RANG DE BASANTI is a story about the youth of India today.A young, London based film- maker chances upon the diaries of her grandfather, who served in the British police force in India during the freedom struggle. Excited about these memoirs, she makes plans to shoot a film on the Indian revolutionaries mentioned in the diaries. She comes down to Delhi, and casts a group of five friends to play the pivotal roles of these revolutionaries.However, products of modern India, the five youngsters initially refuse to be part of the project, as they dont identify with these characters from the past. Not surprising, considering that theyre part of a generation of Indians that believes in consumerism. To them issues like patriotism and giving ones life for ones beliefs is the stuff stuffy text- books are made of. They would rather party than be patriots.In the film both the 1930s British India and the India Today run parallel and intersect with each other at crucial points. As the film reaches its resolution the line between past and present blurs, as they become one in spirit.The film changed the face of how youth looks at their rights, their duties and what rebel means to them! Review Director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra merges two plots in RANG DE BASANTI. The first is about a group of friends, their bonding, the carefree lifestyle they lead. The second plot pertains to the past, when freedom fighters sacrificed their lives during the pre-independence era. Without doubt, Mehra's intentions are noble, since portions in the film do succeed in pricking your conscience.Mehra draws parallels between Indians ruled by the British and Indians ruled by corrupt politicians today. The message is subtle at first, but echoes piercingly before it reaches its finale. The transition of the five friends from meaningless to meaningful existence is done brilliantly.You expect Aamir Khan to deliver yet another astounding performance in RANG DE BASANTI and he does, but it's not Aamir alone that you applaud in the film. Of course, Aamir gets into the skin of the character and delivers a knockout performance from start to end, but the film has more gems when it comes to performances: Siddharth [excellent], Atul Kulkarni [fantastic], Soha Ali Khan [a complete revelation; efficient], Kunal Kapoor [natural] and Sharman Joshi [powerful].Alice Patten is brilliant and besides delivering a flawless performance, her style of speaking Hindi is sure to win a lot of hearts. Madhavan is likeable. Waheeda Rehman is graceful as ever. Both Om Puri and Anupam Kher dont get much scope. Kiron Kher is exceptional yet again. Mohan Agashe, Steven Mckintosh, K.K. Raina and Lekh Tandon are adequate.On the whole, RANG DE BASANTI will have its share of advocates and adversaries. A well-made film, it caters more to the elite and the thinking viewer than the aam junta or the masses. --platform47.com From my point of view a almost flawless movie. Its a story of today's young generation. there is one line by Aamir khan I liked ""you have two ways, one is sit back and watch what ever is happening, and the second one is getup and take the responsibility to change the system. really it says all. Its movie i will keep watching many more times. --platform47.com P.when('A').execute(function(A) { A.on('a:expander:toggle_description:toggle:collapse', function(data) { window.scroll(0, data.expander.$expander[0].offsetTop-100); }); }); About the Actor Aamir was first introduced as a child artiste in the 1970's hit Yaadon Ki Baaraat (1973) -- he was the youngest child in the trio. He 'quit' movies and went on to become the state tennis champion for Maharashtra. Aamir also fell in love with the girl next door in the meantime. He proposed to her the day he turned 21, and she accepted. But apparently, there was opposition since she was from a Hindu family and he, from a devout Islamic one. So, they eloped, got married and returned to their homes. Aamir's wife Reena even appears in the song ""Papa Kehte Hain"" that made him the darling of the nation. From the tremendous success of Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988), which was released when he was 23, he has blossomed into India's finest actor. His list of sterling performances include Dil (1990), Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin (1990), Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander (1992), Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke (1993), Andaz Apna Apna (1994), Rangeela (1995), Raja Hindustani (1996), Ishq (1997), Ghulam (1998) and Sarfarosh (1999) and innumerable other films.Born as Aamir Hussain Khan on 14 March 1965, Aamir gained critical and popular acclaim for his roles as an Indian film Actor, Director and Producer. In 2001, he made his debut as a film producer with the Academy Award-nominated Lagaan, where he played the lead role and earned his second Filmfare Best Actor Award for his performance. In 2007, he made his directorial debut with Taare Zameen Par, for which he received a Filmfare Best Director Award. This was followed by Ghajini (2008), which became the highest-grossing Indian film of all-time, unadjusted for inflation.Khan then took a four year break citing personal problems, and returned in 2005 with Ketan Mehta's Mangal Pandey: The Rising. In Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's award-winning, Rang De Basanti, Khan's role was critically acclaimed, earning him a Filmfare Critics Award for Best Performance and various nominations for Best Actor. The film was the official entry of India for the Oscars and received a nomination for Best Foreign Film at the BAFTA Awards in England. Khan's work in his next movie, Fanaa (2006) was also appreciated, and the film went on to become one of the highest grossing Indian films of 2006.In 2009, he appeared in 3 Idiots, which became the highest- grossing Bollywood film of all time! About the Director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, Managing Director of Romp Pvt Ltd, was born in Delhi in 1963. After completing his education in Delhi, he worked as a door-to-door salesman, before relocating to Mumbai to start his own production house, Flicks Motion Picture Company Pvt Ltd.He is also one of the pioneers of music videos in India. His video 'Aby Baby' for India's superstar Amitabh Bachchan took the nation by storm. And his award-winning documentary ""Mamuli Ram - The Little Big Man"", made for co-operative giant 'Amul India' found itself as a course curriculum in various management schools. See more
