Delhi 6
A few years ago, I had watched Rang De Basanti, and with me, the entire country and the world watched it. That movie had such a deep impact on the country that the silent, harmless revolutionaries of today still consider it to be a turning point in their lives. Of course, much would be expected of the second outing of a director who gave us a movie that apparently restarted a real life murder trial which had a high and mighty in the guilty or innocent dock. Does delhi 6 have the same impact, is it that intense? Is it more?
Well, keeping in mind that Mehra had a daunting task, a task that he himself had set, we can say that delhi 6 is a good repartee to his first movie, Rang De Basanti. Of course, Mehra tries to go into a deeper, more abstract mode, and this causes delhi 6 to seem a mash of many things that Mehra wanted to speak to the audience about. What was the hurry all about? With his story telling skills, I am sure I would have liked him to make hardhitting, realistic movies about each of the subjects that he just touches upon in delhi 6.
Oh, and of course, the character flaws. Who would believe there's a police officer who slaps around anyone he wishes to in the middle of the road? Ok, a few years ago, and we could understand, but today, when newshungry mediapeople move around the city with an eagle eye? Or the maidservant, no, let me clear about it, the garbage woman whom everyone lusts after? These are two jarring things that come across in the entire story telling process.
The story itself is simple. An NRI comes to India and sees, feels and lives the difference between the two cultures and finally succumbs to the 'we are like this only' attitude and does something that nobody else would have dared to do. Of course, delhi 6 is based on the 'black monkey; scare that was evident in Delhi a few years ago.
All I can say is, don't watch this movie expecting another landmark, just go to watch what is nowadays called 'indie cinema'
