A MUST WATCH FROM RAMU!
By K. N. Gupta
By Eye TV India Bureau
Director: Ram Gopal Varma
Music: Dharmaraj Bhatt,Sandeep Patil,Jayesh Gandhi,Bapi Tutul,Sanjeev Kohl,Amar Mohile
Cast: Amitabh Bachchan,Ritesh Deshmukh,Paresh Rawal,Mohnish Behl,Suchitra Krishnamurthy,Rajat Kapoor,Gul Panag,Neetu Chandra
Critic's I-view
| click for larger view |
 |
It's a lucky weekend of Friday January 29th, 2010, as Bollywood delivers two really good flicks of the three movies hitting the screens. These two are too good to miss! Ram Gopal Varma's 'Rann' is perhaps his best so far, and can be placed in the category of his 'Company'. Another highlight of the movie is the millennium's most sensitive actor like Amitabh Bachchan cast in the lead role. Top it off with the movie's subject of society, the fourth estate, in the world's largest democracy. There's few who should miss the potent combination of Ramu as director, Amitabh as lead actor and broadcast media as the theme of what could well become the most topical movie of this year!
I would venture to say that this movie could just well relate with everyone. Who doesn't come across today's corrupt political system and its abuse of the growing power of the broadcast media to gain power? Ramu has brilliantly depicted this power game through his very well chosen plethora of characters headed by Amitabh and ably supported by Paresh Rawal. Big B reflects a true and honest media person who is an exception in today's Fourth Estate to deal honestly with the news content. Paresh plays a corrupt politician ready to exploit the equally corrupt media considering it as another profit-making business.
| click for larger view |
 |
This is Ramu's usual way to introduce his movies like 'Sarkar', 'Sarkar Raj', 'Aag' etc and via Big B. Yes, Ramu has sort of taken a revenge on the electronic media that had soon after 26/11 shown Ramu moving alongside then chief minister of Maharashtra Vilasrao Deshmukh, to gain the first hand knowledge of the event for reportedly using it in his movie. It's another matter that Ramu instead made 'Rann' to bring to limelight the dirty race of the channels to raise their TRP by sensationalizing the news. Another coincidence that CM Deshmukh's actor son Riteish Deshmukh plays a vital role in 'Rann'.
| click for larger view |
 |
The movie begins with Amitabh Bachchan, named Vijay Harshwardhan Malik, running a private news channel India 24X7. He is a true journalist, but is shocked that suddenly his TRP dramatically falls vis-à-vis Mohnish Behl's news channel. Behl considers news as a saleable commodity! Meanwhile enters Malik's US educated son Jai, played by Sudeep of the "phoonk' fame, who believes that media is another profit-making trade and acts contrary to his father's belief. He comes across Paresh Rawal playing the character of a corrupt politician Mohan Pandey whose objective is to become Prime Minister through a media campaign. Industrialist Rajat Kapoor plays son-in law of Amitabh, dreams of improving his fortune by helping Mohan Pandey become Prime Minister.
| click for larger view |
 |
Thus, the nexus of son Jai, rival channel baron Mohnish Behl, muscleman-cum- politician Mohan Pandey and industrialist son-in-law Rajat Kapoor hatches a conspiracy to tarnish the image of the honest TV channel chief Malik. Enter Ritesh Deshmukh playing an honest reporter Purab Shastri, following in the footsteps of his mentor Malik with the sole purpose of bringing the truth before the people. By my own analysis and perhaps even the whispers of others watching the film I could say that it may not be out of place to feel that Ramu's 'Rann' falls in the category of Mehboob Khan's 'Mother India' or Hrishikesh Mukherjee's 'Satyakam'.
| click for larger view |
 |
By critical analysis, Ramu has succeeded in exposing a section of the electronic media which is everyready to exploit its power to gain TRP contrary to the principle of ethical journalism. Amitabh Bachchan is right in saying that the movie isn't anti-media. After all, this issue has equally concerned the major media world in the form of "paid content" overtaking the one-time ideal profession. Ramu's work is well worth the accolades the movie should be receiving because it narrates how the nexus of television, drama and politics succeed in ruining the basic structure of ethical profession of journalism displayed by Amitabh Bachchan. Similarly, the commercial aspect of a news channel is exposed by anchor Rajpal Yadav himself during his talk with feature filmmaker Gul Panag when he admits that making movies and entertaining the audience is the same thing.
| click for larger view |
 |
In terms of acting, not some but all characters cast by Ramu prove their mettle. Ruling the roost is Amitabh Bachchan playing an honest journalist. Paresh Rawal as usual is brilliant portraying the corrupt politician. The movie centers on a big issue but editor Rajpal Yadav provides just the light masala with his conversation with Gul Panag. Rohit Banawlikar's writing is apt as the narration is tight and at the same time nail-biting in its depiction of corruption in responsible places. The female roles of Neetu Chandra's relationship vis-à-vis idealist Riteish Deshmukh's and that of Gul Panag's secret love for Jai Malik flow well. Cinematography by Amit Roy is excellent and so is the Nipun Gupta's editing. The background music is good.
Cheers for this movie and don't forget to check it out right away!
[Public Opinion]
