This film by Sudhir Mishra is possibly and probably his tribute to all the Indians who amidst those troubled times in Indian history marred by naxalism, emergency, dictatorship, dared to think, dared to dream big, dared to question, dared to revolt against the oppressed, dared to live - each of them in their own way. With this as a backdrop, we see the India of the 60's and 70's through the eyes of three principal characters resembling the times and are involved in an intricate and fascinating love triangle if one may call it say so. But bear in mind this love story could probably be unlike anything you have seen before - at least it was for me until I saw it. It breaks free of all cliches and customs probably just like those times.
Siddarth(Kay Kay Menon), a firebrand educated elite class youth and his young gang want to improve the country as he sick of watching people like his retired-judge father sit and pontificate about the problems crippling it. He wants to bring about a revolution ala Castro, he is ready to go to the villages, he believes in an ideology and is willing to go and wait for any length. Vikram is son of a middle class Gandhian father who according to Vikram thinks about the society than about his family. Vikram is desperate to just get out of his so called shit-hole and quickly get as much rich, fame, fortune as possible. He is an eternal oppurtunist and is ready to use anything and anyone and do the dirty things if need be. Geeta(Chitrangada Singh), daughter of an articulate South Indian family oscillates between Delhi and London. All three study in the same university. Geeta loves Siddarth and stands by him, his movement though she doesn't quite understand it. Vikram detests Siddarth and pines for Geeta, like one of his lifelong ambitions. Siddarth loves Geeta but takes her support for him granted which doesn't please Geeta and she doesn't like Vikram hovering around her.
The three of them are fiercely individualistic and opinionated when forced into a corner. They are like every man for himself. This trait of theirs makes them go their own ways after graduation and they don't repent one bit. After all one has got to do what one has has got to do.Siddarth finds the villages unimaginably harsh and hard than he had ever conceived and is sucked into the lawlessness and violence of Bihar. Vikram has become a fixer and strikes big deals quite often and is also married. Geeta is married to a well off but alcholic guy. Three of them remain in touch through letters (no cell phones and possibly very limited STD back then!!!!... imagine how people might have poured their innermost feelings on paper). Times have changed. Indira Gandhi's iron fist rules over India.
Geeta leaves her husband and takes the help of Vikram. He thinks this is his chance to finally make her his woman. She still feels itchy about him. Her beastly thirst for Siddarth makes her go to a village to meet him and they both have a remorseless rendezvous. Vikram bumps into them by choice. Old animosity reignites. Vikram moves on reluctantly and starts to do really corrupt deals recklessly. Geeta marries Siddarth and lives along with him in the villages. She slowly understands how, what, why on ground zero and undergoes a gradual change and sees the bigger picture.
The final nail is driven into the coffin. Emergency in India. Shoot at sight orders for anyone against the establishment. Siddarth, a wanted naxal is nabbed by corrupt,immoral police along with Geeta and their gang. They are tortured, sexually abused, even killed by the police. Geeta's first husband, now remmarried, rescues her and takes her back to Delhi in the hope of an affair. Siddarth escapes and is on death run. With his own father arrested, Vikram uses all his connections to get him out, Geeta again asks him to use all his power and wealth to find Siddarth fearing his death. Vikram sets out just for the sake of Geeta.
What follows after that till the end of the move is truly remarkable. I won't reveal it. You have to watch the movie for it. It isn't meant to be a suspense. But the profound impact about people and human nature shown in that part of the movie had on me, I hope everyone has and I don't want to spoil it. All three of them still remain individualistic but become a complete opposite at the end giving the movie an open-ended feel making it all the more poignant. We can feel, know and relate to each of their reasons for doing so. Still their love and loyalties exist but in a different way and for different things.
