I rented this film from Netflix and when it began, I was annoyed to see that it was from Eros Video! I hate their releases because they do something I've seen no other DVD company do--they cram commercials onto the DVD when it starts up AND when you finally get to the main menu to start the film, a whole bunch of others follow--ones the DVD won't let you skip! In addition, a giant 'Eros' is plastered in the left corner of every scene in the movie. It's a shame they produce so many great Indian DVDs, otherwise I'd not even bother with these jerks. Now that I am done with my rant, on to my review:
As a westerner, much of what happens in the film is about a period we now nothing about and should. Much of the film is about the Naxalite Movement. The Naxalites were communists but not the traditional Marxist-Leninists but revolutionary Maoists--bent on destroying society with bloodshed. Although the film makes the movement seem more benign, these were not benign people. At the same time, the government in power seemed to have little interest in inequity and the lives of the dirt-poor--so you could understand why the Naxalite Movement gained supporters. And, as the film progresses, the government become more reactionary--beating and killing Naxalites or anyone suspected of leftist sympathies. It's really hard to support either--both were committed to violence. Thank God India got through this period.
The film begins in 1969 at a university--a hotbed of the Naxalites. Many students coming from very privileged lives are pushing for great social change. As the film progresses, many give up the movement and become the bourgeois--the middle classes and the rich. Others, such as Siddharth, remain committed to the movement and spend their lives among the rural poor--teaching them about revolution and planning. Geeta Rao loves Siddharth but she also loves Vikram--a guy who was in the movement but who is out to make money and a name for himself. She also is married--but to a third man. Eventually, when Siddharth returns to visit her after spending years in the country, she falls for him and abandons her husband--joining Siddharth in his class struggle. As for Vikram, he's an odd one--making money but at the same time financially supporting the Naxalites. What's to become of these folks? See the film.
The style of this film is very, very different from the other Indian films I have seen. While I am very far from being an expert, I have seen quite a few Indian films compared to other Americans. This one did not have the usual song and dance numbers you'd find in many other films and the film's language is far, far cruder than you'd normally see in a Bollywood production. In the US, despite no nudity, this one probably would have been given an R rating.
Although the history teacher in me noticed that the hairstyle and fashions in general were not true to the period, this is not a big deal and the average viewer won't really care. My biggest problem with the film is the romanticized view of the Naxalites. Although how the government treated them was criminal, you wonder what these revolutionaries would have done had they ever gained power. It almost certainly would have been a bloodbath like they had in China. I have no problem with the Left or the Right--but extremes are scary and not romantic. Despite this, the film is well made and lacks the formulaic qualities you often find in Indian cinema and is a nice change of pace.
As a westerner, much of what happens in the film is about a period we now nothing about and should. Much of the film is about the Naxalite Movement. The Naxalites were communists but not the traditional Marxist-Leninists but revolutionary Maoists--bent on destroying society with bloodshed. Although the film makes the movement seem more benign, these were not benign people. At the same time, the government in power seemed to have little interest in inequity and the lives of the dirt-poor--so you could understand why the Naxalite Movement gained supporters. And, as the film progresses, the government become more reactionary--beating and killing Naxalites or anyone suspected of leftist sympathies. It's really hard to support either--both were committed to violence. Thank God India got through this period.
The film begins in 1969 at a university--a hotbed of the Naxalites. Many students coming from very privileged lives are pushing for great social change. As the film progresses, many give up the movement and become the bourgeois--the middle classes and the rich. Others, such as Siddharth, remain committed to the movement and spend their lives among the rural poor--teaching them about revolution and planning. Geeta Rao loves Siddharth but she also loves Vikram--a guy who was in the movement but who is out to make money and a name for himself. She also is married--but to a third man. Eventually, when Siddharth returns to visit her after spending years in the country, she falls for him and abandons her husband--joining Siddharth in his class struggle. As for Vikram, he's an odd one--making money but at the same time financially supporting the Naxalites. What's to become of these folks? See the film.
The style of this film is very, very different from the other Indian films I have seen. While I am very far from being an expert, I have seen quite a few Indian films compared to other Americans. This one did not have the usual song and dance numbers you'd find in many other films and the film's language is far, far cruder than you'd normally see in a Bollywood production. In the US, despite no nudity, this one probably would have been given an R rating.
Although the history teacher in me noticed that the hairstyle and fashions in general were not true to the period, this is not a big deal and the average viewer won't really care. My biggest problem with the film is the romanticized view of the Naxalites. Although how the government treated them was criminal, you wonder what these revolutionaries would have done had they ever gained power. It almost certainly would have been a bloodbath like they had in China. I have no problem with the Left or the Right--but extremes are scary and not romantic. Despite this, the film is well made and lacks the formulaic qualities you often find in Indian cinema and is a nice change of pace.