Jo shahid hue hain unki..... Review on Rang De Basanti

Credit goes to MS !! Yesterday, I visited INOX for the first time, to encash 100/-Rs.cash voucher, I got as prize for ''Ek ajnabee'' contest. I wanted to watch ''Rang de...'' since it's first day, may be due to Aamir choosy about his accepting movies, may be as I heard a lot about it, including controversies.

Cash Voucher kissa-On Sunday, I enquired with INOX over phone, reception girl told me they have tickets of 110/,120/ and 130/ Rs. and to visit on weekdays, being busy Sunday, when I told her about my having cash voucher. Then I tried to convince that it was prize I got and I am ready to pay extra amount and other ticket for my husband who remains quite busy on weekdays. Since voucher expires on 28th Feb., she enquired with manager and told me that they don't give home delivery for kothrud Area (might be because I was asking for only one extra ticket) while voucher can be encashed over the counter only and I can phone half hr.earlier than show to know whether tickets are left. Since INOX is 12 km.from my home, it was of no use to ask half hr.before movie time, and go in crowdy roads on Sunday evening. We just decided to go on Monday if possible. My husband had to come early from office around 5.30pm. and we were at INOX by 6.30pm. On ticket window I was told 130/-Rs. tickets were available but to my surprise audience was only 25% of the theatre capacity. If we were living near INOX, if we were free to go anytime, if we were purchasing group tickets, if we had no cash voucher, if I wasn't keen for ''Rang de'' only.......things would have been easier for me. OK, let us now think over Rang de.

According to me, ''Rang de Basanti'' is Rakesh Mehra's (producer) youthful attempt to make aware youth of India that they can make considerable difference in the system and wipe out corruption from politics instead of only blaming politicians and having indifferent attitude. They should realise that they are not only ppl. facing problems being Indian but there are problems in all countries though might be different.

I just can't resist myself telling plot. Five friends, reluctant about their goals, who never think beyond their present, relate their life only upto college campus, bikes, jeep and hang outs. Aamir Khan plays DJ ( Daljeet). He after graduating from college five yrs.back, hangs out in the campus just because of fear that nobody recognises him in the real world. He has got company of alike friends Sharmaan Joshi (Sukhi), Kunal Kapoor ( Aslam), Soha Ali Khan (Sonai) and Siddhartha (Karan).

Alice (Sue), the grand-daughter of the officer who ordered and witnessed the hanging of Shaheed Bhagat Sing, comes to India to create a documentary. She takes audition of Delhi Univ.students with help of Soha which was taken very lightly, jokingly by them while she wanted serious patriotic dialogues of Bhagat Sing, Rajguru. Afterwards, she visualises that these friends will be suitable to act in her documentary. Then comes Atul Kulkarni (Laxman Pande) who is a anti-western culture volunteer. He clashes with the group and Sue gets upset and thinks to wind up shooting. Aamir promises her to bring together everyone including Atul and shooting begins. Madhavan (Ajay) is Soha?s boyfriend and a sincere pilot. Just after proposing marriage with wedding-ring in front of friends, he is killed in a plane crash. This incident and the adverse remarks by Defence Minister makes them angry while acting in Sue's patriotic documentary, which had great impact on their thinking process, inspires them to bring facts to the notice of general public and play their roles of documentary in actual life.

The first half was full of ''ding-dang, ding-dang'' music at the background with campus life. The campus environment is perfectly picturised. In second half, movie has scenes showing resemblance of freedom fighters' struggle in yellowish white with the current happenings as and when these actors get involved in the character of documentary or Sue visualises history on reading her grandpa's diary.

Performances-

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Aamir Khan- Punjab speaking was ok. His calling Sue ''Gulabo'', dancing, daring, biking everything was natural !! Nothing new for Aamir except punjabi boy of around 25.

Atul Kulkarni- Perfect Volunteer. His eyes speak more than his dialogues like Ajay Dewgan.

Sharmaan Joshi- Acting ok.

Kunal Kapoor- Well acted as muslim campus boy loving being with friends.

Siddhartha- Shown as calm thinker, wishing to go US for studies just because there is nothing to do in India while does much in the climax.

Soha Ali Khan (Saif's sis)- She knows acting. I think, she will be nominated for supporting actress award this yr.

Alice Patten- i.e. Sue, Gulabo, as Aamir calls her, does her role at her best. She looked emotional many times.

Kirron kher and Madhavan- Experienced actors.

I was fully charged on the way back to home. Thanks to MS to inspire me to write, thanks to INOX for prize, thanks to Aamir being choosy about accepting roles, thanks to subject matter of movie, thanks to producer to make everything neat.

Rang De Basanti rocks !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

© Mrs.Medha.