A Potpourri of Vestiges Review
By Murtaza Ali Khan
Films based on real events have tremendously grown in popularity in
the recent years as far as Bollywood is concerned. Amongst these, the most
popular ones of course are the biographical films, also known as biopics. Now,
the sudden increase in the number of biopics has surprised one and all. It’s
not that such films weren’t made earlier but today they are being made at an
unprecedented rate. Now, while it is difficult to single out one particular
biopic that started this trend, it is impossible to overlook three films whose
success undoubtedly helped usher in this trend: The Dirty Picture (2011), Paan
Singh Tomar (2012), and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013).
Now, the overwhelming success
of Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, in particular, started the trend of a specific kind of
biographical films called sports biopics. Other than sportspersons, traditionally,
biopics were mostly made about famous leaders, celebrities, dreaded gangsters,
etc. But these days there are no such restrictions and as a result of which the
horizons are widening. The latest Satish Kaushik directorial Kaagaz, made for
ZEE5, is perhaps the best example of this. Kaagaz is based on life and struggle
of Lal Bihari Mritak, a farmer from a small village in Uttar Pradesh, who was
declared dead on official papers by his opportunistic uncle who wanted to usurp
his property.
Kaagaz is essentially
presented by Kaushik as a satirical commentary on the flawed system of land
resources in India and the disasters associated with it. Lal Bihari, who was
officially declared dead between 1975 and 1994, had to fight with the Indian
bureaucracy for 19 years in order to prove that he’s alive. During his long
struggle, he became the leader of many other people who suffered a similar fate
at the hands of corrupt and incompetent system. In order to fight for the cause,
he added ‘Mritak’ (which translates to deceased in English) to his name and
founded Mritak Sangh, an association of dead people, to highlight other cases
like his. In a bid to prove that he is alive he even contested in the 1989
elections from Amethi against Rajiv Gandhi—the 6th Prime Minister of India.
Finally in 1994, Mritak
succeeded in getting his official death annulled after a long legal struggle.
Interestingly, Kaushik acquired the rights to Lal Bihari Mritak’s story back in
2003. But just like Mritak had to wait for almost two decades to get justice,
Kaushik too had to wait for nearly two decades in order to realize the film. Kaagaz
is produced under the banner Salman Khan Films and The Satish Kaushik
Entertainment Production. The film begins and ends with Kagaaz Poetry, recited
by Salman Khan, which beautifully explains the hidebound nature of the Indian
bureaucracy.
Over the last few years, Kaushik
has been working with the Haryana state government to regulate the existing
policies in order to attract more film producers to the state. With the
endeavor to develop the local film industry in his home state of Haryana on the
lines of Punjabi, Bhojpuri, Bangla and Marathi industries, Kaushik produced a
Haryanvi film called Chhoriyan Chhoron Se Kam Nahi Hoti back in 2019. The film revolved
around a Haryanvi girl who must fight the deep-seated patriarchy to become an
IPS officer. Now, Kaagaz marks Kaushik’s return to film direction after a
hiatus of over six years. And it’s nothing less than an emphatic return to form
for the veteran filmmaker who is known for making films such as Prem (1995), Hum
Aapke Dil Mein Rehte Hain (1999), Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai (2000), Mujhe Kucch
Kehna Hai (2001), Badhaai Ho Badhaa (2002), and Tere Naam (2003).
As a matter of fact, it is
Kaushik’s taut direction that elevates Kaagaz above its source material. A
veteran of more than hundred films, Kaushik, more than anyone else in the Hindi
film industry, understands the importance of telling a compelling story. And
being a seasoned actor himself he also understands the actors’ sensibilities
really well. And it shows in each and every frame of Kaagaz. During the last couple
of years or so we have hardly seen anything refreshing from Pankaj Tripathi.
But, fortunately for him, Kaagaz comes to his rescue at just the right time. And
with a veteran like Kaushik at the helm, Tripathi succeeds in delivering his
best work since Newton (2017). Essaying the part of Lal Bihari Mritak, Tripathi
goes through an entire gamut of emotions. One really hopes that Tripathi stays
away from run-of-the-mill projects that fail to do any justice to his
prodigious acting talents.
To Kaushik’s credit, he
also succeeds in eliciting topnotch performances from his other actors which
includes the likes of Monal Gajjar, Mita Vashisht, and Amar Upadhyay. Also, he
himself plays a very interesting part in the film—that of the lawyer who guides
Mritak during his long legal battle. Kaagaz is a poignant film that tugs at our
heartstrings. Kaushik reminds us what he is truly capable of achieving as a
cinematic storyteller. Perhaps, he is finally ready for Tere Naam 2.
A version of this article was first published in The Daily Guardian.
Readers, please feel free to share your opinion by leaving your comments. As always your valuable thoughts are highly appreciated!
People who liked this also liked...
0 comments:
Post a Comment
Thanks for sharing for valuable opinion. We would be delighted to have you back.