If expectations could touch a skyscraper, this one would have to be it. I am sorry, but Three Idiots will have to wait, for this one has brushed aside all skepticism with damned authority. Rocket Singh makes its mark, albeit more radically and with lesser emotional quotient than Chak De… This one might not rouse you out of your seat but it is an ode to those recluses who find it hard to take a stand and would much rather all the talking and thinking from the comfort of their couches (read ME!). Chak De was clear cut in making its point. Rocket Singh is more ambidextrous in nature. Chak De was out there, in your face. Rocket Singh is more subtle, nonetheless more powerful. Chak De left nothing to be desired. Rocket Singh leaves you with a nagging dilemma and actually gets those old rusted parts of the brain working. If Castrol is liquid engineering, then Rocket Singh is Castrol for the brain. There is something in it for everyone. Shimit Amin and Jaideep Sahni team up for their second collaboration and this time their take is completely opposite to the first. The film is not “hard hitting”. It stabs you in the heart, and then leaves quietly, without making much fuss or further ado for the society to heal your hurt ego.
Plot:
Rocket Singh is the tale of the average guy. It seems like “average” is the in thing this season. People seem to be bumbling to tell their “oh so average” tales. However, Harpreet Singh Bedi (Ranbir Kapoor) really is AVERAGE. He has passed by “grace marks” and worships hard labor. Let’s face it – hard labor doesn’t get you anywhere. Our chap has to learn this lesson the hard way. The world couldn’t be a meaner place. Nothing is as he pictured it to be. It maybe true after all that his dadaji (Prem Chopra) dreamt of this “holy place” where nice guys finished first. For in the big, bad world, nice guys finish in the shower! Harpreet gets fired from his job (for NOT compromising on his morals) and he vows to beat the corporate slugs in their own backyard. To aid him in this task, he finds a bunch of odd job characters that have lusted only for one thing – recognition. Recognition for their work, day in and day out. The characters range from the chaiwalla Mishra (Mukesh Bhatt) to the under appreciated receptionist (Gauhar Khan). If only she had accepted sexual favours… she would have been a SOMEBODY. There is the competive rival Nitin, who is the exact opposite of Harpreet. To round it all off there is Giri, a computer nerd who knows the far eaching “uses” of the internet, sometimes more than necessary. Thus begins the tale of redemption; one where Harpreet compromises on some of his morals only to arrive at the end result of imparting customer satisfaction rather than profit. Harpreet’s company does only enough jholjhal to survive in the cut-throat corporate world, for at its base, he is a pure hearted guy.
Themes:
The most important aspect of the film. Rocket Singh is not a character backed film. It does not offer a radically different character like Paa. It has one element which has been missing in Hindi cinema for some time – a damn good STORY! The script is brilliant. It is almost as good as a book. The world is a funny place. We grow up being taught “good morals” and “acceptable ways of behaviour”. Virtues like honesty, truthfulness, compassion, hard work are ideal for a good person. The world isn’t quite like that however, is it? Vices like greed, malice, dishonesty, hypocrisy, betrayal are prevalent. What happens when your values clash with the norms of society? How do you cope? It is amazing to find that most people can just adapt – shunning their virtues to survive in the world without thought, without question. The only soul searching that we do is in the comfort and security of our home, cribbing at the system. There are seldom any moments when we ACTUALLY take a firm stand.
The film showcases one of the worst aspects of human nature, one which is highly prevalent in Indian society (I am sorry to be blatant, sue me later!). It is the concept of “adjusting”. From the beginning, we are taught to bear and compromise on everything that we wish to achieve. We adjust and bear so many things without refrain. Do not like your boss – adjust, the local train is flooded with people – adjust, personal relationship in a mess – adjust etc. In fact, there are hardly any specific moments where we do stand up for what we believe in. The individual’s morale and self confidence is crushed, almost broken. The same is reflected in the larger scheme of things – India as a nation. India has always been the first to give in and be ready for a compromise. Why? Why can’t we take a firm stand?
Rocket Singh looks at these issues in minute detail. Harpreet adapts to certain elements to survive, however, he doesn’t change his fundamental core beliefs. That’s what separates him from the morally corrupted (but successful) businessmen in the end. Success DOESN”T always come with a price. There is a choice. It is we who choose our own paths and we alone are responsible for it. This approach should be lauded. It is drastically different to the sympathetic approach that film makers adopt to the melancholy affairs prevalent in contemporary society. For once, the aam aadmi is truly a winner, not by luck or sympathy or a twist of fate but by his sheer grit and determination.
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