Cast-Sushmita Sen
Director-Kalpana Lajmee
Release Date-17th Feb , 2006
Rating-* * * *[brilliant]
* whatever
Kalpana Lajmee always has a special delicate, indrawn way of looking at a rural life.Like Daman , Chingari is also about a journey undertaken by a dark dusky inquisitive and bright-eyed young woman trying to probe her way out of an existential crisis. One of the many pleasures of watching Chingari is to see the way Lajmee uses her actors. Most of the peripheral players are so authentic you forget you’re watching them in the sublime subterfuge of cinema.In Chingari, she tackles a theme that has not been witnessed on the Hindi screen before – prostituton in rural area. Though the theme is alien for urban viewrs, it exists in reality.Chingar does manage to keep you captivated mainly because the issue depicted in the fim succeeds in proving a point – so important in a film like this!lajmee constructs an absorbing and upbeat fable out of an essentially dark and melancholic tale. Throughout this dark film about prostitution, Lajmee searches out grim passages and makes them the centrifrugal force of Sushmita’s journey into the dark world.The narrative fuses art and documentary in a partnership that’s passionate and articulate.
Chingari’ tells the story of a prostitute and a postman . The young postman, Chandan Mishra is played by Anuj Sawhney who comes as a crusader with innocent views. Sushmita plays the character of Basanti, who is a humiliated, frightened and ravaged sex worker. The turning point in her life comes when she experiences love and respect from Chandan. But she is not allowed to even dream of a relationship with him.
Mithun Chakraborthy plays Bhuvan Panda, a village priest who misuses his powers and secretly lust for Basanti. Basanti revolts and that create chingaari - a spark of revolution......
For those who’re unaware of lifestyle of prostitute., CHINGARI is an eye-opener of sorts. The film tries hard to be as realistic as possible – presenting the ugly side of so called sadhus and Mahatmas– and the execution of these sequences do keep you on tenterhooks, sending a chill down your spine at times.Director Kalpana shakes you up at the very start of the film . The subsequent incidents – the love story of Sush-Anuj , Anuj being killed by Mithun and climax are horrifying to say the least.
Besides, the sequence of events that lead to a violent climax are well penned and well executed. The climax is amongst the best parts of the enterprise. Though the concluding 20 minutes are extremely violent, the director has tactfully woven emotions in the goings-on, resultantly stimulating the viewer no end.
On the flip side, the violent theme and the hammer-strong impact of some sequences will prove a major deterrent and might compel the weak-hearted to abstain from watching this flick. IThere’s no scope for music in a film like this. Yet, the makers have incorporated a few songs in the narrative, which takes the graph of the film downwards. Even otherwise none of the songs register any impact whatsoever.
Cinematography is quite okay. The background score is highly effective. Dialogues are first-rate.
CHINGARI should prove to be a turning point in Sushmita’s career. She takes giant strides as an actor and emerges trumps. If she made people notice her talent in Main Aisa Hi Hoon , she’ll make people notice the histrionics in CHINGARI.
Mithun excels in a significant role. His expressions prove that only a veteran could’ve carried off the role so well.Anuj gets immense scope to perform and he does leave an impression. He is a revelation.
On the whole, CHINGARI caters to that segment of viewers who appreciate violent, realistic, hard-hitting films.At the box-office, the film holds appeal for the urban audiences mainly.