Why Rang De Basanti Works

There is no dearth of Indian movies which tell stories of the dysfunctional system and the struggle against it. Nor is there a dearth of movies which exhort the youth for standing up. So what is about RDB that it is making folks going ga-ga over it. Here are some thoughts

1. Because you can connect. The characters of this movie seem so real. For the college going crowd, and those who have been out of college in say the last decade, it is very easy to identify one of the characters with oneself or one of their friends. It is not an imagination that you are watching on the screen.

2. Because it is funny. The first half is absolutely hilarious; it almost feels like DCH. The director has been able to create a comfort level with the audience by the time he launches into the meat of the story.

3. Because the songs are used beautifully. None of the songs from the album are picturized fully. But man, do they have an effect! I cannot listen to Luka Chhipi even now; it makes you want to cry. And how about Roobaroo?

4. Because it actually sneaks in the story of Bhagat Singh and company without letting you care about it. This may be the only way to tell these stories when all the focused Bhagat Singh movies bomb on the box office.

One could go on. This movie is worth a watch. The generation will not awaken in the way it is portrayed on the movie posters, but this movie might redefine the way patriotism is used in bollywood.