Rang De Basnati...A Generation Awakens?????

I was able to watch Rang De Basanti, after a very eager wait. The movie, entertainment value wise did not disappoint me. But if the director was actually trying to set an example, I am kind of confused.

The Tag line “Generation Awakens” doesn’t really make sense to me. For me, it more or less sounded like “ Tragedy…the main protagonist’s awaken… Revenge”.

Was Rang De Basanti intending to provide a solution to the well-known problem of Corruption at the root level in India…… and is the solution “Violence”????

Was it supposed to portray that Indian Youth needs to keep alive the fire in them so that they don’t succumb or get used to the wrongs around them and forget the rights needed to be in them???

It seemed very unreal to me, when a bunch of carefree young guys so easily warmed up to the Idea of killing some one!!! The attempt to arouse patriotism seemed hardly subtle.

I had this huge discussion with Manu, where in, he was of the idea that, the boys weren’t really fighting corruption…it was there own personal revenge, war against what had happened in there life, and yet to draw parallel with the Indian freedom struggle, doesn’t seem appropriate. My argument of course was that, it always starts with these individual struggles, which turns into a national moment…too far fetched I guess, but that’s the only explanation I could come out with to justify there generation awakens ka funda!!!

The performance wise of course, each and every one of them were flawless.. The film has stellar performances by the entire cast. But I am still not convinced as to the moral of the movie… I surely hope, he wasn’t really trying to preach or send a message.

Where has today's generation gone wrong? Why is the nation so inured in corruption? And why are we so enamored of the stagnant status quo? Are we scared to sweep the garbage? These are lofty thoughts, often swept by popular art under a carpet of cynicism.

I myself don’t have answers to any of these questions!!!