tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082470.post113871241964190217..comments2024-03-28T22:51:28.222+05:30Comments on The Middle Stage: Against Rang De BasantiChandrahashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07483080477755487202noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082470.post-1163531674696080782006-11-15T00:44:00.000+05:302006-11-15T00:44:00.000+05:30I read this after having watched the movie. I take...I read this after having watched the movie. I take your point about the messed up message that the film conveys. I also take the point made in several comments that the the film has no responsibility to convey a Gandhian message.<BR/><BR/>I must say that when i watched this move, i did not read an iota of patriotism into it. i saw its message as being strangely Orwellian - the film sought to point out that being grown up amounted to being dispirited in today India. The whole idea of DJ and his friends being college students who finished college but couldnt stop being college students - the telling line was "Gate ke andar hum zindagi to nachaate hai, Gate ke bahar zindagi hame nachaati hai".<BR/><BR/>It seemed to me to be a film about grown ups, more than being a film about frustrated youth.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082470.post-1163531623170418842006-11-15T00:43:00.000+05:302006-11-15T00:43:00.000+05:30I read this after having watched the movie. I take...I read this after having watched the movie. I take your point about the messed up message that the film conveys. I also take the point made in several comments that the the film has no responsibility to convey a Gandhian message.<BR/><BR/>I must say that when i watched this move, i did not read an iota of patriotism into it. i saw its message as being strangely Orwellian - the film sought to point out that being grown up amounted to being dispirited in today India. The whole idea of DJ and his friends being college students who finished college but couldnt stop being college students - the telling line was "Gate ke andar hum zindagi to nachaate hai, Gate ke bahar zindagi hame nachaati hai".<BR/><BR/>It seemed to me to be a film about grown ups, more than being a film about frustrated youth.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082470.post-1162424771368996872006-11-02T05:16:00.000+05:302006-11-02T05:16:00.000+05:30hey, what say you about the message of violence st...hey, what say you about the message of violence stealing a march over that of peace to the oscar!<BR/><BR/>5 years back there was a low budget malayalam film 'for the people' directed by jayaraj - it had a similar message- 'for te people' is the name of a website where people post their grievanced which are redressed by a bunch of youngsters - here too it's murder all the way.<BR/><BR/>what's remarkable is despite being a film with not a single known actor in any role, big or small, it was a big hit. the film was rather amateurish with all the actors facing the camera for the first time in this film(last time too- never seen them after that). nevertheless, the film was an event.<BR/><BR/>the message is not to be missed.kochuthresiamma p .jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01320086308375078739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082470.post-1157614118538276672006-09-07T12:58:00.000+05:302006-09-07T12:58:00.000+05:30this might be coming at a point when everyone's fo...this might be coming at a point when everyone's forgotten the film..but was plasantly surprised, actually grateful for this review.<BR/><BR/>its a dangerous film. dangerous as only the exceedingly naive can be. <BR/><BR/>apart from the reductive take on the subject, it also reveals shoddy scriptwriting. you cannot take on the mantle of 'awakening a generation' without at least spending some intelligent time on plot. obvious moments like Madhavan's mock-funeral, the ridiculous lathi-charge on a bereaving mother... the very pivot of the MiG crashes was simply not comparable to the freedom movement.<BR/><BR/>now, especially after Lage Raho Munnabhai... this debate is interesting. Gandhi has to be the most fashionable figure to malign today. but the choice between violence and non-violence is a difficult one. especially since the former is so romantic, exciting and of course, cinematic.