18
DECCANHERALD
A How free
Shreyas
Pande
writes
about films
that show
the dark
side of post-
independent
India
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(Compiled by Harish Mallya)
nother Independence Day has
come and gone. Flags have been
hoisted and patriotic songs sung
with much fervour.
However, these celebrations
are we really?
fail to acknowledge the brutal
reality which many Indians are
grappling with.
Shackled by casteism, religious
disharmony, farmer suicides and
rampant misogyny — what free-
dom are we really celebrating?
The real side of India that is still
‘unfree’ is captured in many films
and documentaries made over the
years by undeterred individuals
who have realised that the dawn is
yet to come.
Nagraj Manjule’s poetically
scathing portrayal of caste
discrimination in ‘Fandry’ (2013)
is the other side of India which is
seldom brought to notice in the
mainstream that is filled with
laborious chest-thumping. Man-
jule reflects on this entrapment
of people from the marginalised
castes in India, by designing a
powerful scene towards the end of
the film. As the family of the
protagonist is hunting a pig to
keep it away from the upper caste
folks in the village, the national
anthem begins to play in a school visuals of Hindus spewing hatred
nearby. This scene speaks vol- against Muslims without an iota
umes of how the national symbols of shame. The entire film is filled
mean very little in such oppressed with many such instances which
realities. What does ‘freedom’ are a disturbing testament to the
mean to this family? religious intolerance prevalent
In the documentary, ‘In The in the country. Not only are these
Name of God’ (1992) by Anand defying the fundamentals of
Patwardhan, there are multiple humanity, but they outrightly go
Serious, idealistic story in a mixed package
SUJAY B M
A
s a tribute to the late
actor Puneeth Rajkumar
scrolled down the screen
amid loud cheers, I didn’t expect
‘Kshetrapathi’to have anything
more to do to him.
However, as the film pro-
gressed, one could not but draw
parallels with Puneeth’s ‘Prithvi’
(2010), a critically acclaimed
film steeped in idealism but
unable to rise above commercial
compulsions.
Depicting the plight of
farmers, the film opens with the
protagonist Basava’s (Naveen
Shankar) father dying by suicide
in a remote village of Gadag
because of rising debts.
This coincides with a local
Heart of Stone
No fuel in this
Gal Gadot star
vehicle
VIJETH BALILA
I
t would be amusing to review the new
Netflix flick ‘Heart of Stone’, directed
by Tom Harper, in a thoughtful way
when the film itself doesn’t take any of its
parts seriously.
To say the least , this Gal Gadot
star vehicle is a damp squib with the
credit (make that ‘blame’) going to its
bland-to-the-core writing and tedious
filmmaking.
The film marks the Hollywood debut
of the charming Alia Bhatt, but its intent
is focused only on giving superstar
Gadot another hit franchise. The result
is a disaster.
‘Heart of Stone’ follows internation-
al intelligence agent Rachel Stone’s
(Gadot) action-filled journey to save the
mysterious AI system — ‘The Heart’ —
which faces a threat from Keya Dhawan
(Alia) and the agents she works with.
In the mission, Rachel wears many
hats — a well-versed techie, a rigid
fighter and a dashing motorist — pulling
off rampages across multiple European
and African locations. Meanwhile, the
plot takes some unremarkable twists
and turns.
Though the action is the only bright
spot, the choreography of those
sequences seem exaggerated and con-
trived. The computer graphics imagery
(CGI) doesn’t help either, making it hard
to distinguish the film from mediocre
video games.
Gadot and Alia can do only so much
when the mish-mash
screenplay lacks orig-
inality. The film offers
nothing we
1.5/5
haven’t seen
before, and Heart of Stone
that is
English (Netflix)
probably
Director : Tom Harper
why it
landed Cast : Gal Gadot, Jamie
directly Dornan, Alia Bhatt,
on OTT. Matthias Schweighöfer
showtime
Saturday
August 19, 2023
increasing farmer suicides in the
state of Maharashtra. The film
also portrays the irony of the
mainstream media which failed to
report on cotton farmer suicides,
but covered fashion events.
