What’s the best Satyagraha ”“ to preach or practice?

By Devaki Parthasarathy reviews an old movie of Ajay Devgan, ‘Satyagraha’…

Yep!!! That’s right I watched an old movie today and was surprised with the quality of this film that somehow went unwatched by me”¦ but not writing about it, would be a bigger crime.

Not much unlike Aarakshan, Satyagraha weaves together urban legends of corruption, encompassing corporate lobbyists to murdered engineers. Bringing together the Non co-operation movement in Chauri Chaura with the more recent Anna Hazare’s Jan Lokpal Andolan, the movie takes a real issue ”“ corruption ”“ to reel life, fusing fact with fiction with finesse.

Beautifully picked stars performing to their best, the film has Devgn as its strong body while Amitabh ”“ gaunt in grief, moving in fortitude ”“ is its soul. But it is Manoj Bajpai’s character ”“ the home minister of a central Indian state ”“  that is, surprisingly, the most nuanced, most honestly written, and most accurately depicted in the ensemble. “All our lives”, he says, “a politician works to earn his five years in office. Isn’t it his right to reap the benefits when he finally gets there?” Every dialogue in the film leaves you thinking. Even the lyrics. “Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram; Uthkar karne hain kuchh kaam”

There’s a shot in Satyagraha ”“ a rainbow glimmering for a second between jets of water pounding protestors ”“ which typifies this film. Satyagraha deserves an extra half-star for capturing corruption from root to branch ”“ a government babu complains, “Yahan toh table ka bhi bhaada dena padta hai”. Absolutely wowed out when one leaves wondering if when corruption erupts, what’s the best satyagraha ”“ to preach or practice?

DeeScore: 4.5/5

Follow Devaki Parthasarathy on her blog:https://dhwaney.wordpress.com

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