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082470.post-1148109398760723152006-05-20T12:46:00.000+05:302006-05-20T12:46:00.000+05:30I'm not sure if there is much point in writing a c...I'm not sure if there is much point in writing a comment considering I am practically 2 months late but unfortunately I live in Canada and Bollywood movies take a while to reach here. I found your site as I googled for people's opinion on the movie. I personally enjoyed it a lot. Granted, violence is not always the best solution but I never paid much attention to that part until you pointed it out. To me, the movie was about potential. As I was telling my father, this movie highlights the opportunity for change that will appear as our generation comes into power. It is an opportunity for us to put aside racial discrimination, corruption and selfishness. The movie is sufficient in making the viewer realize that we are responsible for the state of the world. After all, if you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem. Btw, I have to commend you on your, as well as the others who posted comments', quality of writing. Even though English is my native language, I could never hope to write like that :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082470.post-1143121950314214592006-03-23T19:22:00.000+05:302006-03-23T19:22:00.000+05:30I completely and totally agree with your review. V...I completely and totally agree with your review. Violence is not the answer. The movie had a very depressing end; even more depressing-many people actually like this movie.Nhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16491201071020056597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082470.post-1143006311142800062006-03-22T11:15:00.000+05:302006-03-22T11:15:00.000+05:30Excellent review... had not read it before, coz I ...Excellent review... had not read it before, coz I wanted to wait until I watched the movie. If anybody asks me how I liked the movie, I will guide them to this review.Shruthihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00635222842257175541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082470.post-1142378550364001252006-03-15T04:52:00.000+05:302006-03-15T04:52:00.000+05:30I haven't seen RDB and inspite of the hype don't i...I haven't seen RDB and inspite of the hype don't intend to but judging by this review, arguably even the violence bit seems part of what may well be an amoral generation. History (aka Bhagat Singh) is taken out of context and used as a peg on which to hang a quickfix generation's idea of justice. And no doubt they will emerge with a suitable self-congratulatory moral glow of "having done something to change the system". And when will we send an end to Hindi movies that end in a bloodbath to appease audiences looking for resolution and some gun porn. <BR/><BR/>Aamir Khan is a lame actor - it a long time since he jumped the shark. He's now at a point where he takes his reputation as an actor so seriously that all you seen on film is an actor showing off his bag of tricks rather than a character. And I agree with confused - what's with Black being seen as European in temperament (what like Italian and we all know where Italian cinema is today). Black is an awful movie that I forced myself to watch for an hour with the hammiest of Indian actors (the Big B himself) and if the best people can say is its better than the average Hindi flick then our standards are very low indeed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082470.post-1141577742515591782006-03-05T22:25:00.000+05:302006-03-05T22:25:00.000+05:30Hash,Not sure if I've seen this, and subsequently ...Hash,<BR/><BR/>Not sure if I've seen this, and subsequently commented, too late, but I was warmed by how articulately you've laid down my instintive reaction to this who Rang de Basanti business. I would simply say, "I couldn't have said it better," but the truth is, I could barely say it at all. But it's time films like this - apparently it has done record numbers at the box office - stop pretending to talk to people at a more serious level than pulp, and even look down their noses at other "fully mainstream" film. There's nothing mature about Rang de Basanti, and, in my opinion, without maturity and pause, nothing enduring can emerge.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082470.post-1141154991074224682006-03-01T00:59:00.000+05:302006-03-01T00:59:00.000+05:30check this outhttp://www.ibnlive.com/blogs/blog_en...check this out<BR/>http://www.ibnlive.com/blogs/blog_entry.php?id=5661&author_id=223Vjhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09767715729755744461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082470.post-1141019693744992672006-02-27T11:24:00.000+05:302006-02-27T11:24:00.000+05:30Couldn't agree more. Let me add some of my own obs...Couldn't agree more. Let me add some of my own observations:<BR/><BR/>Firstly, let me be clear, I have issues only with the movie-making aspect of Rang de Basanti, and not the moral message it tried to communicate - and fumbled, badly.<BR/><BR/>The characters are flimsy and unreal. Their characters are transformed too easily. They move from committing a serious, moral, deadly action in one moment, and then laugh reflexively with po-mo sarcasm at each other in the next moment. ?? . C'mon man, that doesn't look real ...<BR/><BR/>Rakeysh Mehra has a rather simplistic understanding of the mordern teenager; he tries to reconcile it with the sensibilities of the revolutanaries - and believes it can be done, and the difference is superficial. Well, it is not.