Between the Reel and Real

Rang De Basanti (Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, 2006) is a film that unfolds itself through a narrative-within-a-narrative structure where the India of 1920s is juxtaposed with the India of 2005. The film’s narrative draws strong parallel associations between the Indian freedom fighters of the pre-Independence era and the angered youth of the contemporary times who are upset with the current socio-political conditions in the country and thus, disseminates messages of social awakening amongst the youth. With an ensemble cast of veteran actors like Amir Khan, R. Madhavan, Soha Ali Khan and Sharman Joshi, the film was a box-office superhit