A violent let down

Ram Gopal Varma decides to play Arnold Toynbee of Vijayawada and chronicle with unprecedented commitment the blood-soaked gang war that shook the city during the 1980s.

So committed is the master filmmaker and so deft is the talent that he almost gives you an account – a graphic account of every life taken, every ounce of blood spilled, every wail and cry of the times.

He has an account of the sharp knives, iron rods, guns, goons, the number of lungis, active two-wheelers and the unshaven and unkempt faces that participate in the history of gang war that has the dimensions of a civil war.

To those who do not care a damn about politics or history and have just gone to the theatre to have some popcorn, he dins the tale with a background narration told with equal conviction and commitment.

At a time when cinema is just gloss, heroics or comic indulgences, here comes a path-breaking filmmaker so committed to the truth that he dares to take and tell a complex historic happening living in the cusp of the past and the present.

Varma is art and truth personified. No, not even Francis Ford Coppola spilled as realistic blood in the Italian mafia depiction of ‘The Godfather’ as our local historian.

Not since Bimal Roy (‘Do Bigha Zamin’), Benegal and Ray (all their films) and Govind Nihlani (‘Tamas,’ ‘Aakrosh’) has a filmmaker stuck to his script and told a story with satiating urge to tell the viewer the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth!

The filmmaker spoke the other day about how this is arguably the most violent film made by him.

Uncharacteristically modest! I am sure the very learned and well informed that he has, dared where others would hesitate to tread.

While the not so committed may cringe many a time during the 142 minutes of truth telling, kudos to the brave heart who not only had a ring side view but lived with the story for decades till he was inspired to tell it all.

Unmindful of the box-office, indifferent to what those on either side of the political divide may say or do, he ensures the saga is re-enacted and the ill-informed have a peep into the pages of history and the streets of the city that will soon be the full-fledged capital of the state.

Amazing gumption that a man could hold back all this and suddenly found that amazing inspiration.

What converted the inertia to impetus we will not know till he gets into another bout of speaking!
May be he should do a film: Making of
‘Vangaveeti’.
As everyone knows ‘Vangaveeti’ is the bloody story of Vangaveeti and the Devineni groups.

After viewing the film will those associated with it run for cover or will it be the rest... is a moot point.

The story is about how Bus Stand Radha kills– nay butchers Venkatarathnam. By half-time you have been witness to three butchering incidents.

Post interval, we are back to more arson and killing.

Lest one dares to scorn, he is subtly (?) reminded of the traditional Mahishasura Mardhini and Bhagavad-Gita.

Now the Devineni branch takes over the vendetta. We see some brilliance with Ratna Kumari (Naina Ganguly– joining the team of brilliant performances) combs the parting hair of Ranga (Sandeep Kumar).

Parting hair, parting spouse – kya symbolism hai.

RGV concludes the tragedy that defies measure and even Goddess Kanaka Durga is a mute witness.

This is a RGV film and thus Sui generis. - LRC