<BR/><BR/>BTW, I liked the feel-good images, the feel-good shots, too. Kind of makes it worth the ticket price.<BR/><BR/>But if Bhagat Singh saw himself portrayed by these feminized men - with their continuous self-congratulation, reflexive skeptical laughter, namby-pamby liberal sensibilities, he would shoot himself again.<BR/><BR/>It pisses me off because the message is important. As Bastiat once said,<BR/><BR/>"The worst thing that can happen to a cause is not to be attacked skillfully,but defended ineptly."<BR/><BR/>And, Rang de Basanti notwithstanding, the truth is the middle-class does need to stand up to these political elites. It is our country, and we should take it back.well_whatevrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02379949251578673046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082470.post-1140670243721347692006-02-23T10:20:00.000+05:302006-02-23T10:20:00.000+05:30Nina - that is a charming comment. You've divided ...Nina - that is a charming comment. You've divided your compliments almost perfectly between the two sides. "Full-on draamey-baazi and sho-sha" - yes, I suppose that's the best way of seeing it.Chandrahashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07483080477755487202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082470.post-1140618472961686562006-02-22T19:57:00.000+05:302006-02-22T19:57:00.000+05:30Excellent review!and I totally disagree.the film d...Excellent review!<BR/>and I totally disagree.<BR/><BR/>the film didn't tell me what to do, it showed what those idiot/hot-headed buddies did. <BR/><BR/>Nor did the murder/assassination come across as the reccommended response. the irony of reality was painfully obvious. <BR/><BR/>the final showdown at the radio station was full-on draamey-baazi and sho-sha... butch cassidy and sundance kid meets bollywood masala bhaashan. <BR/><BR/>pitch-perfect over the top. <BR/><BR/>loved it. <BR/><BR/>still enjoyed your review though. i like the fact that there are others out there who also feel strongly about it.<BR/><BR/>cheersninahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06454711501742720580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082470.post-1140514068950382152006-02-21T14:57:00.000+05:302006-02-21T14:57:00.000+05:30Sure, the movie was ridiculous in parts. But your ...Sure, the movie was ridiculous in parts. But your review misses its basic (and obvious) rationale for the violence: that there is no real difference between the Indian government now and the British, in its violation of civil rights and its abuse of power (what about the most recent case, of Ms. Iyer, the journalist arrested for an innocuous article that pissed off someone powerful?)<BR/><BR/>What the film (tries to) underline is that the problems in the government are so entrenched today that you need a new revolution to bring about change. The form of revolution that the movie promotes can be disputed - common violence is a dangerous tool, but we certainly need some kind of uprising. <BR/><BR/>But the extreme scenarios went cheek to cheek with an interesting message - that the middle class needs to wake up, realize the situation our governance systems are in (consider the deaths of Manjunath and Dubey, the few days of uproar, and the silence after it. Has anything substantially changed?) and more importantly do something about it. <BR/><BR/>So, hamhanded in parts or not, lets not pretend that the film was completely silly in its message. It had its points - ones that shouldnt be ignored. <BR/><BR/>~no_raised_voicesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082470.post-1140490777721821652006-02-21T08:29:00.000+05:302006-02-21T08:29:00.000+05:30Fantastic review! After reading other reviews I ha...Fantastic review! After reading other reviews I had no clue what was in store when I went to watch the movie. I found the ending absolutely ridiculous. Using the history of Jalianwalabagh and the aftermath to justify what those five guys do did not make any sense. It completely ignores the context and the times we are living in. I liked the movie until that MIG crash - it had great musc and quite entertaining - but everything after that was very disappointing. There are million other ways the movie could have ended!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082470.post-1140471999890320292006-02-21T03:16:00.000+05:302006-02-21T03:16:00.000+05:30Excellent review... I share your view.So many time...Excellent review... I share your view.<BR/><BR/>So many times, we have seen movies build up the background so painstakingly, only to disappoint at the end. My main complaint: do you not have an imagination to come with any other ending that shooting the wrongdoers in cold blood? Is really taking arms the only solution? If you really believe this to be the solution, can you not see a possible civil war in the offing?<BR/><BR/>The film takes itself seriously, and so I believe this criticism is justified.