Book review – Rang De Basanti – The Shooting Script

Frankly, it was a thrilling moment indeed to hold 'The Shooting Script' of Rang De Basanti in hand. After all, the film has managed to gain the status of a modern day classic and what better way to celebrate its positioning in Indian cinema than to own a copy of its script. Moreover, with an attractive cover design and a reputed publication house (Om Books) backing it, one hurriedly begins to browse the pages.

As it turns out to be the case though, all that one actually gets to read in the book is a written word around the script. Yes, of course this is what the book was meant to be but then when the film in question is as big as Rang De Basanti, you do expect ton loads of anecdotes, exclusive interviews, behind the scenes detailing as well as added insights around what actually went into making it. After all, it is a known fact that to put together resources for Rang De Basanti wasn't exactly a cakewalk for Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra. However, nothing around that is revealed, as a result of which one feels a tad disheartened.

Of course for those hunting to have a dekko at the film's script for long and run from it in terms of context, stage, setting, milieu and shot breakdown, there is everything pretty much in store. With dialogues ion English as well as Hindi, a wide segment of reader base is captured in this 250 odd page book. The print and paper quality is classy too that makes for a handy read, though one wishes that an overall design was a lore more attractive. Beyond the cover page, the visual appeal of the book is just about average.

Nevertheless, there is some sort of formality still put together in terms of bringing to fore the bunch of men who made the film possibly. Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra kick-starts the proceedings and shares a very quick note on how he was discouraged from making the film, courtesy four films centered on Bhagat Singh flopping not too long ago. Writer Kamlaesh Pandey is heard too for a while though the other writer Rensil D'Souza pretty much makes a 'special appearance' of sorts with just a few lines on how all Bollywood rules were broken with Rang De Basanti.

Towards the end, there are some testimonials shared about the relevance of the film in today's socio-political awakening. Meanwhile Aamir Khan steps in too and seems to be found wearing his 'Satyamev Jayate' hat. Surprisingly, no one from the other producers, UTV, is heard talking about the film.

The pages are interspersed with some working stills as well as story board illustrations, though they don't quite turn out to be major selling points here.

Eventually, though one would have loved to have a lot more packaged into this book, for those looking just for the script, the book would do
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Rating: ***
Price: Rs. 495/-

Article written by staff at Bollywood Hungama. Read more