The war of love

Nonika Singh

Love, deceit and violence are the three threads that bind most of ace director Vishal Bhardwaj’s films in a classic Shakespearan manner. To some extent Rangoon too follows the same path. Only it’s set in the World War period, second World War to be precise when Indians were pitted against each other depending on whether their loyalties rested with the British or the Indian National Army (Azad Hind Fauj). 

Yes, the film harks back to the pre-Independence days when not just Mahatma Gandhi’s message of non-violence but also the revolutionary thoughts of Subhash Chandra Bose and INA caught the imagination of many patriots.

But since the disclaimer in the beginning absolves itself of any historical veracity, expecting a historical narrative or a factual account would be a folly. In fact, for a long, long time it remains just a love story, love triangle if you wish. But not an ordinary one by any means rather one that blends its backdrop of war with the world of entertainment quite adeptly. The narrative marries the unusual with usual, the poetic with prosaic, hat ke yet filmy enough.

At the heart of this crossroad of varying emotions and different worlds stand Kangana Ranaut as Julia a character fashioned after fearless Nadia and her producer lover Russy Billimoria (Saif Ali Khan). And together they along with Shahid Kapoor as the solider Nawab Malik of British army create some ‘bloody well and hell” moments. Clearly this film has not been made in hurry and heats up like slow fire too. Just as it takes a while for the dishes’ aroma to get to you, so does the film’s real flavour. Of course, it's astounding beauty, high on brilliant cinematography, zooming on Arunachal Pradesh’s pristine environs, is a constant feast. Building up the momentum like an orchestra, it reaches a tempo by and by before finishing on a high note in the climax. Too dramatic and rather filmy, yet the finale is engaging and makes the point it set out to. And here the filmmaker’s sympathy comes out in the open. Unlike Bhardwaj’s previous film Haider there is no ambiguity about where the film’s heart truly lies.

In body and spirit however, the narrative remains with its key characters (more than historical events) and actors propel it further with top notch performances. Kangana as the brazen brittle Miss Julia has both zing and depth. It’s a part that only she could have slipped into with just the right inflections of theatrical naturalness. Her high octane action act finds a perfect match in her emotive ‘now vulnerable now daring’ range. Saif Ali Khan is equally commendable again in a complex role of a rich filmmaker who considers and treats Julia too as one of his productions. From Langda Tyagi of Omkara to the maimed (one armed) Russi of Rangoon… he is once again superlative. 

In one scene alone when he realises what is going on between Julia and Nawab, just one emotive expression of his speaks volumes about what a fantastic actor he is, probably not often used to optimum ability. Shahid is understated and precise and gets his fair share of steamy sensuous scenes.

Other cameos like Saharsh Shukla as Zulfi  (Julia’s companion) is spot on. And then there is Richard McCabe as the British Major General who spews Ghalib’s shayari, claims to have an Indian heart but is despotic enough to proclaim, “I am white and I am always right.” Certainly his characterisation gets a bit stereotypical in the climax yet it’s a memorable part. Of course, like his stilted Hindi, the film too has its stunted moments, a bit tiring too. But overall it offers an experience only Bhardwaj can offer, immersive and not the one to be brushed aside easily. Go for it… for you will continue to find meanings in it long after the show is over. Not just in the obvious one, “dying for the loved one is more important than your life” but some hidden ones too.  For instance the priceless sword around which much of the drama is centered is symbolic of the flame of patriotism carried forward from one to another.