Rang De Basanti ...

After watching a hat-trick of run-of-the-mill so called "comedy" movies "Shaadi No.1", "Garam Masala", "Deewane Hue Pagal", this movie was like a whiff, no stream , of fresh breeze....
Battling through a fierce snowstorm, driving on the fast-race course like 696 highway, we reached the theatre in Novi to see what is this so much hyped movie of Aamir's . Having fared pathetically in his last venture, we both(die hard Aamir) fans, hoped this movie would live upto his reputation. And we were not dissapointed.
I read an interview of Atul Kulkarni's in Rediff, where he says that Aamir is an actor who gives every person in the movie his fair share. And I found this to be Cent percent true. Inspite of being in the movie, you would never feel only his role hard hitting . Every person has been given his/her fair deal of share in the movie and each frame is made with perfection.
The movie starts off with a biiig bang, laughter, jazz music, fun, bikes and cars ... just before you start wondering whether it is time to leave the theatre, the seriousness sets in with the song "Thodi si dhool mere" ... Hitting the big screen after a long time is Daler Mehendi's voice and no one but him could have done justice to the title song ... His booming voice echoes in your ears long after the movie is over. The director has very beautifully merged flashes of the past and present to indicate the shooting of Su's movie.
Again when you started sitting comfortably in your seat, loving what you are seeing, the twist in the story is thrown at you , quite unexpectedly. The irony of the scene is very touching and movie - just as Soha Ali Khan is buying "Green choodi" , she hears the death of her fiancee. A series of events start beyond this point, and the movie moves so fast , that before you realize everything is over , in the literal sense too. Four characters who could think of nothing but "time-pass" and would always joke and laugh at the drop of the hat - turn into such mature indviduals that you start wondering if you are seeing the "sequel" to the first half or is the same movie. The transition is very quick and very natural.
Though i did not like the ending very much(only for the reason that it was a sad one), I personally believe that the director could not have handled in a more realistic way. He has shown the blatant truth out there on the screen. Very difficult to digest it, but not at all hard to believe it ...
Every person has given his/her best to the movie. Nobody could have played Aamir's role better, that goes without saying. At 40, to act convincingly as a 24 year old is something that is worth a praise. Kunal, as the romantic and sensitive shayar, reaches out to your heart. Sharmaan joshi as the comedian is very adorable. Siddharth as the rich spoilt brat, touches your heart, with his die hard loyalty to his friends ... Soha ali khan definitely displays shades of her mother and is very bubbly. Sue, the foreign lady is charming. Madhavan, in his brief role, leaves a shattering mark. Atul Kulkarni, as usual is brilliant. (No wonder he got two national awards).
I had almost lost faith in AR Rahman's music after an indifferent score in Mangal Pandey....and then I heard "Roobaroo" ....The casual way in which he sings "Aey! Saala" , is just too fantastic. Lata and Rahman are marvelous in "Lukka Chuppi" a casual song with so much pain in it ...
A movie like "Lagaan" is made once in a lifetime - was told once long ago ... I say a movie like "Rang De Basanti" comes once in many lifetimes ... A Must watch ...