Rang De Basanti
It took the might of the British to bring all the warring princely states of the subcontinent and give shape to the country that we call India...it is interesting to note that the commercial and administrative interests of a foreign power brought states that to a large extent were culturally similar and were bound together by a common religion and a history. I often wonder if a few traders had not seen profit in a business of spices and textiles would this nation state ever exist?
What is the India that we know today? A country with a majority of its population in the 20's and having their own aspirations and goals.... But does this thick slice of our population even feel that they belong to one entity...do we need a revolution to increase our levels of adrenalin and consequently our patriotism? This is what this movie explores and brings out beautifully.
No tragedy if not personal affects any human being. The transformation of a few Yuppie Indians into a gang of revolutionaries is fascinating. Issues like Mig crashes, Defense scams, terrorists attacks need to be there - right at our doorstep if we have to be woken up from our slumber and do something about it. Jingoism is at best fleeting.... it leaves no permanent scar on your life...
Yet the movie is not without its own subtle ironies.... Do we still need to be told by the Caucasians that our forefathers were people like us and yet they sent shivers down the spine of the Raj and made them sweat in the dusty terrains of our country while waging our War of Independence? Isn't it a shame that somewhere in our psyche we still have the remnants of a servile nature?
But even a Marlboro smoking Indian does have a conscience...He has it in him to wash the guilt of corruption by committing fratricide. And he can still meet his death Smiling...
If all of us remember correctly the British Jailor had said..."I have seen two kinds of men --- one go to their death crying and the other go their death silent.... today I met a third kind........."
Lets complete it.... "Men who go their death smiling...."
Can we ever do that?
What is the India that we know today? A country with a majority of its population in the 20's and having their own aspirations and goals.... But does this thick slice of our population even feel that they belong to one entity...do we need a revolution to increase our levels of adrenalin and consequently our patriotism? This is what this movie explores and brings out beautifully.
No tragedy if not personal affects any human being. The transformation of a few Yuppie Indians into a gang of revolutionaries is fascinating. Issues like Mig crashes, Defense scams, terrorists attacks need to be there - right at our doorstep if we have to be woken up from our slumber and do something about it. Jingoism is at best fleeting.... it leaves no permanent scar on your life...
Yet the movie is not without its own subtle ironies.... Do we still need to be told by the Caucasians that our forefathers were people like us and yet they sent shivers down the spine of the Raj and made them sweat in the dusty terrains of our country while waging our War of Independence? Isn't it a shame that somewhere in our psyche we still have the remnants of a servile nature?
But even a Marlboro smoking Indian does have a conscience...He has it in him to wash the guilt of corruption by committing fratricide. And he can still meet his death Smiling...
If all of us remember correctly the British Jailor had said..."I have seen two kinds of men --- one go to their death crying and the other go their death silent.... today I met a third kind........."
Lets complete it.... "Men who go their death smiling...."
Can we ever do that?
posted by Shreerang at 10:03 AM
2 comments
