Rajkumar Santoshi has directed the Legend of Bhagat Singh, and this is the flick that stars Ajay Devgun…I know that there are five movies that are based on Bhagat Singh; so it is slightly confusing on which flick is which!
I really wanted to watch this version, more than any of the other versions, such as the ones that star Bobby and Sunny Deol. This was primarily because I prefer Devgun than any of the Deols; A.R.Rahman has composed the music…(…and I don’t think that I have to explain why that is a bonus point) plus if any of you have actually seen the promos to this flick; then you may also agree that they put a superior impact on you and makes you want to watch it.
So after much debate with my mom on getting this flick (coz she wanted to see the Deol version), I finally got the chance to watch this and I loved every minute of it. The Legend Of Bhagat Singh is very well directed as Santoshi make the story of Bhagat Singh flow smoothly and portrays Bhagat Singh’s character extremely well. Though (as we all know) Bhagat Singh was a real person and therefore made history, consequently Santoshi has made this flick with the use of historical facts (D’UH) but he does not tend to go round the round-a-bout several times, instead he is quick, sharp and expresses each event in it’s true terms. And makes us realise how Bhagat Singh was all set to stand up for not just his rights but the whole of India’s rights…after all they do say that behind every revolution lies one man.
There have been many debates about Santoshi choosing the wrong actor to play the character of Bhagat Singh (Ajay Devgun) as he does not look similar to the real revolutionary…but this really did not bother me as I was after the excellent performance by all and something which we all need: a decent Bollywood movie.
Every actor has done exceptionally well in their performance, even if it was for just less than a minute; each actor was to their best. Iam sure that I do not have to tell you that Devgun was the best like always! One of my favourite scenes is where Ajay is shown with his two fellows and are getting closer to their death; and sing “Mere Rang De.” The expression on Ajay Devgun’s face is luminous, also the way he smiles and mines the song really makes one get the sensation of what Bhagat Singh really must have felt.
Apart from the outstanding performances and direction, A.R.Rahman has yet again made another evergreen (well for me anyway). Each song has it’s own emotion and is structured very well, either if it was “Pagdi Sambhai Jatta…” or “Mere Rang De…” otherwise “Dil Se Niklegi…” or even “Safroshi Ki Tamanna…” all these songs will touch your heart and may even want to make you cry. Rahman has used his (and mine) favourite singers: Sukwinder Singh and Sonu Nigam. Both who put emotions into their songs and have a fine voice too! But I think that Sonu Nigam should definitely be one of the nominations for the best male singer of 2002, as I personally think he has shown what he is made of in “Mere Rang De…”
As if that was not enough, Santoshi has ended the movie very well as he asks his audience a rhetorical question; which is: Have We Betrayed Their Sacrifice? I don’t think that I have to answer that question, as we all know in the back of our minds that we have which is a shame.
Another shame was that I did not get the chance to watch this movie at the cinemas…and I really wished that I did. In fact if I can then I will go and watch it as many times as I can…as it’s real history and absolutely brilliant!
Iam glad that producers/directors of Bollywood have decided to make movies on Bhagat Singh as there is something in it for every Indian and it is a sensible project other than those stupid repeats we get all the time from Bollywood.
Never seen a revolution, then log off and run to your cinema and watch it happen in front of your eyes…and keep it with you for all eternity…