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By Dr.P.V.Vaidyanathan Š2006 Bollyvista.com |
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Rauf Ahmed |
Versatile television actress Narayani Shastri opined: "I've seen the film four times straight, and that I think tells you what I feel about the film. Sadly, in India, things happen exactly as Mr. Mehra has shown it to be. And when a film like this happens, it wakes you up, albeit temporarily. More often than not, we just leave the theatre to get back to our own world. I wish this film spurred our youth and everyone else, into action. It is only the youth power that will raise this country, though unfortunately today's youth is more interested in aping the West. It's high time we got rid of this 'Western slave' attitude, which seems to have got right into our genetic make-up."
Veteran journalist and ex editor of Screen and Filmfare, Rauf Ahmed, who was also involved with the film from its early days, is very forthright "It's a brilliant film, and the format of the film, which is different from most others, has been widely accepted. This is not one of those films that pay lip service to the issue of patriotism. And patriotism cannot be packaged and sold. Inherently, as one is watching the film, it strikes a chord within the viewer, and brings out the feeling of patriotism from within. Cinema does play a large role in influencing the thinking and behaviour of a people, and to this effect, this film raises enough questions that need to be given a good thought." |