Rang Rasiya, a saga lost between Colour, Celluloid and Censor
Rang Rasiya, very aptly titled for Raja Ravi Varma, a
painter who was Rasiya (lover) of
Colours. His Art depicted wide canvas of figurative, narrative of Hindu mythology,
stories and legends. Raja Ravi Varma had given human shape to Gods and Goddesses.
Each of his painting is a narration, a saga - Ramayan, Shakuntala, Mahabharat, Yasoda with Bala Krishna, Lady Giving Alms at the Temple, Simhaka and Sairandhri from Mahabharata.
It was indeed very difficult for film
maker Ketan Mehta to bring the aura of Raja Ravi Varma into celluloid of 132
minutes. He indeed done it well but was somehow lacking into that artistic
aroma which was aroused by Late M.F. Hussain in his Gaja Gamini (2000) or
Meenaxi (2004). That is the difference between an artist making a movie which
was itself a canvas and a filmmaker making a film on painter.
Ketan Mehta had a
chance to capture Raja Ravi Varma inside 132 minutes but some how it had
depicted struggler and not Rasiya of
Colours. In film Raja Ravi Varma was seen struggling with King of
Travancore, King of Baroda for name, fame, Money. And of course, struggle with fundamentalists
and British Court for taking back his glory. His Rasiya side was kept limited
to Kamini and Sugandha only.
He was definitely not Kaam
Rasiya but Rang Rasiya i.e lover of colours, lover of art, lover of canvas.
One who can smell the undrawn painting by visualizing it, one who can see the
colours of still born creation by imagination. That was Raja Ravi Varma, the
great Painter, India had in 19th Century.
It is indeed unfortunate for Indian Art that our countrymen
knows about MF Hussain, Anjolie Ela Menon, Jatin Das, Manjit Bawa, FN Souza, S.H.
Raza, Satish Gujaral, but have no information about Raja Ravi Varma, Amrita
Shergill, Abanindranath Tagore (not to confuse with Gurudev Ravindra Nath
Tagore), Gaganendranath Tagore.
Raja Ravi Varma, truly deserves much more appreciation,
respect and in depth analysis than this movie Rang Rasiya. But for those who
does not know much about Raja Ravi Varma but appreciate meaningful films, then
must watch this movie. Randeep Hooda has
justified as Raja Ravi Varma within the limitation of cinematic framework. Nandana
Sen as Sugandha brought the graceful beauty of courtesan. Actor Jim Boeven as
Fritz Schleizer (German Friend of Raja Ravi Varma) has proved his potential.
Now we know that how paintings of Raja Ravi Varma was circulated to masses all
over India.
A vital piece of information about this film - Rang Rasiya
was made in 2008, and even premiered at Cannes Festival, however was not
released in India, because of certain bold scenes. The film was finally given a
theatrical release after six years in 2014.
If in any film actors like – Paresh Rawal, Ashish Vidyarthy,
Darshan Jariwala, Sachin Khedekar,
Vikram Gokhale, Suhasini Mulay- are present, it means that this film is indeed
special visual treat, which it is, really….
-
Pratiman Uniyal
