Rangoon

Google Doodle India January 8, 2018

War films fall into two categories: thoughtful films about the ethics of taking human life, and nationalist rallying cries about why you shouldn't think about it too hard. Rangoon (2017) is the second sort of war film. Also a love triangle. That is also a metaphor for imperialism? Also a movie about the film industry. And probably some other things as well- there is a lot going on.

Rangoon is set during WWII, when the British Army (including large numbers of South Asian soldiers) are fighting both the Axis powers and the Axis-aligned pro-independence Indian National Army (INA), based out of South East Asia and led by Subhas Chandra Bose. There is not a Gandhian in sight, even though in the mid-1940s Gandhi was very much in the mix. Don't think about it too hard.

Rangoon stars the multi-talented Kangana Ranaut as Miss Julia, an action star of early Hindi cinema who was (according to the court case) not based on Mary Ann Evans, the Fearless Nadia of early Hindi cinema. They share more than a passing resemblance, but don't think about it too hard.

Miss Julia is involved with studio scion and former stuntman Rusi Billimoria (Saif Ali Khan). After being threatened with financial ruin by Major General David Harding (Richard McCabe) Rusi agrees to send Julia to the Indo-Burmese border to boost morale. Jemadar Nawab Malik (Shahid Kapoor) acts as Miss Julia's bodyguard during the trip, while simultaneously serving as a spy for the INA.

En route to Burma, Miss Julia's convoy is attacked by the Japanese, and she is thrown into the river and washed away, along with Jemadar Malik. They take a Japanese soldier (Satoru Kawaguchi) captive and begin the long slog together back to the nearest British camp. Over the course of the journey Miss Julia and Jemadar Malik fall in love and Shahid Kapoor fails to dance in the rain even though it rains and there is dancing. Because 2017 was a stupid year, so why not make everyone a little extra bummed out.

Their chemistry also isn't what it could be. Shrug. Nevertheless, Jemadar Malik is portrayed as the better romantic option because, unlike Rusi, he doesn't literally own her. He also lies to and uses her throughout, but don't think about it too hard.

Rangoon has a lot going for it, including a massive budget. Kangana Ranaut steals every scene and makes the most of a pretty hollow character. The scenery and cinematography is beautiful and the earliest songs are charming throw-backs to the winking, performative numbers the golden age of musicals is known for. They are tremendous fun. 

Ultimately, insomuch as Rangoon is a war film, it is a war film about the INA. And the realpolitik of the INA- "the enemy of my enemy is my friend"- is difficult to swallow when the friend in question is the world's most famous genocidal racist. It's a problem that the strident nationalism of Rangoon is unconcerned with exploring. British Major Harding is a caricature, Jemadar Malik is a hero, don't think about it too hard. Certainly critical thinking the last thing nationalist rulers want.    

When love knows no bounds. pic.twitter.com/uA8ZMxdyQy

— Angoor Stark 🍇🇮🇳 (@ladywithflaws) May 24, 2017

Emma Larkin's Finding George Orwell in Burma is a fascinating travel book about Orwell's formative years and the ways in which the mind is besieged under dictatorships. Perhaps more frightening is how quickly those of us living in democracies willingly embrace easy narratives. Rangoon is a perfectly acceptable film, and better than most- if you don't think about it too hard.

Film: Rangoon (2017)
Director: Vishal Bhardwaj
Writers: Matthew Robbins, Sabrina Dhawan, and Vishal Bhardwaj
Runtime: 154 minutes
Language: Hindi
Country: India