My view on Rang De Basanti...

Every once in a person's lifetime there comes a film that touches a chord with the cynical, astray, self-possessed youth of that era. Rang de basanti is one such film. It starts on a humorous, outspoken note ( as would be characterised individually by the protagonists of the film).

Yes, after having lived my entire life in the capital, I can say I know all of them personally; I've encountered the deejays, sukkis, the ashfaqs and the die-hard (but maybe not so honest) patriots that this city breeds in its university.

The plot is so cleverly contrived that at the end of the film, if my favourite characters decided to stage their non-violent dharna on the moon, I'd have been gung ho about it.
This is what's so different about the movie, the characters. They're real. What they say, what they think, what they speak, their aspirations are all mine.

I was so comfortable with them, that when they shot the minister of external affairs (a bad idea...I would have warned them) I, in all earnestness, felt an acute discomfort of being weighed down with a friend's dark secret.

The transitions from the past leaders to the transformation of today's youth, added a depth to the narrative, giving it a substance. However, I did feel that the revolutionary counterparts could have had a more convincing getup. In all honesty, the moustaches looked out of place, and their faces too fresh and unlined for what they were going through. Also, the past felt like a drag in some portions and could have been cut short to create a faster pace.

The two transitions I liked best were the reconstruction of the Jallianwallah bagh tragedy and the recount of the torture and the one-hundred and something day fast that our heroes willingly undertook. These were best liked simply because they showed in greater detail something we took for granted and were able to see something new, a braver side of the Indian People.

Aamir Khan, was, as always brilliant. This 40-something actor never once made me feel like he was too old for the part he was playing. What more can I say about him?

The film had many subtleties and nuances that only served to highlight the complexities between real human relationships. Soha Ali Khan was natural and comfortable in her character and siddharth can count on a new fan :)

This film reminded me that i need to speak up as an Indian. Thank you for risking your money on such a thought-provoking subject (a big no-no for most producers). Thank you for doing what you truly believed in!