“But words are things and a small drop of ink,
Falling, like dew, upon a thought, produces
That which makes thousands, perhaps millions think.” (LORD BYRON)
RAJNEETI’ in one short phrase was a ‘political drama’. My aim of writing this review is not to rate this film. Neither do I intend to prove how politically correct it is, nor do I want to justify how truly it is based on the story of ‘Mahabharata’. I am only concerned with the keyword dominating each and every scene, engrained deeply into each and every thread of the fibre of the film, a word that is the heartbeat and the only reason behind every action; the word is none other than ‘politics’. We all have an image of a politician in our minds. At the very first instance we say, ‘Politics is a dirty game’. It indeed was in ‘Rajneeti’. In the film we have a wide range of images of politicians out of which we could choose whom to relate to.
Ranbir Kapoor of course took the cake with his striking image and more so in the film as Samar Partap (played by Ranbir Kapoor) too. His meaty role in the film begins with his kind gesture of giving a watch that he had brought from New York to his driver, who had been associated with his family. In the last scene, he touches the feet of the same man, asking forgiveness for killing his son. What happens in the rest of the film is what a ‘true’ politician might do. Samar Partap (Ranbir Kapoor) changes from a reluctant politician to a ruthless one. He is a shrewd politician, a perfect planner, master player and a winner all the way. The killing of Sooraj Kumar (Ajay Devgan) at the hands of Samar Partap is not justified in the light of the latter’s confession that he did not want to do all that he did. The hesitating but ruthless politician (if we can Samar Partap that) survives unscathed, unhurt physically but mentally and psychologically he did not stay untouched. If we are to believe his words of confession when he says that he never meant to indulge in ‘dirty’ politics but had to resort all those tactics, then his consciousness must have been the greatest sufferer. But we don’t get any proof of that!!! The only loss he suffered was that of death of Sara because she was not part of the political drama (his father and brother were) and yet she died in the blast.
Politics and power dominates all the relationships, emotions and feelings. Even Sooraj’s mother Bharti Rai (Nikhila Trikha) while wanting to call her son back to her family couldn’t avoid playing the political card, by trying to lure him by telling him that he would be enjoying a powerful position in the party. I hated Ranbir Kapoor when he uses Indu’s (Katrina Kaif) emotions and affection for him to help his family politically. But then his only motive behind all the deeds was greed for power, though not for himself but for his brother and family.
Another important aspect of politics is the question of loyalty. Nobody got anything by shifting their loyalties. The politician Babulal is killed in blast, the police officer, SP Sharma, beaten to death by Prithvi Raj Partap, Samar Partap’s elder brother (played by Arjun Rampal). Shruti Seth too meets the same fate. Actually what I felt introduction of this character was a cheap tactic, just to add a bit of vulgar and cheap glamour and nothing more than that. The only person, who didn’t change his loyalties, is Sooraj Kumar. Virender Partap (Manoj Bajpayee), who brought Sooraj into active politics just because of his vested interests – because he wanted to avenge his being left out to head the party and also to get even with his cousin Prithvi and paternal uncle. Even then Sooraj remains faithful till his last breath. Caste system too has been highlighted in the film.
Naseeruddin Shah’s role was very short but a good one, somewhat like what an ideal politician should be. He was a man of principles and a stickler to that. He goes away to perfect his soul just because his conscious pricks him and never returns. Nana Patekar was also at his usual best.
Overall, the movie was a total political drama but with more emphasis on its being dominated by one family. The story is full of too many twists and turns. The film depicts that with the local interests of people being ignored the lower caste does not get an opportunity to represent itself in politics. There were a few loopholes in the story but overall a good one! Rest all depends on the viewer himself how he interprets what he observes and how truly one is able to relate himself to the image of a politician. Nobody gets anything…Ranbir Kapoor fights for all but does not accept the power himself.
9 June, 2010
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