy. But as a serious movie, as it attempts to in certain parts, it does not work. And as an intellectual political movie? Maybe, it will impress a 14 year old.

As a final note, the lead actress (not the British women) has a long nose, but I find the nose on her suitable, and it makes her very adorable. After watching Personae, I wanted a girl in grayscale. Now I want a girl with a big nose.

3/5

[aaliyah]

umm... i had liked the movie... nice story... nice cast... n the comedy was nice too...
i wud rate a 5/5
thts just my opinion


n the long nosed actress (lol) thts saif ali khans sis, soha... this is the only movie tht i hav appreciated her acting skills... the role suited her

[sulphurhead]

yeah - i thought soha ali khan is very adorable. i want a big nosed girl too!

[sacred_promises]

umm... i had liked the movie... nice story... nice cast... n the comedy was nice too...
i wud rate a 5/5
thts just my opinion


n the long nosed actress (lol) thts saif ali khans sis, soha... this is the only movie tht i hav appreciated her acting skills... the role suited her

i agree! i loved the movie, and the humor in it, everyone gave their Best performance. the director made a good decision in casting those actors, everyone was well suited to their roles.

soha ali khan is a terrific actress atleast in this movie she was, and this is prolly the only movie of hers i've seen so far.

P.S Basanti refers to sacrifice/freedom and its been highlighted with the color yellow. wonder if you guys noticed these little details like these where some scenes were a bit yelow-ish.

[madali]

You guys are giving this movie too much credit.

[kaytee]

I completely agree Madali, this was at most a very average film.The first half of the movie was good coz of the little comedy that was in there but otherwise the film didn't know what it was trying to show or prove. And the message given by the movie was really horrible. Teaching the Indian youth to kill ministers and their own fathers is stupidity. Also comparing todays youth with freedom fighters I thought was dumb. What the freedom fighters went through at the time of Independence is so great and when that is compared to what today's youth is going through in India is absurd. There is no comparison.

[ozzylogic]

why is this flick so hyped for anyways? I've heard it's pretentious...and pointless. Still have to watch to judge tho, but don't intend to.

[shariqq]

Amir Khan masquerading as a 24-yr old just doesn't cut it.

[sulphurhead]

yeah - i agree. very over-rated movie and the Amir khan being too old bit is true too

[sandeep]

Guys... this is Rang de Basanti we are talking about... Aamir khan wasnt playing a 24 year old... Shariq, i thought you would have liked the movie... I thought it was awesome...

It captured the youth, its passion, its frustration, its confusion, its alienation very well...

Forget the age factor of aamir, look at the way the character has been played by him. By all the actors! they are awesome... I cant stand Soha Ali Khan, but she was likeable... everyone played an identifiable character...

See, this is what I dont understand. People complain that hindi films do the same stuff over and over. And when they pursue something new, they get beaten even more... i thought the work was of superior quality and was highly entertaining...

4/5

[kaytee]

The first half was really very entertaining but the second half was totally junk, looked like the scriptwriter went to bed and his son who doesnt like his father wrote the rest of the script. Honestly this is not just me, I went with 6 friends for this movie and none of us liked the second half and didnt know what the director was trying to acheive.
Horrible.
Shariq I say "BOYCOTT".

[shariqq]

the movie reminded me of a scene of Fight Club. You start your journey sitting in a Rolls Royce that picks you up from Lou's Tavern. Then the driver decides to let go of the wheel and you go crashing into the bushes. Yes, it was an awesome vehicle with an experienced driver - but they just didn't do justice to what the inital phase promised.

I like kaytee's description: "the scriptwriter went to bed and his son who doesnt like his father wrote the rest of the script". It justifies why a hated father is killed off.

Lesson# 1 Aamir Khan.is.not.a.God.

See, this is what I dont understand. People complain that hindi films do the same stuff over and over. And when they pursue something new, they get beaten even more...

Even Girlfriend & Oh Darling Yeh Hai India are different. Does that make them good?
Lesson # 2 : Not.All.That.Shines.Is.Gold. (or Not everything that's different is Good).

[aaliyah]

Guys... this is Rang de Basanti we are talking about... Aamir khan wasnt playing a 24 year old... Shariq, i thought you would have liked the movie... I thought it was awesome...

It captured the youth, its passion, its frustration, its confusion, its alienation very well...

Forget the age factor of aamir, look at the way the character has been played by him. By all the actors! they are awesome... I cant stand Soha Ali Khan, but she was likeable... everyone played an identifiable character...

See, this is what I dont understand. People complain that hindi films do the same stuff over and over. And when they pursue something new, they get beaten even more... i thought the work was of superior quality and was highly entertaining...

4/5

i agree with ya!

[madali]

This is the sort of movie that would make people ask serious questions, if you could take it seriously.

[sandeep]

Lesson# 1 Aamir Khan.is.not.a.God.

No one said he is... Please... just because its an Aamir Khan movie doesnt mean its good. In Mangal Pandey Aamir Khan was very intense, but the movie didnt work because of many shortfalls... so RDB isnt an Aamir Khan effort, according to me, but a ensemble of actors who all gave it their best.

See, this is what I dont understand. People complain that hindi films do the same stuff over and over. And when they pursue something new, they get beaten even more...

Even Girlfriend & Oh Darling Yeh Hai India are different. Does that make them good?
Lesson # 2 : Not.All.That.Shines.Is.Gold. (or Not everything that's different is Good).

Sorry, i should have added 'meaningfully different'... Like Matrubhoomi, Black, Iqbal, etc etc...