Rangoon Hindi Film Review

Tragedies often do not gel easily with the Indian audience. Rare examples are Mughal e Azam, Do Badan, Ek Duje Ke Liye…. No surprises then that Winner has more takers than Rangoon even at the multiplexes. As a people, we always see cinema as entertainment. Resultantly the likes of Vishal Bhardwaj make films at their own risk though they indeed enrich the glory of our cinema. Vishal sure has a mixed bag. After Haider, it would be difficult to keep the pitch and credibility and in this context one gets the feeling that the magical ouch is indeed missing. Having said that, the post interval part of the narration which is when the film gets moving, is full of some dramatic moments, fine performances and intriguing storytelling.
For a good part of the film you get the feeling that it is more a Nadiadwalla film than a Vishal Bhardwaj film. You get the distinct feeling that the film would have been a sure winner if only it were as well scripted (Mathew Robins, Sabina Dhavan alongside VB) as cinematographed (brilliantly by Pankaj Kumar)
The film has the II World War and its impact on neighbouring Rangoon juxta positioned with the INA led by Bose for the backdrop. Film maker Russi Billimoria (Saif Ali Khan) is madly in love with his muse Julia (Kangana Ranaut). Their relationship is subject matter of gossip in the film world – he a filmmaker and she the daring heroine. Protests notwithstanding the local military chief David Harding (Richard McCabe) on a road journey. However, as the journey begins, Julia has to take it without Russi and finds as her guard an army jawan Nawab Malik (Shahid Kapoor). Soon a Japanese attack finds the entire team broken up. The seeming survivors Malik and Julia make it through the tough terrain and join the military camp. However, in the meanwhile the hot star and the young jawan fall in love. Also in the backdrop is the infiltration of the INA in the British army. Sympathies are sharply divided. While some would pledge their unquestioned loyalty to the Empire, there are others who are responding to the call of Subhash Chandra Bose. Forget the backdrop for a while and get engrossed in the amazing love triangle involving Russi, Julia and Malik. Just when you are engrossed, leave it for a moment and get caught in the fine finale that brings the war backdrop into the forefront and like Ghazi recently gets a chapter not spoken about in loud tones about our history.
For those to whom cinema is more than just story telling Rangoon makes for compulsory viewing specially for the great unmatched cinematography. Every shot of the camera is telling a story on its own. Then there is brilliance of Vishal Bharadwaj as the music director of the film. Haunting and storytelling in its own timbre, it brings back memories of Machis and Hu Tu Tu. In recent times I do not recall a film (Aashiqi 2 notwithstanding) a drama that peaks with the musical score and the two work in perfect tandem. Be it moments of lilt and fizz earlier or the echo of dull pain later they are told by the genre of the music just as well as the script does. With the cast as is you are sure to be treated to some fine fare. Saif Ali Khan is polished and plays out the challenge with full confidence. Then there is the extremely talented and spirited Kangana who will never falter or disappoint. As the ambitious girl torn between her benefactor and her saviour she is the actor she is brilliant and an award winner, as ever. All this apart, it is the Haider protagonist who steals the show from even these two actors. My heart goes out to this under rated star actor. He does not move a muscle in error. Watch the film if you enjoy a fine performance as part of good cinema Rangoon is unhesitatingly recommended for the discerning cineaste.

Rating: 3.5 Stars
+: Shahid, Cinematography, Music
-: Very Long, Poor editing
L. Ravichander.