Love in War Field: The Masterpiece of Vishal Bhardwaj

                                                                  Rangoon: Review

What values more than life?  Vishal Bhardwaj’s Rangoon put this question a couple of occasions in the movie but forget to answer every time, audience takes it as a suspense but when film ends, mostly scratch their heads, bewildered by the meandering turns of the film’s screenplay.  Rangoon is not an easy film and not meant for the people who love to whistle when hero yanks off his shirt to display his six packs which has got nothing to do with the film instead it’s a grave film which can’t be handled by everyone.  

Vishal teamed up with his two favorite actors Saif and Shahid to accomplish his that desire which he sustained during the making of Omkara, which is still fresh in the memories of audience.  In a similar line of Omkara and Haider, Vishal put the color of love, war and deceit in the plot.  But this time canvas is bigger than his previous projects.   And bigger brushes are used to make it a visual delight.  

Rangoon is set during the World-War second (1993-1940), when bigger countries are fighting the war of dominance.  When Britain is fed up of Hitler’s inhuman stances and India is fed up of Britain’s slavery.    And two Indian ideologies both opposite to each other have also waged the war against the colonial government.  Gandhi is fighting war with the imperishable weapons ‘truth and non-violence’.  But Subash Bose asks countrymen for their blood in the lieu of freedom.  

Though there are Indians who are helping British Army being a soldier fighting for them but until the formation of Indian National Army (INA) which was made by the Bose with a little help from the Japan.    INA soldiers are so advanced that they have spread their espionage system deep inside the county where even Indian Kings are willing to donate them the most precious things (an antique sword) which may end the financial crisis of the INA.  These soldiers are so loyal that they don’t hesitate to get beheaded but never unveil the secrets of INA if caught. 

Miss Julia (Kangana Ranaut), which film producer Rusi Billimoria (Saif Ali Khan), bought her for one thousands when she was only 14 is the biggest heroine of the country.  Before meeting the Jamadar Nawab Malik (Shahid Kapor) she had only one dream to become Mrs. Billimore.   But when Nawab saves her from the Japanese soldier and take her safe to British Army Check Post at Indo-Burma (today’s Myanmar) border she falls in love with him. This forms a love triangle in the film in the backdrop of war.  Julia comes to Burma to encourage (entertain) war exhausted British soldiers (most of them are Indians).  But ultimately become the rebel than the tamed kitto of Rusi.  

Film asks you to shed tears at some points especially when Julia and Nawab convince a Japanese soldier to go back to her mother because other may not but her mother will definitely believe him.  It disappoints with the ordinary playback music and except ‘ye ishq hai’ none of the songs create a buzz in the mind but background music is engaging.  It also startles with some intense romantic scenes, one when both the Julia and Nawab smeared of mud from top to toe kisses each other.  This scene defines the intensity of their love for which both can sacrifice their lives (yes, film answers the question raised in the beginning).  But there is one more love, love for the country, which too doesn’t value life more than country.  Zulfie the personal assistant of Julia and Nawab as the undercover INA soldier by sacrificing their life proves that there are feelings which value more than life.

Film’s biggest strength is the excellent performances by actors, leading actors has done a good job, especially Saif Ali Khan who despite an intermitting role impresses with his grave expressions, he is equally good as a lover and as a hurt burn.  The way he stares the couple Julia and Nawab makes you to remember Omkara’s Langda Tyagi. 

Kangana as Miss Julia, convinces you as a film actress who rides horses and runs on the roof of a moving train.  The way she communicates with the Japanese soldier tells the maturity of her acting skills. 

Shahid got a pretty good role and has done justice to the character.  He fights, romances and sings too though INA’s national anthem and hence sometimes looks exhausted but there is always Kangna to support him.  

The climax of the movie is one of its weak points.  One hardly believes the way a film actress fights the trained soldiers and conquer them too.  

It feels as if Vishal tried the same formula which most of Indian director uses, the typical formula to make actors turn into heroes.  Once a hero and always a hero.  Despite beaten up badly a couple of minutes ago hero can resist and fight back.  His/her broken bones get set own their own when someone dear invokes him/her.  

But It’s the film’s cinematography which from the beginning to end never goes down and makes the film ‘bloody well’.  Rangoon is a rare movie such topics are not touched by the film makers easily, it’s not easy to create the panorama of World-War, film is not made in a hurry, albeit it has flaws but still astonishes with the brilliant portrayal of colonial era.  But if you want some history lessons from it, it doesn’t assure you the authenticity at least the disclaimer of the movie.