Antarmahal

Believe me - had the climax been anything less than what it was, I definitely would have thought much less of the rest of the film - I would have thought it deliriousness coming from Rituparno going by how his latest films (at least the latest few I have seen) touches on this very same theme one way or the other.

I have just watched Antarmahal, and notwithstanding the above, true to his genius, Rituparno Ghosh brought forth such a climax, that I cannot help feeling that maybe the rest of the film was still justified coming even from him.

The entire film was laden with female sexuality, her body, her spirit, and the maltreatment of all these as it was supposed to have been practiced 100s of years ago in Bengal.

The film was good as is usual of him, but while watching the film, I had started complaining that all his films somehow touches on this same subject - and it gets treated in his trademark way - and all this becomes monotonous, and sometimes even ghastly given the subject. Once or twice, the effect is fantastic, but one really cannot go on digesting the same pattern as often as Rituparno seems to shelve it out. I was thinking why on earth does he not think of the thousand other sensitivities lying out there for him to exploit?

But the climax of Antarmahal balances it all. All in the last 10/15 minutes. And indeed, these last minutes do propel the film in dimensions other than just female sexuality, mind and body. Art and the artist were hailed. I'm sure - the last two or three scenes, including the showing of the goddess' face to the foreign painter, the brief shot of Soha Ali Khan after the idol was opened publicly, and finally the dolls with the sacred flames lit in the last scene - all these will stay with me for a while.

Now, after being done with it all, and looking at the film from a perspective, I find myself asking about the acting - who acted best, et all. And somehow, I'm unable to answer that. No one seems to have got such dramatic chances of acting. Or maybe everyone got equal shares. I'm not sure. At first thought it seemed that the film did not provide much chances of such acting. But then, it is very obvious that a film like this cannot be carried without good acting. And yes, all through the film none of the actors ever felt out of themselves.

Maybe this is truly good direction - coupled with good acting from all - as a result of which, none of the characters protruded obliquely above the others - yet all of them fell nicely into the overall picture, thereby culminating in an overall good effect.

Muslims to answer?

They have put Muslims in the frontline. Following the Mumbai terrorist attack orchestrated by people who happen to be Muslims from Pakistan.

I just saw a program where they have literally put some eminent Muslims in a row - and a mass of audience (Hindu?) are asking them questions. Questions about how the innocent Muslim will clear the mass misunderstanding brewing in the masses, manifesting in a person getting scared by seeing a Muslim in sight (!!!).

What do these eminent persons think about how to clear up this psychological impact?

There was visible exasperation and anger in the face of some of the ones who had been called forth.

The program host maintained - and these persons said and agreed - that other Muslim should not at all be called forth to explain. Why should they be at all require to explain and clarify their innocence? Terrorism has no religion, and we all no that.

But the irony was that, by hosting a program of this kind, the very program is acting against this philosophy - they have called forth these people to answer. To have them explain away their position. This very program, I think, was acting more against the cause which it seeks to address, than any person getting scared when seeing a Muslim.

Some people are beyond religion. Truly religious and devoted people also always fall in this category. It shows on their face. No matter what religion they follow, they are all united in some core basic values and understanding. All religions are united in their basic values - of humanity, tolerance and responsibility.

I could not help but feel sorry for these people - who for no action of their own - who by some twisted coincidence of fate have been put on trial. They are fully entitled to the exasperation and anger showing on their face despite the attempts to veil them. I think it is a gross insult even to bring up this topic to them in this way.