Movie: Rudali

Actors: Dimple Kapadia, Raj Babbar
Director: Kalpana Lajmi, Producer:

Rudali
Director - Kalpana Lajmi
Lyrics - Gulzar
Music - Bhupen Hazaraki
Cast - Dimple Kapadia, Raakhi, Raj Babbar, Raghubir Yadav, Sushmita Mukherjee

I watched Rudali last week for yet another time and it was like Rudali revisited. Where previously I had viewed it as an art film based on a rural setting, it was a totally new experience this time. Its magic mesmerized me and a part of the spell still lingers on. It is sheer music on celluloid; pardon the use of the cliché, if you will.

Translated from the original Bengali short fiction story by Mahashweta Devi, it tells the tale of Sanichary, a low caste tribal woman. Hers was a life barren in a way just like the desert lands to which she belonged.

Dimple Kapadia is a revelation and rightly deserved the National Award for her portrayal of the rustic and deprived, emotionally and otherwise, woman.
Raj Babbar, as the tempting yet restrained village zamindar, was a feast to the eyes!
A part of me was egging on: Give in Sanichary! Give in!

I haven’t read the written work, but I am sure Kalpani Lajmi did Mahashweta Devi proud…so complete is the movie version. It satisfies you yet leaves you craving, yearning…
The film scores ten on ten in acting, lyrics/music and cinematography. Each actor/actress has lived her role.
Gulzar’s lyrics are quintessential of his genius/art.
Bhupen Hazarika rendered full justice in composing lilting, haunting scores.
Jhuti muthi mitwa aawan bole had me on my feet…I felt one with Sanichary dancing away in gay abandon to the soothing welcoming showers!
Samay, O, dheere chalo, though slow, grows on you eventually.
I cried bucket loads, unabashedly, at Dil huum huum kare…each word tugged at my heart, aur phir jaise saare zakhmn, naye purane, phir se hare hogaye.