Udta Punjab: The inside and outside of Raging Wars

Udta Punjab

The Inside and Outside of Raging Wars

In the recent Hollywood Blockbuster, A Civil War, a character observes something to this effect, When an empire is struck by external forces, it would be easy to rebuild the empire, but when it crumbles from inside, it would be difficult to reconstruct it.

Udta Punjab, precisely deals with two different wars, a war that is waged on the perpetrators of the drug peddlers,as well as the war that rages within a drug addict. The war within is always the more difficult.

The problem is real and Punjab may not be in isolation. The problem is a universal  manifestation of greed and irresponsibility.

Thematically Steve Soderberg’s  Traffic comes to your mind. While Traffic left you disturbed in addition to making you painfully aware of how real and grave the problem was, UP, makes you feel a bit more comfortable, closer to mainstream cinema.

This is not to steal any merits of this important and responsible cinema.

Chaubey borrows from many master’s like the Goa poster sequence from Amorres Perres, but manages to leave his interpretation. Chaubey is masterful as usual. The pace may not be consistent, fluctuates at times between a frenetic pace and occasionally halting, however the narrative is always focused without erring on a shred of detail.

All acting performances are top notch. Alia Bhat, exploding, reflecting her desire to be in one piece was emotionally as inspirational as the national award winning song in the tamil film “Autograph”(‘Ovaru pookalume’). I am sure that particular sequence will be watched over and over again. Shahid Kapoor actually added so much meaning to that particular sequence.

Shahid must have starved to get out of shape to get into a relatively emaciated shape. His gaunt looks, the madness in his eyes, the born again feeling and innumerable other emotions should make him a front runner for the best actor award this year. We are blessed to witness some brutal hard work both that must have taken a toll on both the mind and physique. Pankaj Kapoor would be very proud.

Expletives and Profanity at its best can muster a few laughs. If references to mothers and sisters can get the attention of the audience to grave human  issues than the price is insignificant in the scheme of things.

We are always proud of what you are trying to accomplish, Anurag. To hell with hypocrisy, This country can be better of without it. Engaging Content, is a great torrent neutralizer. I shall certainly see this movie several times over.