A compelling tale, beautifully told

RAAG DESH Direction: Tigmanshu Dhulia Actors: Kunal Kapoor, Amit Sadh, Mohit Marwah Rating:

Tigmanshu Dhulia never takes sides — not in Haasil (2003), which involved intense campus politics; not in Pa an Singh Tomar, the true story of a soldier-turned-athlete-turned dacoit. And not in Raag De sh, where three officers of Subhash Chandra Bose’s Indian National Army — Shah Nawaz Khan( Ku nal Kapoor), Prem Sehgal( Mo hit Marwah) and Gurbaksh Dhillon( Ami t S adh )— begin to be seen as symbols of unity in diversity while being tried by the British government as traitors, in 1945.

The depth of detail is marvellous, as is the emotional tug-ofwar—one ruling could determine whether these men go down inhistory as courageous patriots or turncoats and defectors.

And yet, amid the detail, there is ambiguity, and therein lies the beauty of Dhulia’s storytelling.

Being neutral means here presents all sides, allows key characters to be seen from different perspectives, and this leaves you with much to think about even after the end credits have rolled.

The documentary-like feel hampers the drama to some extent, and the cutting back in forth in time hampers the flow.

This is a compelling tale told through compelling actors — Amit Sadh shines; it is a pleasure to see him on screen again. Ku n al Kapoor is measured and extremely effective.