More such films that narrate the
real stories of India are ‘Periyerum
Perumal’(2018, Tamil) and the
Malayalam film, ‘The Great Indian
Days before the Babri Masjid demolition, a man interviewed in ‘In the
name of God’ justified the assassination of Gandhi.
Kitchen’(2021) by Jeo Baby, which
is a portrayal of women trapped in with the only hope of helping
rigid patriarchal structures.
Chaitanya Tamhane’s ‘Court’
(2014) posed pertinent questions
others realise the state we are in
and to stir up conversations.
Independence Day should
on the condition of judiciary in the
country and how justice is delayed
be a reminder to ask ourselves
how free we really are. If patriot-
A frame from ‘Fandry’, a film that looks at caste discrimination
from the perspective of a Dalit teenager.
due the legal procedures.
The abundance of patriotic
ism is loving the country to the
fullest, why is there little outrage
films has made us take pride about issues that plague us even to
against the values enshrined in the in our country without feeling this day?
Constitution of India. accountable for its issues. It helps Hiding in the films of Man-
Another film that lays bare in maintaining the status-quo and jule, Patwardhan and others, is
the systemic negligence shown keeps its citizens from looking at a deep-seated disappointment
by governments towards its the dark side. The real patriotic about the state-of-affairs. These
most marginalised is the 2009 films are the ones that ask difficult films should be revisited in the A folk singer and activist was
documentary ‘Nero’s Guests’ by questions and are undeterred in month of August as a reminder of accused of abetment to suicide
Deepa Bhatia. It covers journalist their portrayal of an India that is the oppression that has not been because he sang politically-
P Sainath as he reports on the not perfect. These films are made remedied since 1947. charged songs.
REVIEWS
Action thriller with an
last rites, to stay back. He is
determined to save his land.
nada cinema. It shines at crucial
moments thanks to the direction occasional sparkle
His zeal soon spreads to other and the background score by
farmers and he is supported by a Ravi Basrur. SAMANVITA MAHESH
newspaper editor (Achyuth Ku- However, just like Prithvi,
T
mar) and a TV anchor Bhoomika after having crossed the halfway his film is about Aarav (Rit-
(Archana Jois). mark through a road less trav- vik Muralidhar) and his loyal
The corrupt system comes elled, the film drifts to cater to friends Bhushan (Natya
down heavily on Basava, and he commercial expectations, and Ranga) and Sunil (Sunil Gujjar).
grapples with his adversar- comes across as too long Caught in a power struggle
ies, with all odds stacked and preachy. between the formidable ‘Daddy’
Shanvi Srivastava in ‘Baang’.
against him. 3/5 Naveen Shankar im- (Raghu Dixit) and his headstrong
Srikant Katagi de- presses as a combat- daughter Leona (Shanvi Srivasta-
serves praise for tack- ive hero. Achyuth va), the three are given seven hours Director Ganesh Parashuram’s
Kshetrapathi ling a serious and and Archana to find a mysterious bag supposed- efforts to bring an average sto-
topical issue in his Kshetrapathi deftly play ly hidden in their car trunk, or face ryline to life are commendable.
politician (Veerabhadra) plotting directorial debut. Kannada (Theatres) their limited dire consequences. Without the The chapter-wise structure and
to hand over the villagers’ land to The film is fresh, Director: Srikant Katagi roles. Rahul bag, Aarav’s little brother, Aayush, frequent jumps in time eventually
an MNC, using the money they with a strong Cast: Naveen Shankar, Ainapur will freeze his life. With no knowl- aid in piecing together the missing
owe him as leverage. This com- north Karnataka Archana Jois and leaves a mark edge of the bag’s contents, they elements of the plot. The action
pels the college-going Basava, flavour, rare in Achyuth Kumar as a rugged embark on a quest to save him. and chase sequences, however,
visiting the village for his father’s mainstream Kan- villain. As they search for clues, they seem unrealistic. The attempts to
come across Siri (Shravya), Bhu- inject humour in tense moments
shan’s classmate, who becomes an largely fall flat.
