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Rang de Basanti

Play trailer Poster for Rang de Basanti Released Jan 27, 2006 2h 40m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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89% Tomatometer 9 Reviews 94% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
After a group of friends graduate from Delhi University, they listlessly haunt their old campus, until a British filmmaker (Alice Patten) casts them in a film she's making about freedom fighters under British rule. Although the group is largely apolitical, the tragic death of a friend owing to local government corruption awakens their patriotism. Inspired by the freedom fighters they represent in the film, the friends collectively decide to avenge the killing.
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Rang de Basanti

Critics Reviews

View All (9) Critics Reviews
Shubhra Gupta The Indian Express It was a film whose impact spilled over into real life, and led to the arrest and conviction of the politically connected killer of popular model Jessica Lal... Aug 17, 2021 Full Review G. Allen Johnson San Francisco Chronicle The simple-minded presentation ultimately makes it ring hollow. Rated: 2/4 May 5, 2006 Full Review Jaspreet Pandohar BBC.com Accomplished and universally appealing, this is the way Bollywood films should be made. Rated: 5/5 Feb 21, 2006 Full Review Film Companion Staff Film Companion The film that stirred up a generation, the Aamir Khan-led ensemble drama about getting the youth to take a stand and call out social injustice, has never been more relevant. Oct 27, 2020 Full Review Sudhish Kamath The Hindu Truly inventive. May 2, 2015 Full Review Omar Ahmed Radio Times Mehra's Bafta-nominated attempt to combine political drama and traditional entertainment remains entirely compelling. Rated: 4/5 May 2, 2015 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Pooran S For me Rakeysh O P Mehra's finest movie till date by far . What a storyline, plot , treatment , seamless special effects ...especially the sepia toned past & colourful present . A movie with so many different emotions all coming together under a banner of patriotism, so well told, without any unnecessary chest thumping, flag waving jingoism ....understated but hits home ! A brilliant Aamir Khan ...the soul of the movie.... ably supported by all the other cast members bar none. Amazing music score by the maestro...A.R. Rahman! Bollywood's loss if they don't employ your genius anymore . Along with Sholay one of the defining movies of Hindi Cinema . Go watch it if you haven't already ! I've watched it too many times to keep count . Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/31/23 Full Review Audience Member The adaptation for the strugle the Indian's indepence in group of student Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review Audience Member Rang De Basanti A tale of Emotion, Freedom, lighting the minds of youth, Friendship, a joyful ride. This movie will ignite the goodness in oneself. The music of AR Rahman was fabulous. The direction and screenplay was amazing and touching. At end You can't stop tears from eyes. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/07/23 Full Review robert r Much like the film's central cast of characters, "Rang De Basanti's" thematic material hails from an undoubtedly admirable place, but as things proceeded in a narrative light, the more it became clear to me how much I was going to diverge from the film philosophically. Ideas like patriotism and truth are easy things to root for when it comes to building motivation behind a protagonistic force. However, when you have main characters veer into assassination and terrorist-like behavior, that's when you really have to tread lightly as a filmmaker. Nuance can even play an interesting role at this point. The idea of vengeance turning people into the very thing they sought to destroy is always compelling. Tragically, though, that kind of commentary and awareness is not really something the film finds all too interesting. So with that, you're left with an emotionally expressive, yet idealistically misplaced anthem of semi-justified self-righteousness. Thankfully, Aamir Khan is always a welcomed presence. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Amazing, superb, and even more relevant today in India than ever before! The acting is superb, the songs are also great (not the random things we get in movies today) and the plot ties together various pieces together perfectly. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/09/23 Full Review Audience Member There can not be a better portrayal of patriotism which this movie has shown us. I must have watched it like 25-30 times but still climax makes my eyes numb. I don't have words to define how this movie is great. Loved the songs too. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/29/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Rang de Basanti

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Movie Info

Synopsis After a group of friends graduate from Delhi University, they listlessly haunt their old campus, until a British filmmaker (Alice Patten) casts them in a film she's making about freedom fighters under British rule. Although the group is largely apolitical, the tragic death of a friend owing to local government corruption awakens their patriotism. Inspired by the freedom fighters they represent in the film, the friends collectively decide to avenge the killing.
Director
Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra
Screenwriter
Renzil D'Silva, Prasoon Joshi
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 27, 2006, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 3, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA)
$2.2M
Runtime
2h 40m
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