Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Sairat - Movie Review

'Who says I don't like you watching me,' says the girl brazenly. And the audience gasps at her audacity. And she continues to shock the audience by the simplicity with which she goes after what she wants. Rinku Rajguru, she's fifteen and studying her 10th according to the Wikipedia page,  breathes a new life into the character of Archana, stormy, strong minded and iron willed daughter of the local landlord. And she keeps bringing this life force into her character every time her sense of what's right by her is challenged or threatened. Goons with guns, police, murderous father and brother, nothing will stop her. She is like a queen. 'I've kidnapped them,' she says to the police. 'They did not kidnap me. Let them go. Now.'

The love story between a fisherman's son Prashant (Aakash Thosar) and the daughter of the most powerful man in the town takes its many turns, often controlled or driven by the girl with the blazing eyes. The love story itself is shown so beautifully - just as it as shown in 'Masaan' - and the two young leads due complete justice. The way the Bullet riding, tractor driving young lady turns around in class to look directly at her new love without blinking an eye even as the entire class is watching reminds you of Kahlil Gibran and his famous line "And think not that you can direct the course of love for love, if it finds you worthy, will direct your course.' The boy has not bargained for such intense heat, such direct passion and he walks out of the class citing sickness. But she cannot be denied - will not be denied. Akash Thosar is no less stylish - all hero material in his poise, his tenderness and his love.

Links to a couple of songs. Reminded me of the music by Ilayaraja in the 80s movies.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmU1ZsXUbG0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQ-P5RR7r40

'Sairat' makes you fall in love with that feeling of love you felt when you were sixteen. It thaws old, cold and frozen hearts. It gently makes you fall in love with the lead pair and then when you cannot bear to even watch them for an extra second on a two wheeler in traffic for fear of an unexpected danger, it shows us the wild side of our world. Whatever the wild of 'Sairat' means (Sairat means wild), it is the raw power and passion of Archie that to me epitomises the word.

Maharashtra's rural life is shown so beautifully by director Nagraj Manjule. Hyderabad is shown beautifully too. The movie gets into you, settles down and refuses to leave you. It does what few films have done. It silences the audience for a long time and you have no words to say. No one has anything to say. Fantastic piece of work. Nagraj Manjule, Rinku Rajguru and the entire team - take a bow. I loved the music. Little wonder that its the highest grossing Marathi movie ever at 65 crore last count.

1 comment:

Rajendra said...

Quite unlike some 100 or 200 crore grossers which leave you cold. Good film.