Cast: Abhishek Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, Sikander Kher, Vishakha Singh
Director: Ashutosh Gowariker
Director: Ashutosh Gowariker
Ashutosh Gowariker delivers yet another successful flick in 'Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey.' One wonders how Ashutosh has lacked promoting it. So the box office outcome is simply going to depend on word of mouth publicity. Being a patriotic film, 'Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey' may not be as remunerative as his other commercial ventures. Though, one sees it catering to a larger crowd that is upset following the unearthing of series of scams that are attributed to growing corruption for lack of nationalism and patriotism. So, it's quite topical a flick. It serves to also remind one of the preceding generation's struggle, sufferings and sacrifices in the freedom struggle.
'Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey' is a period movie based on a real incident. It is borrowed from the book "Do and Die: The Chittagong Uprising 1930-1934" by Manini Chatterjee. The hero of the Chittagong uprising Surjya Sen is played by Abhishek Bachchan. Surjya was an ordinary school teacher but led a batch of teenage revolutionaries who opposed the British occupation in distant Chittagong. According to the historical record, these teenagers attacked several British outposts with their indigenous bombs and weapons on April 18, 1930. This was perhaps the second attempt by Indian revolutionaries to get rid of the British rule from India after the first war of Independence begun in 1857. The Chittagong uprising continued for four years with the Indian revolutionaries striking at the colonizers by playing hide and seek.
Ashutosh Gowariker is an accomplished helmer of period and patriotic films. His success series includes 'Lagaan', 'Jodhaa Akbar' and 'Swades'. 'Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey' screenplay by Raoul V Randolf is excellent, helping its wonderful execution by director Gowaliker. The event belongs to Chittagong, now in Bangladesh. The director shot the movie in Goa. But, Gowariker leaves nothing to chance and faithfully portrays the locals, culture, behavior, attitude and language of the 1930s of Bengal. Gowaliker cannot change his habit of making long duration movies, so it lacks tight editing and runs for 2 and half hours. Though the movie is based on history, there's the vital spice of romance and music to entertain the audience. Sohail Sen provides interesting background score based on patriotic songs. Nitin Chandrakant Desai gives it a period authenticity. Ravi Dewan truly portrays the uprising scenes, and Kiran Deohans and Seetha Sandhiri perfectly capture the era.
Performance-wise, Bollywood divas, Deepika and Vishakha, create a blazing screen for their heroes. Abhishek fully justifies his character of teacher-turned-revolutionary Surjya Sen. In the same way, Deepika Padukone in the role of Kalpana Dutta, Vishakha Singh as Pritilata Waddedar and Sikandar Kher as Nirmal Sen excel in their performances. Dips in her de-glam look plays a woman revolutionary. Samrat Mukerji, Maninder and Feroz Wahid Khan play their roles as best as possible though new in the industry.
As a whole, a topical movie worth watching in the midst of scams.