Revisiting Rang De Basanti

Certain films were not only fulfilled the purpose of entertainment but also educating the audiences with a lot of information inside the film. The 2006 released film "Rang De Basanti" one of those kind film with cult classic status in Indian cinema.  The film has the potential for global watch transcending the horizons.


The film has the rich element of the robust story, perfect casting, high-value technical team particularly the AR Rahman's work on BGM and songs which elevated the quality of the film.

 The plot of the movie is the group of youngsters changed the perception towards life after acting in the documentary film based on five freedom fighters and after the death of their friend who was a flight lieutenant in the Indian Air force died by the crash of Russian imported MiG-21 fighter jet.

Some of the historical facts shown in the movie were Kakori Robbery Case,  Saunders murder, the killing of Scott, Jallianwala massacre, Go back Simon protest are as briefly explained here.



Jallianwala massacre
was the worst history of Colonial rule, took place on 13th April 1919, when Acting Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer ordered troops of the British Indian army to fire an unarmed Indian civilian.  Jallianwala bagh massacre led Bhagat Singh stepped out from the shadow to claim his destiny.

Going back to 1922, Gandhiji suspended the Non-cooperation movement against the Chauri Chaura incidents in which the clash between police and the people resulting into death of 22 policemen  and 3 civilians.  The sudden suspension of the Non-cooperation movement shattered the high hopes of enthusiastic participants like Chandrasekhar Azad, Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev.  

Inspired by the Russian revolution of 1917, these young blood started the revolutionary movement in India.  Old veterans like Ramprasad Bismil, Jogesh Chatterjea and Sachindranath Sanyal met in Kanpur in Oct 1924 and founded the Hindustan Republican Association to organise armed revolution to overthrow colonial rule after losing hope on non-violent movements and parliamentary participation.

In order to effective running of the organisation, money is needed.  So they planned to rob a train containing the railway treasure.  On Aug 1925, ten men including Ramprasad Bismil, Ashfaqulla Khan, Chandrasekar Azad involved in Kakori train robbery but sadly arrested by the British and sentenced to long terms of imprisonment. 

In 1929, the Simon Commission came to India to study constitutional reform in British India.  There was a slogan "Go back Simon" raise against the commission since there was no Indian member in the commission.  There were protests by Indian particularly led by Lala Lajpat Rai even though it is peaceful but the British brutally lathi-charged where Lajpat rai died by the head injuries caused by lathi-charged.

Saunders Murder Infuriated by the British action of causing Lala Lajpat Rai's death.  On Dec 17th 1928, Bhagat Singh, Chandrasekar Azad and Rajguru assassinated Saunder a police official involved in the lathi-charge of Lajpat Rai.  

Collective leadership under Chandrasekhar Azad formed Hindusthan Socialist Republic Association, they decided to need for revolution by the masses.  Bhagat Singh and B.K.Dutt were asked to throw a bomb in the central legislative assembly against the passage of the draconian Public Safety bill and the Trade disputes bill which would reduce the civil liberties of citizens in general and workers in particular.  The aim of throwing the bomb was not to kill but to make the deaf hear.

Government action on controlling the revolutionary activities, with the death of Chandrasekhar Azad in a shooting encounter in a public park at Allahabad in 1931 and the revolutionary activity came to an end in Punjab, UP and Bihar.

MiG Accidents In the present age, the group of youngsters started the revolutionary against the Corruption in Defence deal with Russia.  On May 3 2002, an Indian Air Force MiG-21 fighter jet crashed into an office building in Jalandhar Punjab.  The safety record of the aircraft raised suspicion since the Indian Air Force has lost at least 116 aircraft to crashes.

Bhagat Singh in 20th century he had to ask the youth to abandon the revolutionary terrorism without tarnishing the sense of heroic sacrifice by appearing to have reconsidered his politics, the sense of sacrifice once lost would not be easy to regain. In the end, this film with a message never encourages to engage in the violent struggle but to engage the youth in a positive way to change the system by being an IAS officer, taking part in politics.





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