Refreshing ‘cli-fi’ series set in Odisha
unexpected ally, and they form a In his debut role as Daddy, Ra-
quartet. However, their trust in Le- ghu Dixit delivers with conviction.
ona proves to be their downfall, Shanvi Srivastava looks captivat-
RASHMI VASUDEVA ies pile up, corruption gets as she manipulates their ing but lacks the depth need-
starker, and the plot, unfortu- vulnerability to plan their ed for her character. The
T
he pre-release publicity nately, gets predictable. death. 2.5/5 trio of Rithvik Muralidhar,
for ‘The Jengaburu There is IAS officer Dhruv The story moves to a cli- Natya Ranga, and Sunil
Curse’marketed the (yes, another of those in-your- mactic shootout when Gujjar deliver average
limited series as India’s first face names), played compe- Leona is accidentally Baang performances.
cli-fi (climate fiction). It also tently by Sudev Nair, and he is stabbed. Amidst the Kannada (Theatres) Overall, ‘Baang’
boasts of other firsts. This The Jengaburu Curse the pole star guiding Priya out chaos, the friends Director: Ganesh Parashuram serves as a decent
is the first web venture of of the depths she unwittingly manage to free Cast: Raghu Dixit, Shanvi one-time watch.
critically acclaimed film- London, arriving in Bhubane- finds herself in. He is also her Aayush from the Srivastava, Rithvik Of course,
maker Nila Madhab Panda swar after she learns that ex and is driven by his own freezer. As they Muralidhar, Natya Ranga, suspension of
(of I Am Kalam fame). It is her father has gone missing. demons of guilt and regret. escape, another sur- disbelief helps.
Sunil Gujjar
also perhaps the first OTT We are told that a few years In an attempt to tackle the prise awaits them.
series set in Odisha, albeit in
a fictional mountainous town
earlier, he had been branded complex problems of climate
a Naxal and jailed for his vocal change and corruption, the
called Jengaburu. support of tribal rights. Priya, screenplay gets heavy-hand-
A crisply edited trailer who grew up in Delhi, ed and loses its emotion-
hinted at a thriller that would can’t even speak al appeal. That said, it
have the underdogs take on
the establishment, expose the
hazards of bauxite mining,
Odia. Incidentally,
her father is called
Swatantra Das — you
2.5/5 is refreshing to watch
a series set in Odisha, a
welcome detour
and look crony capitalism in can’t get more The from Punjab
the eye. The seven-episode unsubtle than Jengaburu Curse and Uttar
series wants to do all this, and that! As Priya Hindi (SonyLiv)
Pradesh,
achieves it to an extent, but gets pulled the favour-
Director: Nila Madhab
falls short mostly because of deeper and ite locales Sushmita Sen
Panda
over-earnestness. deeper into of OTT as Shreegauri
The story begins with the morass Cast: Faria Abdullah, producers. Sawant.
Priyamvada (Faria Abdullah), that is illegal Makarand Deshpande,
Sushmita Sen intense as a
a financial analyst based in Sudev Nair
mining, bod-
transgender champion
Grand weddings and crammed plots PRANATI A S
TINI SARA ANIEN spellbound. However, the question
A
biopic of the transgender remains: Why aren’t transgender
T
ara Khanna (Sobhita Dhulipala) and activist Shreegauri Sawant actors playing these roles?
