What does freedom mean?

Amidst hovering deadlines and loads and loads of piled up work, I am actually taking time out to write out a blog post. I must be mad…

A couple of nights agoI watched Rang De Basanti amongst huge hype and came away liking it. Liking it because someone tried to tell a story – it may have had an ending and a beginning and a middle that you may (or will not perhaps) like but at least it’s a different film. And no, not different in the clichéd sense. It’s a story and it is someone’s interpretation at that.

It one of those movies of recent times which makes you feel hopeful while watching and despair and helplessness settles over like a shroud once you have completed seeing the film, when people turn around and say hey that will never happen and things WONT change after all. I had huge fights after Swades – everything ranging from not an important issue enough to trivializing the whole issue to a documentary with songs to just a long film.

Ok.I get it. These are films but if they are capable of generating debate I’d much rather debate positive change through films than how do films get cleared with four letter words.

It is an effort, small though may be. It gets you thinking and hopefully push you into at least making a small change in your life. Not only do you not make an effort to change anything – anything small will do – don’t bribe the cop next time you jump a signal or don’t jump a line or protest when someone does or go vote! You may not have the courage of doing it but laud the effort when some one is trying to tell you that, laud the message if you do not like the medium.

I work with people who are mostly younger than me and all of them are in their first jobs or thereabouts but are so cynical, it is scary. Not only will nothing change, they are sure but there is no scope to even initiate change and that makes me go blank with sheer fear.

Don’t we all live in the hope that some day things will get better? That’s why I would make a little effort to vote, to not bribe the cop and perhaps not give alms to a beggar in order to discourage him.

The movie, coming back from my digression, is not so much about an issue, as much as it is about a mindset. A mindset that accepts change, even so much that you are willing to bear some challenge and strife to achieve it.

What is freedom to us? It’s a question that has repeatedly come up for discussion off late (more so after watching Sardar recently). On one hand, do we truly appreciate what came to in legacy? A text book full of heroes, with some one’s version of history and five decades of dogged progress. We, perhaps, will never truly value it because we did not experience the other side.

But then with Rang De Basant, there is a crucial juxtaposing which shows that you don’t have to enslaved to get freedom. It is actually about having it in you. Do you really believe India can change? Do away with corruption? For once care about the unseen? Fight for justice and truth? Not be apologetic about it? Use youth and politics in the same sentence?

I came away angry and feeling helpless and wishing there was something I could do to actually tell those colleagues, yes India can change. But worry about India later. Make at least one change in yourself now. Then question how others are not changing. And how I wish Rang De Basanti had showed a positive example on how change is possible. Yes unfortunately the movie perhaps tells you this is not how you achieve the change you are looking for… Which perhaps would kill it for the film, I think.

Of course, from cinema point alone, its well shot, music beautifully blended in, cast not jarring despite occasional hindi hiccups and may be just a tad too long.. just a wee bit.

On a totally unrelated note, what is the fuss about 15 Park Avenue? Come on… every Aparna Sen film does not have to be a masterpiece eh?

Update: A nice review of RDB