rang de basanti

Just watched a really different Hindi film with an ensemble cast (which in itself is anathema to most Bollywood veterans), called Rang de Basanti, starring Aamir Khan, Alice Patten (daughter of Chris Patten), Siddharth, Soha Ali Khan (sister of Saif Ali Khan, graduate of Balliol and the venerable London School of Economics (M.Sc. in International Relations, natch) and really rather lovely), Atul Kulkarni, and Madhavan in a lovely cameo role. The film explores college boys encountering the darker side of Indian politics and the events that transpire after a certain precipitous moment. Filmmaking is lovely too, with real, washed colours coming onto the screen (and not the fake-o airbrushed usual Bollywood effect) and some lovely sepia flashes of the past. And it's the first Indian film I've seen with a British actress who seems even remotely plausible in her role (not even in Lagaan did that lady manage to pull it off). A genuinely emotional, provocative, deep meaning, good hearted film with an excellent, modern soundtrack. Love it!