Textual analysis 3- Rang de basanti

This film is a reflection of the mentality and perhaps insecurity of the young Indian generation today torn between western influences and cultural identity. I chose this film to use as a contrast with the other two films that are much more solely westernised and do not focus on the Indian identity as much.

Mise-en-scene:
In terms of mise-en-scene, the film has got all the western elements that can be expected in a modern Indian film targeted at a young audience. Yet most of the time these elements are mixed with and complimented by traditional elements.

Cotumes:

• Sonia wears a kameez (traditional south-asian tunic type top) but with jeans which is a visual signifier of the intermingling of the eastern and western cultures in the lives of the young characters. The British character Sue also starts to wear a kameez
• main characters all, with the execption of Aslam, are dressed in jeans, t-shirts, jackets etc...
• The porotagonist is introduced with a bottle of alcohol in his hand, excessively drinking, which could be regarded as a more western image

Setting:

• Their university name 'Institute for International Studies' is evident at the beginning on a big sign post outside the building, which immediately introduces a set of characters who are more interested in other cultures than their own.

Special effects:

• Characters are shown jumping into a stream/lake in slow motion, making it appear almost as if they are flying. This could be a patriotic symbol for the freedom for which they fight later on in the film
• There are no other sfx apart from this, indicating that the film aims to be realistic and is not designed to be a selling point for a main stream audience conditioned to generic Hollywood films.

Editing/Cinematography:

• W/L establishing shot of London bridge, introduce British character Sue and the western influence that is to be found in India also before the narrative moves on to questions about indian identity
• Aerial views and long/wide shots of Indian monuments, cross-cut with the interior of the taxi when Sue arrives in India. Emphasising the patriotic narrative.
• Simultaneous shots of the characters in their normal lives and playing the roles of the revolutionaries in the documentary, to show how the latter are coming to life in their own lives. Suggets the revolution is not something left in the past but they also need it in their lives today
• Low angle shot of characters jumping up towards air force plane- represnting freedom through sky and flying.
• Slow motion and blurred camera effect used to make viewers feel as if they are part of the protests (encouraging action/reaction in audience)
• Close-ups of people's faces during protest lets audience identify with their fellow citizens

Sound:

• Sue's narrative voice over in english, assumes people will understand it, suggestive of the film's young audience who most likely will.
• Diegectic dialouge:- Sue: "I've been going to bloody Hindi night classes!"- shows a western embracing Indian culture rather than the other way round for once.
• The dialouge between the friends represents the mind set of different young people in India today: "I'm proud of this country"..."Proud of what? The population?"...."Or the unemployment, or corruption?"
• Unlike other bollywood films there are no synchronous songs that interrupt the narrative. Instead songs are used a background music, often to aid the progression of the narrative, or to set the mood, which is a more widely used technique in hollywood.
• The score is a mix of western genres like rock and rap music, with south-asian genres like bhangra, which corresponds with the mixed cultures and values shown in the film

Narrative/Representation:

• Documentary within a film- As the story of the revolutionaries progresses, so do the lives of the characters as they find their true identity.
• The character of Sue - a foreigner- brings awareness to the others about what it means to be Indian and to fight for their country. Perhaps this shows the confusion of today's indian generation about their own identity.
• This insecurity embodied in DJ's character who's afraid to leave university from fear that he will have to identity in the world
• The film is very socially realistic. It involves characters that represent the three main religious groups found in India (Hindus, Muslims and Sikh)
• Some scenes such as the visit to the 'Gurdwara' seem to be interrupt the main narrative purely to reflect Indain culture
• Instead of emulating hollywood completely, film uses western elements to ornament a traditional/nationalistic story
• The conciliation of Pandey and the gang signifies the conciliation of western and traditional lifestyles