May 23, 2005 04:35 PM
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(Updated May 23, 2005 04:35 PM)
I would start my review by giving my whole hearted kudos to Shyam Benegal for trying to make a film on such a difficult subject as potraying Bose on silver screen. The whole effort is mammoth and commendable. the film is also factually quite furnished with much effort given to the details of the last 5 years of this enigmatic character. However, I should say that the movie has many shortcomings if viewed just as another movie and removing the Bose factor from it.
I would say building up of the characters were not given their due attention. Through out the movie we see people see with awe and respect for Bose, but very few part of the movie actually depicts where from this respect has come. The commanding nature of Subhash never came into the foreground. Even while fighting in NE India with the INA, Bose has been shown as more dependent on his subordinates decisions rather than coming out as the supreme commander in chief. May be Benegal's research on Subhash has pointed in that direction, but my study of Bose's character has led me to think differently of him. Khedekar never looked like the great character that we have idolised throughout our lives.
The film only shows the international political life of Subhash Bose completely ignoring his national involvements. I thought the early life of Subhash Bose is as important as his later life to understand the enigma of Bose. His slapping of the English Principal in Presidency college ( for Calling Indians Niggers), his passing ICS exam in flying colors and then refusing the prestigious job, then becoming a renowned lecturer of the National University setup by Asutosh Mukherjee parallel to the British mode of the education, all this come together to make the real Bose. Moreover, his political life in Congress, his meteoric rise in the Congress Party, shameless backstabbing from people like Neheru should have been shown if not directly at least indirectly.
The editing part of the movie is not atisfactory at all. Sometimes you just feel that the scene has come out from nowhere. the continuity had been disrupted in many places. The introduction of Eva Brown was unnecessary and appeared as a voluntary effort to add a commercial touch the moview, off course in vain. Her role should have been obviously reduced if not completely removed.
Bose's interaction with international leaders were not convincing at all. Quoting in front of Hitler that his attacjking of Soviet Russia was a wrongful move, well even the great Bose wouldn't have ventured into that path, given that he is asking some favor from Hitler. Moreover, the point that both Hitler and the Japanese Prime Minister were so convinced by Bose's character and conviction that they agreed to lend him a helping hand was not properly shown in the movie. The whole point was that Subhash Bose was not that a prominent character in world politics in that time in the back drop of 2nd World War, and it should not have been that easy for him to convince the Axis power to sipport him.
the beautiful soundtrack was not properly used . Only the Songs Ekla Chalo and Ghumparani may be was given their due treatment in the movie. Specially, I should say Ghumparani was used really well to support the strings between Subhas and his mother.
Instead of going for those lavish outdore shootings spanning continents, Benegal could have stressed more on making the war sequences more convincing and realistic. It really looked like he had to show it, and hence those are parts of the movie, never stressing on proper detailing and minute treatment of the sequences.
I couls go on and on. However, I would end on a happy positive note, that it was great effort from Shyamji's part to dream of this plan it and execute it. In this time when our art culture music is getting robbed of anything good original, these things remind us that there are still people who try to make difference, try to give art it's true value. The most touching part of the movie was that when it ended and the ''Azaadi'' song was played and the collage of Bose was being shown, the entire audience stood up and not a single one moved till the song ended.
Bose has always been the Hero for me...a tragic hero offcourse in in its true sense.....the most valiant fighter yet never got his real due in history books as well as in people's heart.....like Karna in Mahabharata...that's what makes his character even more appealing.....so Shyam ji has succeeded at least on one count...in naming the movie..''Subhah Chandra Bose...The Forgotten Hero''......