<BR/><BR/>Though, I would like to see a sequel... a movie which chronicles police and politician's POV... what went behind the scenes in those days, between the death of the minister and the AIR broadcast. Where the police realized that this perhaps wasn't a foreign hand. Where they still didn't have clues because the killers had no prior criminal record. And the commandos NOT shooting these five in cold blood, but because they didn't have information that we audience did: that these five were not planning to shoot and kill.<BR/><BR/>Something more imaginative and less uni-dimensional... is that too much to ask? Perhaps it is.Nikethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14882163077938014472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082470.post-1140470007855124842006-02-21T02:43:00.000+05:302006-02-21T02:43:00.000+05:30I see that much has been spoken about this post in...I see that much has been spoken about this post in the comments section. My take ahs been put up on my site: http://brijwhiz.wordpress.com.<BR/><BR/>Nonetheless Chandrahas - must commend on you a well written post. Wish I could write like that:( :Dbrijhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05542769268234747681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082470.post-1139909006077760972006-02-14T14:53:00.000+05:302006-02-14T14:53:00.000+05:30hi chandrahas,i liked your take on RDB very much.i...hi chandrahas,<BR/>i liked your take on RDB very much.i share your views on the movie and believe me, i came out of the cinema hall with just the same kind of thought that u did.what i felt best about this review was that it explored the seemingly darker side of the movie,and to a great extent helped me out in seeing its pros and cons in the same light.almost all the other reviews that i have seen came all out in praise for the movie,completely sidelining the all-important theme.perhaps this movie too,like all its predecessors succumbs to the so-called "demands" of commercial bollywood flicks.but had this movie been in hollywood, it would have been a different picture altogehter,i guess.but on the whole i think your review was par excellence.keep up the good work.<BR/>.....adiosAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082470.post-1139842469671562142006-02-13T20:24:00.000+05:302006-02-13T20:24:00.000+05:30I think you pretty much saw the movie with a singl...I think you pretty much saw the movie with a single perspective in mind. You have to understand the essence of the film. No one is glorifying violence. The group of friends did what they thought was correct. They didnt want anyone to follow their way. Remember when one of the protagonist answers on the radio "I am sorry" when he is questioned about the righteousness of his deed? The message was loud and clear. You dont have to go on a shooting spree. Join military, politics, IAS, police...and do the needful for your country. The problem is that WE INDIANS dont understand things until its put in a dramatized way. And the film only proves the point. It goes to the extent of preposterity so that we talk about it. And then we find our own ways to develop our country. <BR/>About the juxtapositioning of the past with present, I think it is a good way to do it. The actions of the group of friends can be compared with the actions of our revolutionaries. I am just saying "Actions" and not the "cause". The "cause" or whether the corresponding "actions" were required or not has always been a debatable issue. We do have two different perspectives about our history: the Gandhian school of thought and the Azad way. MK Gandhi never accepted what the revolutionaries did. But then who can say whether Gandhi was right or Azad was right? Again, perspectives. <BR/><BR/>I hope you do understand my point. <BR/><BR/>RegardsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082470.post-1139808970709551462006-02-13T11:06:00.000+05:302006-02-13T11:06:00.000+05:30Contrary to popular opinion I think Rang De Basant...Contrary to popular opinion I think Rang De Basanti's ending is perfect and flawless...<BR/><BR/>Most of the critics stated that the only flaw in the film is the climax,But I think the absurd <BR/>climax of RDB is the USP of the film...<BR/><BR/>If the film had a constructive ending where all the boys venture into different fields of Indian <BR/>society like politics, IAS,police force...to uproot corruption and defects in the system which would <BR/>eventually transform the society is idealistic and perfect...<BR/><BR/>Life is imperfect and unfair and the 5 characters in the film are not portrayed as fake perfect characters unlike most of the Hindi movies here <BR/>the hero is projected as perfect and the one who can do no wrong but the 5 characters in the movie are quite realistically portrayed as flawed and imperfect, JO JAWANI KE JOSH MEIN AAKE DEFENSE MINISTER KO TAPKA DALTE HAIN cos they wanted justice which they could never get from the law,thanks to the loopholes in our judicial system...