ankur_sardana

This is why story telling is so important. In telling or trying to find about yourself you realize the futility of anger in the past or present. This is the reason why shrinks are expected to listen. In those talks are the answers. The answers which no one else is going to provide but the search for it finally gives one the time to reflect rather than crib. This is what Shabnam does and in this she tells us the inspirational but completely real story of the man behind India 67, Sukhdev. The style is simple and honest and the result powerful although unclear.The interviews with her mother and Sukhdev's assistant go beyond the realm of a'famous artists story' and appeal to a much vulnerable side of all.

Kamal Swaroop almost makes it like he was never going to make it but somewhere in the journey starts connecting the dots. The documentary film makers either have a fixed narrative where they want to drive home a point or remain too abstract and hope the connections would not be so important. In the rare cases like here in Rangbhoomi, Kamal treads the middle but layered path. There is a visible arrogance and play which adds to the play between the director and the viewer and off course the protagonist Dadasaheb Phalke. If you want to understand more, you can , else you can enjoy the documentary poetry. The topic is powerful and as layered as the documentary style. I feel blessed that in our country, we have the variety in filmmakers to make both a Harishchandrachi Factory and Rangbhoomi.

Though I saw Mammo quite a long time back, many scenes of this brilliant movie are still fresh in my memory. Farida Jala puffing the cigarette, her scenes with the police, her interactions with the old nani...it feels sad that she has not been utilized int his manner before. Shyam benegal extracts her best. Though Farida has been doing many 'character roles' for a long time now, only 'Dekh Bhai Dekh', a television series, comes to my mind in her recent avatar and movies like Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, raja Hindustani and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. Not having seen much of her earlier acting ( she's been acting for ages, I guess ), she will remain for me 'Mammo', the aunt. (2 February 2006)