Satyagraha

It was only a matter of time before someone had to take inspiration from Anna Hazare for a movie.  If someone had told me that Prakash Jha would be that somebody, I would not have been the least bit surprised.  I have been a keen follower of Jha’s work and more importantly, I have been eagerly waiting for him to show the intensity and straight forwardness that he did with “Gangajal”.

Unfortunately, on the latter part, we have to still wait for the next edition.  Jha comes close to the indicated level but yet again, fails to push the dagger in all the way to the hilt.  He fails to give the story a finish that is a slap across the face of the audience.  In fact, given the current situation of this country, it would have been even more apt for Jha to have done so.  Exactly the wake-up call we need as a country.

Jha’s representation of Anna is a 70 year old Dwarka Anand aka Daduji (Amitabh Bachchan) who lives in the not so well known district of Ambikapur in Central India.  He believes in his son Akhilesh (Indraneil Sengupta) and wants him to work for the country.  Hence, Akhilesh, picks up a job with the government as an engineer with the National Highway Authority of India.  A job that conveniently keeps him in Ambikapur.

However, Akhilesh is killed in an unfortunate motorcycle accident after the bridge he builds collapses (hold onto your conspiracy theories).  Other than his father, he leaves behind him a distraught young wife Sumitra (Amrita Rao).  The government announces a 25 lac compensation for the death of the engineer.  An amount that the widow and father are unable to collect thanks to the red tape.  Till Dwarka loses patience and slaps the District Collector and marks the beginning of Satyagraha.

While there are several gaping holes in the story, no one can fault Jha on the intent or the way he has decidedly seen the war against corruption through to the end.  He leaves a very simple message but a one that this population has never grasped.  To make a change, you have to be the change.  And the only way is for those who want to make the change to move slowly but surely into mainstream politics.

He uses characters like Akhilesh’s ambitious best friend Manav (Ajay Devgn) who effortlessly wants to create a billion dollar enterprise in 10 years. Manav is the representation of corporate India that is willing to go to great lengths to get their own work done but will not stick to the right path because who has the patience?

Where Jha falters yet again is with keeping the intensity up through the movie.  The Big B is under-utilized.  Amrita Rao is a grave casting error.  Devgn’s character could have been more cut-throat and more importantly realistic instead of melodramatic.  Arjun Rampal’s desi Hindi will not get his accent trainer any jobs.  And Yasmin Ahmed (Kareena), ABP Chief correspondent, could have done with half ton of lesser make up.

There are of course several good things as well.  The intent for one.  The way Manav generates support for the cause using the latest technology available is in line with him being a telecom magnate.  Manoj Bajpayee is simply outstanding as always.  No questions either about Big B and Devgn.  Big B is more than overpowering with his presence.  The make up during the hunger strike was extremely effective.

However, Jha makes the entire story a bit too melodramatic for my taste.  It almost degenerates into a sloppy tear jerker at moments.  Of course there are the aspects of India Gate Basmati Rice, ABP and Apple getting so much screen time that the movie threatens to look like an advertorial at times.  But in summary, the most powerful dialogue and food for thought at the end of it all comes from the Big B, “Yeh Kaisa Desh Banaya hai hamne”.  6 on 10 for a movie that could have been Jha’s Magnum Opus.  But that position is firmly held by "Gangajal" even today.

Watch the trailer on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yrvGnBeSOI