Karan Mehra (Arjun Mathur) are back — India’s first petitioner for The film is titled ‘Taali’ which
with ‘Made in Heaven’(MIH) season transgender rights in the Supreme translates to “claps”. Transgen-
2, and their weddings are bigger, crazier, and Court — was long overdue. ders in India are known for their
carry bolder messages. This season, Tara and Made In Gauri, born as Ganesh in Pune, distinct clap — which conveys their
Karan are posed with multiple challenges that Heaven 2 wants to be a mother when she presence. Gauri in a powerful
go beyond demanding brides — from budget grows up. She battles identity dialogue says, “main taali nahi
cuts and a depleted client roster, to working to her role as Meher. In a scene, where she is issues in a conservative family. The bajaungi, bajwaungi,” which trans-
out of an old bungalow that is past its prime. thrown off a vehicle after a date, it is hard to film details the many struggles lates to, “I will not clap, I’ll wait for
Season 2 begins six months after the events separate her from the character. and the important turning points an applause.”
of the first season. Tara is in the midst of a Grand colonial weddings, rekindling an old in her life. When her mother dies She is assertive of her identity
legal battle with her estranged husband Adil romance, a Bollywood wedding in France, and her sister gets married shortly from a very young age and evolves
Khanna (Jim Sarbh). Adil, in turn, is juggling a Dalit Buddhist wedding, polygamy, and a after, she is left with no one but her into a strong transwoman who
his difficult divorce and his relationship with couple with a 10-year age difference, are all father. Though she is still a little dares to petition for transgender
his girlfriend Faiza Naqvi (Kalki Koechlin) different themes and stories from this season. boy, she identifies as a girl, much rights. Her dream of wanting to be
who is carrying their unborn child. The series represents real stories from to the dismay of her father. a mother when she grows up is ful-
Ramesh Jauhari, (Vijay Raaz) now owns varied walks of lives, yet it seems like a lot to Her story progresses through filled when she gains custody of a
one-third of MIH, and his wife Bulbul Jauhari process at one go. While every episode speaks flashbacks, as she narrates the four-year-old after the child’s birth
(Mona Singh), has joined MIH’s team as an of new lessons learnt and obstacles overcome, incidents that shaped her life, to a mother, a sex worker, succumbs
auditor. The duo are an inspiring couple to some characters and their characteristics journalist. to AIDS.
watch. Mona emerges as the unlikely star of seem a bit stretched. Karan’s drug addiction In one scene, her father is over- Although the film’s narrative
this season, with her convincing por- gets out of hand and is disturbing to joyed when he notices hair is strong and powerful, the
trayal of a shrewd businesswoman, who watch. Shashank Arora, who plays Ka- growing on her chin. Details treatment is lacklustre. The
couldn’t care less for pink champagne 3/5 bir Basrai, MIH’s official videographer, like this highlight the kind
3.5/5 director, Ravi Jadhav has
and real flowers.
Karan as a gay man and
is as morose as ever. His narration at
the end of each episode ends up
of desperate society we
live in.
been addressing pertinent
issues in his films — impor-
Trinetra Haldar as Meher Made in Heaven 2 sounding a bit too preachy. It is admirable how tance of sex education,
Chaudhry, a trans person Vikrant Massey fans can Sushmita Sen has Taali stories of nude models,
who has joined MIH’s Hindi (Amazon Prime Video) see him return as Nawab, absorbed the Hindi (Jio Cinemas) children involved in
team, shine the spot- Creator: Zoya Akhtar and a mentor-friend to Karan. personality of such Director: Ravi Jadhav criminal activities,
Reema Kagti
light on the LGBTQIA+ Shivani Raghuvanshi, the a complex charac- Cast: Sushmita among others. This
community. Actor-doctor Cast: Sobhita Dhulipala, Arjun young planner, who plays ter. Her powerful biopic holds as
Sen, Krutika Deo, Ankur
Trinetra, who is a post-op Mathur, Mona Singh, Vijay Raaz, Jazz aka Jaspreet Kaur, is a portrayal leaves much importance. It
Bhatia, Aishwarya Narkar
trans woman, does justice Jim Sarbh, Kalki Koechlin relief. the audience is a must watch.