Mumbai: As one goes through the pages of books on history or historical films dealing with the struggle of freedom from British rule, one finds that the popular discourse invariably revolves around Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sarojini Naidu and other votaries of the non violent method to secure freedom from foreign rule.
In comparison, not many films have been made on the role played by freedom fighters like Chandrashekhar Azad, Batukeshwar Dutt and Subhash Chandra Bose, all of whom chose to follow a path to secure freedom that was in sharp contrast to non-violent struggle advocated by Mahatma Gandhi.
Tigmanshu Dhulia's 'Raagdesh' deals with one such 'lesser-talked-about ' chapter on the freedom struggle, one pertaining to the role played by Subhash Chandra Bose and his Indian National Army. The film is based on the Indian National Army set up by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and its war to liberate India from the British Government which was fought on the shores of the Irrawaddy in Burma.
The British Government called the soldiers of the INA "renegades and japanese stooges", and a trial was held at the Red Fort in Delhi, which was called the Red Fort Trials of 1945. Raag Desh brings to life that epic trial where three Indian National Army Major General Shah Nawaz Khan, Lt Col Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon and Lt Col Prem Sahgal were court-martialled for allegedly waging a war against the British Indian Army between September to 1942 and April 1945 with charges of murder and abetment to murder against them.
'Raagdesh ' charts out in meticulous detail the events of the period.The writer and director Tigmanshu Dhulia manages to impress with his thorough research into the happenings of that era. All vignettes, facts and figures used in the film seem to have been backed by months of thorough research, giving the viewers a deep insight into that era. The screenplay by Tigmanshu Dhulia is engrossing. The film keeps the viewer hooked for most of its duration with the courtroom scenes being a highlight. However, the numerous flashbacks and going back and forth between the present and the past does give the film a jerky feel.
If one talks of performances, Kunal Kapoor, Amit Sadh and Mohit Marwah thoroughly impress in the roles of Major General Shah Nawaz Khan, Lt Col Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon and Lt Col Prem Sahgal. Another highlight of the film is Kenny Desai. As Bhulabhai Desai , the defence lawyer of the three Indian National Army soldiers accused of treason, he is a treat to watch. Kenny Basumatary as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose does a good job.
The music of the film is not much to talk about with the only hummable song been 'Kadam Kadam Badaaye Jaa'. 'Raagdesh' is thus an engrossing film about a forgotten chapter in India's history. Rating:3/5: one for the interesting subject, one for the engaging screenplay and one for the performances by Kunal, Amit, Mohit and Kenny Desai. (UNI)