Ram Gopal Varma decides to play
Arnold Toynbee of Vijayawada and chronicle with unprecedented commitment the
blood-soaked gang war that shook Vijayawada during the 80s. So committed is the
master film-maker and so deft is the talent that he almost gives you an account
– a graphic account of every life taken, every ounce of blood spilled, every
wail and cry of the times. He has an account of the sharp knives, iron rods,
guns, goons, the number of lungis and active two wheelers, the unshaven and
unkept faces that participates in the history of gang war that has the
dimensions of a civil war. To those who do not care a damn about politics or
history and have just gone to the theatre to have some popcorn, he dins the
tale with a background narration told with equal conviction and commitment. At
a time when cinema is just gloss, heroics or comic indulgences, here comes a
pathbreaking film-maker so committed to the truth that he dares to take and
tell a complex historic happening living in the cusp of the past and the
present.
The film-maker is art and truth personified. No, not even Francis Cappola
spilled as realistic blood in the Italian mafia depiction of Godfather as our
local historian. Not since Bimal Roy (Do Bheegha Zameen), Benegal and Ray (all
their films) and Govind Nihlani (Tamas, Aakrosh) has a film maker stuck to his
script and told a story with satiating urge to tell the viewer the truth, the
whole truth and nothing but the truth!!
The film maker spoke the other day about how this is arguably the most violent
film made by him. Uncharacteristically modest. I am sure the very learned and
well informed that he has dared where others would hesitate to tread. While the
not so committed may cringe many a time during the 142 minutes of truth
telling, kudos to the brave heart who not only had a ring side view but lived
with the story for decades till he was inspired to tell it all. Unmindful of
the box-office, indifferent to what those on either side of the political
divide may say or do, he ensures the saga is re-enacted and the ill-informed
have a peep into the pages of history and the streets of the city that will
soon be the full-fledged capital of the state. Amazing gumption that a man
could hold back all this and suddenly found that amazing inspiration. What
converted the inertia to impetus we will not know till he gets into another
bout of speaking. May be he should do a film: Making of Vangaveeti.
As everyone knows Vangaveeti is the bloody story of Vangaveeti and the Devineni
groups. After viewing the film will those associated with it run for cover or
will it be the rest…. Is a moot point. The story is about how Bus Stand Radha
kills – nay butchers Venkata Ratnam. By half-time you have been witness to
three butchering incidents. Post interval we are back to more arson and
killing. Lest one dares to scorn he is subtly (?) reminded of the traditional
Mahishasura Mardhini and Bhagavat Gita.
Now the Devineni branch take over the vendetta. We see some brilliance with
Ratna Kumari (Naina Ganguly – joining the team of brilliant performances) combs
the parting hair of Vangaveeti (Sandeep Kumar). Parting hair, parting spouse –
kya symbolism hai.
RGV concludes the tragedy that defies measure and even Goddess Kanaka Durga is
a mute witness. This is a RGV film and thus sui generis.
Rating: 1 Star:
+: ??
–: !!
L. Ravichander