When I was around eight everything about life looked beautiful and whimsical. I had my own way of seeing, thinking and feeling things. Bloodshed and violence existed only in movies, which by the way I chose not to watch. Life for me was a fairy-tale devoid of the dire witches. Religious differences were something I did not recognise. It never struck to me that I was a Muslim and that I studied in a Christian school and my neighbours and most of our family friends were Hindus. Their God and our God is one and the same was what my grandma taught me. But the demolition of Babri Masjid changed it all. Suddenly I realised that a section of the society was divided in the name of Allah, Ram and Christ and that the bad witches and wizards played a big role in this fairy -tale. This poignant realisation forced me to remove those rose-glassed spectacles through which I viewed the world.
I look around every time a riot takes place in our country only to see that on one side there are some fanatics killing each other in the name of the religion and on the other side there are people of different religions helping each other in the name of humanity. This is exactly what Aparna Sen has conveyed through her movie.
Mrs. Meenakshi Iyer, a conservative Tamil Brahmin is on her way to Kolkatta accompanied by her infant son to join her husband. One of her Family friends introduces her to Raja Chaudhary, a Muslim who is a photographer by profession. As the journey progresses Meenakshi befriends her fellow traveller Raja Chaudhary, who with good grace helps Meenakshi manage her ever so troublesome rug rat. Meenakshi who had taken for granted that Raja is a Hindu starts avoiding him the moment she realises that he is a Muslim. You must watch the way she squirms with disgust when she realises that she shared her water bottle with a non-vegetarian.
As the story progresses we see the bus being stopped due the riots between the Hindus and the Muslims. While the passengers in the bus wait anxiously for the curfew to be removed a Hindu mob enters the bus with an obvious objective, which is to kill the Muslims on board. In a frenzy to kill each and every possible Muslim these criminals even check if the men have been circumcised thereby making sure that a Muslim does not escape their machete. This is when a Jew gives away the identity of a Muslim couple to escape death, circumcision being a custom among the Muslims and Jews. When the mobs question Raja about his religion Meenakshi saves him by telling the mob that Raja is her husband – Mr Iyer. This is the turning point of the story, in the beginning you see this not so secular woman trying to ignore a Muslim due to her conservative religious attitude but the moment she realises that this guy who belongs to the other community is in trouble she ignores her religion and bails him out in the name of humanity.
After escaping from the mob in the bus Mr and Mrs Iyer are stranded in a place which is filled with hatred and carnage, at last with the help of a police man they get an accommodation in the forest guest house. The conservative Meenakshi feels ill at ease to spend the night with a Muslim stranger. While in the guest house Meenakshi witnesses a ghastly murder which perturbs her and Raja tires his best to comfort her. This is when Meenakshi’s apprehension about Raja transforms into trust creating a bond between the two.
From the bus to the guest house and now it is to the train. It is during this train journey that a few romantic moments between the pair take place. This romantic angle did raise a few questions in my mind but still I think that it can be justified considering the circumstances they went through. What happens in the end? Do Meenakshi and Raja end up together?
The director, Aparna Sen has made a lot of statements in this movie and has conveyed her messages in a fine yet evocative way. The story at many places inevitably reminds you of the communal riots that have taken place in the past.
Rahul bose as usual has shown an acting talent that quite surpasses the biggies of the Bollywood. He plays the role of a broad minded Muslim guy with precision.
Konkona Sen has played the role of a Tamil Brahmin girl with so much perfection that it’s hard to imagine that she is a Bengali. Everything right from her body language to her Tamilian accent is perfect.
Through this movie Aparna Sen has tired to pass on a message which says that God is infinitely above praise and worship. He does not favour any group it’s only the religions that favour groups. If only the extremist could realise that whoever God is, he for sure hates this fight over Allah and Ram.
U know I love those comments...btw if u haven’t, check out spikeguard’s review on this movie..its simple superb!