Rang De Basanti has been chosen as the official nomination for the Oscars, a fairly thoughtful decision by the jury in a
nation guilty of selecting many mindless films in the past. RDB may not be a flawless work of art, but it has moments that compel us to reflect on the degeneration of modern-day India.
Mehra's language of portrayal makes an instant impact, the narrative being anchored by young protagonists whose spiritual evolution coincides with the story's progression. Yet, a crucial question needs to be addressed.
In the race for nomination, why did Lage Raho lose? Although the sheer number of speculations can equal India's population, it does appear that the film's comedy was taken far too literally. And, one must add, superficially.
In both the films, the protagonists undergo transformation. But, showing such a significant change in a don like Munnabhai, no
matter what the motivation might be, was an infinitely tougher task achieved with astounding ease.
Having sworn by
violence all his life, Munnabhai turns to Gandhigiri for the sake of love. But when he goes to address a bunch of elderly people, and talks about the decay of India instinctively, we know that the director is trying to make a point that looks beyond the story's fun-filled facade.
When an old man starts to take off his clothes to pay bribe, we are reminded of our reconciliation with corruption in our day-to-day lives. When a son confesses to his father that he has squandered the latter's hard-earned money, we are compelled to accept that honesty can, indeed, change our lives although being honest may not be easy at all.
While RDB portrays the transformation in the youngsters most remarkably, what is the film's message? It tells us that youngsters need to act purposefully if the nation has to change for the better. But, what is it that Lage Raho... says?
Using the character of a don who experiences the beauty of living life in the right manner, it emphasises on the need to be good no matter what the adversity might be. During violence-infested times, when satyagraha is a forgotten word, it has made millions reach out for a neglected institution like Mahatma Gandhi.