<BR/>but eventually they regret their act at the end cos they realised that assassinating someone does'nt solve the problem it only complicates it,but unfortunately before they could repent their action they had to pay with their lives for the <BR/>crime committed.To me that is the essence of RDB.<BR/><BR/>Had the film ended like Yuva & Swades with a normal,logical and boring climax, RDB would have <BR/>become preachy and pedantic and would have bombed at the box-office just like Swades & Yuva did.<BR/>RDB has got both critical acclaim & box office success thanks to its unusual ending...<BR/> ...A Realistic ending that is so different and weird that it will stay with me for life.<BR/>To me this is the best possible ending a movie could ever have...<BR/>Bravo RDB.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082470.post-1139807069221649442006-02-13T10:34:00.000+05:302006-02-13T10:34:00.000+05:30Champak - it appears from your narrative that you ...Champak - it appears from your narrative that you first read my piece in its entirety, then (disgusted by how much of the plot had already been revealed to you) went to see the movie, and then constructed your counter-arguments to my post and sent them in. My piece hints from the very title that it is going to engage with the movie in some detail. Instead of thundering away in capitals, you might the next time want to arrange things in a more reasonable order. Nobody's forcing you to read my post till you feel ready to.<BR/><BR/>And Anonymous - "Stop being worried about the bloodshed and let the youth take decision. After all, aged will perish, let the newbies be clean and honest in their thoughts." It is clear to me that you are not an aged person.Chandrahashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07483080477755487202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082470.post-1139785248088983772006-02-13T04:30:00.000+05:302006-02-13T04:30:00.000+05:30There is no need to take a contrarian approach jus...There is no need to take a contrarian approach just for the sake of attracting attention.<BR/><BR/>Having your article titled "Against Rang De Basanti" makes it all the more obvious.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082470.post-1139767857762155442006-02-12T23:40:00.000+05:302006-02-12T23:40:00.000+05:30Hi,Pity you didn't understand what Rang de basanti...Hi,<BR/>Pity you didn't understand what Rang de basanti tried to convey. When things are out of hand, you got to do something that seems as strict as it could be, specially for corruption. Whats brits did a 59yrs ago is being repeated in a different way, and u need people to step forward to stop that. You need some of Bhagat Singh, some courage to accomplish this goal. this movie tries to bring out that courage inside many of us. We know something is wrong, but we cannot just watch and let it happen. Stop being worried about the bloodshed and let the youth take decision. After all, aged will perish, let the newbies be clean and honest in their thoughts.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082470.post-1139753667888491632006-02-12T19:44:00.000+05:302006-02-12T19:44:00.000+05:30Hey Middle Stage,Your review gives an interesting ...Hey Middle Stage,<BR/>Your review gives an interesting and alernate viewpoint but I certainly disagree with you.<BR/>If this movie is wrong, then so is Legend of Bhagat Singh or any otehr movie on a revolutionary who chose "Anti-Gandhi" path. Because even historically, gandhi and bhagat singh had opposite views both both loved their country and there is nothing "wrong" or "right" in such situation.<BR/><BR/>Its a free democracy, people have right to present their opinion. Why should anyone talk only about gandhi....<BR/><BR/>Of course, we cannot encourage people to start killing our politician if they are wrong, but if our politician doesnt earn the resepct of this country, then a civil war is bound to break out..<BR/><BR/>This movie, may be taking an extreme step, but deifinitely indicates that possibility and I dont see anythig wrong with it.<BR/><BR/>P.S: NEXT TIME WHEN YOU REVEAL THE ENTIRE STORY OF A MOVIE, MAKE SURE TO POST A WARNING AT THE OUTSET.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082470.post-1139680286328392992006-02-11T23:21:00.000+05:302006-02-11T23:21:00.000+05:30Hi..I guess time has come for mature audiences to ...Hi..<BR/><BR/>I guess time has come for mature audiences to appreciate what a film is trying to highlight. If you could just read between the lines, you would realize that Rang De Basanti is probably one of the best movies to be made in contemporary cinema. It shows what friendship is all about. It shows you should stand up against what is wrong. It shows if you do something illegal you will end up losing. It shows in what state our country is today. <BR/><BR/>Truly speaking a movie which shows a light to young people like me what life is all aboutAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com