WOULD YOU SACRIFICE YOUR LIFE IF YOU WERE IN DOUBT?
I watched 2 movies in the last 2 days.
The first one was a multiple Oscar nominee DOUBT starring 2 of the best actors of this generation in Hollywood, Phillip Seymour Hoffman & Meryl Streep.
This evening I watched Kurbaan, the directorial debut of Rensil De Silva, who had previously written Rang De Basanti.
And strangely enough both are very very similar.
In Doubt, Sister Aloysius (Streep) is convinced beyond Doubt that Fr. Flynn (Hoffman) has committed some act of impropriety with a young boy even though she has no definite proof. He is equally adamant he hasn’t.
And as the audience all we have is evidence that can at best be called circumstantial.
And the movie gives us no resolutions. It actually leaves us in Doubt.
Now the important question is if that is a bad thing. Is Doubt bad?
Think about it. What’s the opposite of Doubt?
Certainty!
And what does absolute certainty lead to? Infallibility!
It's one of life's bitter ironies that one of the first things lost to moral certainty is the capacity for compassion. Righteousness is a cold, hard position, and an unshakeable one. It allows no room for one of the most basic tenants of human existence: doubt.
Faith exists not in counterpoint to certainty but to doubt. Few of us have the capacity to defend a position of uncompromising certainty. Unless we are fanatics.
And isn’t the certainty of the superiority of one’s faith over all others that leads to fanaticism?
The inability to entertain even an iota of Doubt.
That all Muslims may NOT be terrorists. That all Americans are not like Bush.
Where ever and when ever there is no space for Doubt you risk becoming a fanatic.
And that is a question Kurbaan makes you ponder.
But enough about my sermonizing.
Kurbaan is a very thought provoking movie and one of the best of its genre that has come out of Bollywood. KJo is its producer but if you are expecting fluff forget about it. Be prepared to be engaged mentally.
The movie is filled with so many twists and turns that giving even a synopsis will be fraught with spoilers so I’ll let you enjoy the movie for yourself.
Just a word about the performances.
Saif Ali Khan. When he won the National Award some years back most of the protests were directed at the movie he won for (Hum Tum) and not really because there was doubt about his acting ability. And here he shows you why. In a role that could have been so showy and clichéd (think Aamir Khan in Fanaa) Saif here underplays his role so beautifully that you almost seem to forget its Saif. You are left only with Ehsaan.
Kareena Kapoor: She is not only one of the best among the current generation of actresses but also possesses such blinding charisma that when she is on screen there is not much you can do but stare. And boy can she act. The only one who can match her in both charisma and acting chops is her cousin Ranbir Kapoor (if you don’t believe me watch the outrageous Ajab/Gazab movie being rescued by him alone)
Vivek Oberoi: Before Salman, before Aishwarya and before all the stardom went to his head Vivek has debuted with a searingly honest performance in Company. Now with the Khan & Rai distractions behind him he is back in his element playing a moderate Muslim. Certainly one of his best in years.
Special mention must be made of his spot on american accent whenever he talks in English. Exactly how someone brought up in the US would speak. Infact Vivek's 'pal' Abhishek Bachchan could take a few pointers from him. Remember Dilli 6???
Rensil De Silva: He brings such a fresh perspective to the bollywood scene that you sometimes forget it’s a mainstream movie. Right at the end Kareena asks Saif his real name.
It’s a simple question but something you would have never thought of at such a moment and yet when she does, you realize there was nothing that could have been more appropriate.
If you’ve ever had your heart broken you’ll understand. Trust me.
Worth a Watch. Without a DOUBT.
Luv
Vish