The narrative is as smooth as a river. English dialogues are used quite a lot but are correct as the characters are highly educated (intellectually than in posh colleges) and converse in English (another reflection of those times). The film stirs one up without being preachy or talky. Acting is astounding. Chitrangada Singh in her debut role - my eyes were glued to her. She looks amazing and portrays the bold and beautiful Geeta with great depth. Shiney Ahuja brings out the animal in Vikram and still manages to show he has a pure heart. Kay Kay makes Siddarth all fire and brimstone until the very end where he becomes vulnerable. Everything, the sets, music, cinematography takes us back to those times.
The film is perfect like a masterpiece. Disturb one note and everything would crumble. It is rare to find truly soul stirring cinema that shakes you to the core. This is one of them. It is once in a lifetime film. All those associated with the film (making it or watching it) would/could/must know this sooner or later. Pity it didn't get the support it deserved when it was released. I don't wish that I should have been there in those times but I damn grateful to see this movie showing me those times.
Till next time - movies, movies and movies...
The three of them are fiercely individualistic and opinionated when forced into a corner. They are like every man for himself. This trait of theirs makes them go their own ways after graduation and they don't repent one bit. After all one has got to do what one has has got to do.Siddarth finds the villages unimaginably harsh and hard than he had ever conceived and is sucked into the lawlessness and violence of Bihar. Vikram has become a fixer and strikes big deals quite often and is also married. Geeta is married to a well off but alcholic guy. Three of them remain in touch through letters (no cell phones and possibly very limited STD back then!!!!... imagine how people might have poured their innermost feelings on paper). Times have changed. Indira Gandhi's iron fist rules over India.
Geeta leaves her husband and takes the help of Vikram. He thinks this is his chance to finally make her his woman. She still feels itchy about him. Her beastly thirst for Siddarth makes her go to a village to meet him and they both have a remorseless rendezvous. Vikram bumps into them by choice. Old animosity reignites. Vikram moves on reluctantly and starts to do really corrupt deals recklessly. Geeta marries Siddarth and lives along with him in the villages. She slowly understands how, what, why on ground zero and undergoes a gradual change and sees the bigger picture.
The final nail is driven into the coffin. Emergency in India. Shoot at sight orders for anyone against the establishment. Siddarth, a wanted naxal is nabbed by corrupt,immoral police along with Geeta and their gang. They are tortured, sexually abused, even killed by the police. Geeta's first husband, now remmarried, rescues her and takes her back to Delhi in the hope of an affair. Siddarth escapes and is on death run. With his own father arrested, Vikram uses all his connections to get him out, Geeta again asks him to use all his power and wealth to find Siddarth fearing his death. Vikram sets out just for the sake of Geeta.
What follows after that till the end of the move is truly remarkable. I won't reveal it. You have to watch the movie for it. It isn't meant to be a suspense. But the profound impact about people and human nature shown in that part of the movie had on me, I hope everyone has and I don't want to spoil it. All three of them still remain individualistic but become a complete opposite at the end giving the movie an open-ended feel making it all the more poignant. We can feel, know and relate to each of their reasons for doing so. Still their love and loyalties exist but in a different way and for different things.
The narrative is as smooth as a river. English dialogues are used quite a lot but are correct as the characters are highly educated (intellectually than in posh colleges) and converse in English (another reflection of those times). The film stirs one up without being preachy or talky. Acting is astounding. Chitrangada Singh in her debut role - my eyes were glued to her. She looks amazing and portrays the bold and beautiful Geeta with great depth. Shiney Ahuja brings out the animal in Vikram and still manages to show he has a pure heart. Kay Kay makes Siddarth all fire and brimstone until the very end where he becomes vulnerable. Everything, the sets, music, cinematography takes us back to those times.
The film is perfect like a masterpiece. Disturb one note and everything would crumble. It is rare to find truly soul stirring cinema that shakes you to the core. This is one of them. It is once in a lifetime film. All those associated with the film (making it or watching it) would/could/must know this sooner or later. Pity it didn't get the support it deserved when it was released. I don't wish that I should have been there in those times but I damn grateful to see this movie showing me those times.
Till next time - movies, movies and movies...
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