Rang De Basanti

One of my students was very distressed after watching 'Rang De Basanti'. She wanted to know how the filmmaker could compare Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad and Co's revolt against the British rule with a bunch of contemporary youth assassinating the country's Defence Minister. Aren't we living in a democracy, she asked, unlike back then, when we were under British rule? And therefore, how could these young men be justified in committing such a violent act?

Perhaps there is no rational justification for the solution offered by the film. But what I would like to take from it is the fact that a rootless, disillusioned generation that has accepted the rot in India society as a given, actually finds a cause worth sacrificing their lives for. The four young men in the film – I am leaving Atul Kulkarni's character out because he already has a sense of purpose, however misplaced it may be – are the typical college dudes, who have never cared enough about anything except living for the moment and looking for cheap thrills to keep the adrenaline running. These are the guys you will spot on every college campus in the country, at least in the urban areas. There is another variety of youngsters which the film doesn't touch upon – the focussed lot who slog their butts off to get into MBA school or some such and grab the first opportunity to get out of this 'godforsaken' country.

Last year, I took my students to watch Sudhir Mishra's 'Hazaaron Khwaishen Aisi'. And the only question I wanted to ask them is how many of them felt motivated to go out of their way to work for a cause, whatever it may be. The idea that there are higher goals and ideals in life worth striving for seems to be fast vanishing. Perhaps because we don't have enough inspiring role models around us. Suddenly our only role models are the likes of Shah Rukh Khan, Sachin Tendulkar, Sania Mirza, and even, Abhijeet Sawant! With the notable exception of the latter, who is the worst kind of role model to have – except to learn how to make it big without any talent – the others are stars in their chosen line of work and have worked hard to achieve that position. But where are the 'icons' who motivate us to work for greater causes than excelling in cinema or cricket or tennis or other such recreational activities? I am sure such inspiring figures exist in India today, but nobody wants to write about them or discuss their work or join hands with them. Which is why we keep dipping into the past and keep reinventing the 'Bhagat Singh' formula.

I think it takes great courage and character to sacrifice one's individual dreams for a larger cause. In fact, I would stick my neck out and say that it is a western myth that suicide bombers are cowards. Sure, the end result of their acts may be destructive, but how many of us have the guts to blow ourselves up for some intangible philosophy? And if suicide bombers are cowards, then so were Bhagat Singh and Co.!

Coming back to 'Rang De Basanti', the filmmaker has worked out an internal logic for the protagonists' actions. Each of them has some personal problem to grapple with, but pushes it out of his mind by hanging out with friends and making merry. As they start working on Sue's documentary about Bhagat Singh, they find themselves changing and start thinking about life for the first time. Then comes Ajay's death and the callous manner in which it is dismissed by the Minister and reported by the media. Their lines from the documentary are ringing in their ears and the parallel is quite glaring for them. Sure, the Minister's assassination is an almost impulsive act and isn't perhaps the only way of ensuring that justice is done. But from their point of view, it is the most effective way of waking up the nation. Just as their conscience wakes up from the dead because of Ajay's senseless death, they hope that their action with inspire other youngsters all over.

It is also important to note that they don't take pride in their actions. They admit that killing corrupt politicians is not the best way to kill corruption. But as the filmmaker obviously wants to reiterate, they are equating themselves with the freedom fighters who shot Saunders dead to avenge the death of Lala Lajpat Rai; as if to say, if murdering a tyrannical British official was fair, then so is the killing of a corrupt Defence Minister who has anything but the defence of the country at heart. Who are we to say that Bhagat Singh and Co. were fighting for a 'higher' cause and DJ and Co. aren't?

To me the one thing 'Rang De Basanti' definitely throws up – and hopefully this one won't be disputed -- is a real youth icon. And that's Aamir Khan. Sure he's a star with a huge following. He's had girls eating out of his hands since his first film 18 years ago. Yes, he's acted in mindless, senseless, eminently forgettable films such as 'Dil', 'Raja Hindustani' and 'Mann', to name just a few. But he has also worked more conscientiously than any other film personality in this country. In fact, he seems to be the only individual from the industry with a social commitment. It is no coincidence that over the last decade or so, Aamir has chosen to be a part of films that have truly inspiring protagonists. Not the 'angry-young-man' of the '70s variety who takes up the cause of the underdog, but a thinking young man who reflects on contemporary life and changes himself or others during the course of the film. He isn't simply dancing for a cause, donating money to charity or lending his face to public service ads. He is trying to do inspiring work and perhaps motivating youngsters to find their calling in life. The characters he plays in 'Sarfarosh', 'Lagaan', 'Mangal Pandey', 'Rang De Basanti' and to a lesser extent, 'Dil Chahta Hai' are all men who find a 'purpose' somewhere in the film and go on to act upon it. Doing this in film after film and consciously rejecting escapist cinema in a country like India is a very brave choice and one fraught with risks. Aamir's example proves that it is possible for someone in the business of entertainment to do quality work, not pander to so-called 'mass' tastes and still pull in the audiences.

If he has done it so successfully, why aren't others following suit?