A Generation Awakens|Jan. 26, 2006|India|157 Min.|Not Rated
Genre: Bollywood;Comedy;Drama;History
Description: “Rang De Basanti,” released in 2006, is a Hindi film that intertwines the past and present to explore themes of patriotism and justice. The story begins in London, where Sue McKinley, a film student, discovers the diary of her grandfather James, a former Colonel in the British Raj during the 1930s. James’s diary details his admiration for five Indian freedom fighters—Chandrasekhar Azad, Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru, Ashfaqulla Khan, and Ram Prasad Bismil—whom he captured and executed. Inspired by their revolutionary spirit, Sue travels to India to make a film about them.
In India, Sue collaborates with her friend Sonia, a student at the University of Delhi, to find actors for her project. After a series of unsuccessful auditions, Sue meets Sonia’s friends: Daljit (DJ), Karan, Sukhi, and Aslam. Sensing their potential, she casts them in key roles. Despite their initial skepticism about the film’s patriotic theme, the group gradually becomes invested in the project. Tensions arise when their rival, Laxman Pandey, is cast as Bismil, but they eventually bond over the course of filming. Meanwhile, Sue develops a romantic relationship with DJ.
The narrative takes a tragic turn when their friend Ajay Singh Rathod, a flight lieutenant in the Indian Air Force and Sonia’s fiancé, dies in a MiG-21 crash. While the government blames pilot error, Sonia and her friends suspect corruption, as they believe Ajay was a skilled pilot who averted a larger disaster. Their investigation uncovers a scandal involving the Defense Minister, Shastri, who approved cheap, defective aircraft parts in exchange for personal favors. The group is further disheartened to learn that Karan’s father, Rajnath Singhania, played a role in the deal.
“Rang De Basanti” is a powerful story that highlights the struggle for justice and the enduring legacy of those who fight for their beliefs.”
Cast director: Arjun Mathur
Cast actor: Aamir Khan, Siddharth, Atul Kulkarni, Kunal Kapoor, Soha Ali Khan, Alice Patten, R. Madhavan, Waheeda Rehman, Sharman Joshi, Kirron Kher
Original name: रंग दे बसंती