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Complete review of ‘Raag Desh’
Star Cast: Kunal Kapoor, Mohit Marwah, Amit Sadh, Mrudula Murali
Director: Tigmanshu Dhulia
Producer: Gurdeep Singh Sappal
Music Director: Rana Mazumder, Siddharth Pandit, Revant
Rating: 2.5/5*
Writer-director Tigmanshu Dhulia brings you his first ever patriotic film, “Raag Desh”, which is based on the INA Trials that took place in 1946. Known for making raw films, Tigmanshu unfolds the journey of three soldiers who were found guilty of murders.
Story of the movie:
Captain Shah Nawaz Khan (Kunal Kapoor), Captain Gurbaksh Dhillon (Amit Sadh) and Captain P K Sahgal (Mohit Marwah) heads the INA (Azad Hind Fauj) in 1942 which had been founded by Subhash Chandra Bose. The mission of INA was to fight against British Indian Army and make India a free nation. Unfortunately, Subhash Chandra Bose dies in a plane crash leaving the INA behind.
Meanwhile, Shah Nawaz, P. K. Sahgal and Gurbaksh appeal to their fellow soldiers to join INA but unfortunately have to kill a few of them who don’t agree to go against the British empire. In return, the British Indian Army convict the three and announce the trial against them to prove them guilty. Bhulabhai Desai, a well known judge fights the case in their defense.
The three lose the case but to avoid further aggression of INA members and communal disturbance, the British Indian Army let them go freely.
Script Analysis:
Excellent research, good intention and a convincing story is ruined solely by poor implementation.The scrip is loosely-knitted and had a lot of scope for improvement. It could have been tighter. If duration is the cause for the cruel chopping here and there, then there were a lot of unnecessary scenes worth deleting.
Direction:
Dhulia initially wanted to show the story as a 6 part TV series, and it would’ve been better if he had followed that plan instead of crystallising everything within 2:30 hours. The facts crumple upon the plot and the unnecessary humanising of the three ‘bravehearts’ just bring the pace and temperament of the film down.
Raag Desh is an example of how poor editing can absolutely ruin a film. Abrupt cuts here and there makes the film appear like a documentary.
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Star Cast Performance:
Kunal Kapoor delivers an average performance as Major General Shah Nawaz Khan. He is an excellent actor but appears too casual. expected better from him.
Amit Sadh delivers a good performance as Lt Col Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon.
Mohit Marwah is favourite from this film. What a performance! He is super impressive in the avatar of Lt Col Prem Sahgal. He also holds his ground and infuses seriousness into the film.
Kenny Desai as Bhulabhai Desai steals the show in this film. His courtroom monologue is the best scene in the film.
Kenny Basumatary as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose does a good job in his limited role.
Tamil and Malayalam actor Mrudula Murali comes across a revelation in her debut Hindi film. Despite the language barrier, she manages to evoke the required feelings in the viewers, in the warm romantic scenes with Marwah’s character. Also, it is a pleasure to watch a woman not just meant as eye candy, but actually having a meaty part to play in the proceedings, in a film dominated by men.
Music Direction:
The sets made for the Red Fort looked very artificial. Cinematography is average and so is the music.
Watch Or Not:
On the whole, Raag Desh is an average film with an untold factual story. The film could have been much better plus in the era of commercial films, Raag Desh is a niche in its own genre. If you are still patriotic to watch such a film in 2017, then Raag Desh isn’t a bad watch.
Check out the public review of ‘Raag Desh’
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