A poet’s masterpiece is Phillauri
*I have purposely not mentioned anything
from the climax
The last time I was possessed by
the afterglow of a movie was when I had watched Anurag Kashyap’s DevD. It’s perhaps the splendor of colours which casts the first spell in the enigmatic journey.
I knew I would take back
something from the movie, when I heard the song Sahiban for the first time. The
magician who created such melody must possess the grace of God / Cosmos. What I
take back is a bagful of grace, charm and love for the creative and the simpleton.
I fear that the bag is so heavy and delicate at the same time.
The story of Phillaur that is
weaved with heart touching songs and equally strong lyrics. The choicest of
actors bring back innocence to what we celebrate as the larger than life Bollywood.
Yes it is logical that two talented
souls of a generation in the village of Phillaur find each other. Because that
is Darwin’s natural selection or the cosmos conspiring together in Coelho’s terms.
It is not seen very often that the male protagonist is given a chance to prove himself and rise up yet the dialogues and the sanctity of the actors make it so rational and wise. This also subtly shows the enlightened and powerful women of the foregone era. It is not just now that they are empowered but always had the metal to bring transformation.
It is not seen very often that the male protagonist is given a chance to prove himself and rise up yet the dialogues and the sanctity of the actors make it so rational and wise. This also subtly shows the enlightened and powerful women of the foregone era. It is not just now that they are empowered but always had the metal to bring transformation.
It is logical that there is a
ghost because there is a need of such a strong story to be told to an audience
unaware of the pain and experience of the tragedy it takes us through. It is
sheer grace that the director Anshai Lal preserves the same humor and spirit
throughout the film. Imagine calling the ghost 'idiot' in the peak and rush of the climax. Though with utmost affection, it's always risky!
It is a brave film which reflects
the conviction in the script. Anushka produced and acted in a movie about the
supernatural, jumping through time periods and whose music spans the ancient Sufi
and the nascent beat-boxing. Diljeet is a man of God and I am biased in my
affection and decree about his valour. It is so logical that he would experiment
with his image in his second Hindi movie because he believes in the meritorious
power of the script. Phillauri also reveals the picture of the women of
pre-independent India who withdrew from honing their talent. We subtly realise
that among these women were our own grand mothers.
I am still glowing in the
rapture. And among the visions that are still beneath my eyelids are the
haunting eyes of the heroine’s brother, the blissful smiling Diljeet immersed
in Dum Dum and his ektara, the divinity of Anushka in red, the silhouette of
the poet and the singer by the big moon among many more.
Would this intricate and innocent rhapsody
sustain in the noise of Bollywood? It should and it mighty well will, among all connoisseurs
of creativity and brilliance.