Dir: Ashutosh Gowariker Cast: Abhishek Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, Sikandar Kher, Vishakha Singh, Shreyas Pandit, Samrat Mukherjee, Feroz Wahid Khan
Khelein hum Jee Jaan Sey
U/A; HISTORICAL
Dir: Ashutosh Gowariker
Cast: Abhishek Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, Sikandar Kher, Vishakha Singh, Shreyas Pandit, Samrat Mukherjee, Feroz Wahid Khan
Rating:***1/2
What's it about: Ashutosh Gowariker is at his best when he's telling a story he's dying to tell. History is proof that when he handles films with a patriotic flavour (Lagaan and Swades, previously), he's in full form. This time he picks a relatively unknown freedom fighter as his protagonist and that's why Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey is an important film. It is based on the book Do And Die by Manini Chatterjee, that depicts the Chittagong Uprising of 1930. Surjya Sen (Bachchan) is a school teacher and a revolutionary. Together with his friends, he plans to strike at the British colonisers to wake all of Chittagong and inspire the nation to fight for freedom. Kalpana Dutta (Padukone) and Pritilata Waddedar (Singh) who is in love with Nirmal Sen (Kher) join them. Many of Surjya's friends are in prisons and they need more hands. A group of teenage boys who've lost their football ground to the army, want to join in the fight, and are inducted into the group. It is decided that on April 18, the strike would be carried out at five places with a band of 64 people. They are successful but are forced to run.
What's hot: Gowariker deserves full marks for picking a historic subject that's novel and unique. Surjya Sen's fight for freedom was somehow lost in the pages of history, until now. Making a period film is more difficult than every other genre because a whole lot of detailing is needed to get it right. From the research to the language, from the sets and locations to the costumes, everything has to be correct. And KHJJS scores big time in every department. The director, with his uncompromising vision, transports you to the pre-independence days. The casting of all the actors down to the smallest part is excellent, and so is the performance from each one. The film isn't heavy, as one would expect. The first half establishes all the characters and has many light moments, while the second half sets the tempo for full action. The director also highlights the suffering, humiliation and the struggles of Surjya and his group effectively but balances it with moments of beautyu00a0-- the love story of Nirmal and Pritilata and Surjya and Kalpana. Abhishek Bachchan steps into a role that's different from everything that he's done before and stays in character throughout. From his body language to his dialogue delivery, he's on the mark in a role that is intense and sympathetic. He tugs at your heart in the scene on the boat when he silently breaks down. Here's one of AB junior's best performances to date. Deepika Padukone is remarkably controlled as Kalpana and is getting better with each film. Sikandar Kher and Vishakha Singh are superb.
What's not: The film begins slow. In the first few scenes, there is no connect with the film or the characters. It picks up pace midway (after the teenagers' 'auditions') and the real uprising only begins post interval. The director has opted for a few compromises, like making Deepika lip-synch to a song and also going overboard with make-up in crucial scenes.
What to do: It's a must watch to salute the forgotten Surjya Sen and his friends who were such a significant part of India's freedom struggle.
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