Films that touch your Heart Part II, (Chitrangada, 2012)

I am a hardcore movie buff and not just one movie but of every movie. I watch for them fun to relax and also most definitely to get moved. In my life, it is my sheer luck that I have come across some of the spectacular movies from round the world and I think watching movies is a must for everyone if you want to enrich your taste. Most importantly, movies gets you to travel round the world without a visa and passport. In my opinion, you can also speculate a person's character by the choice of his movies - if you ask me, my all time favorite  is Revolutionary Road, and yes you got it right, I dislike romantic ones from the core of my heart, unless I am in a mood to waste my time and won't repent it for sure, then probably a rom - com chick flick starring mindless grits is just fine. What instigated me to write this blog is in absolute sheer necessity to let the world know about this movie that I chanced upon, which is in my mother tongue, and I believe most of my bengali friends have already witnessed it, and I being the unlucky one living outside my Kolkata for quite sometime, only got my hands on it through torrent. That is my dear friend, is Rituparno Ghosh's Chitrangada. I had an almost head pounding day and I decided to end it with a movie only hoping that like my supervisor, this also should not disappoint me and boy I was so relieved. People who have seen it and liked it a biiiig thumps up to you, people who have seen it and din't like it a biiiiiiig 'what d fuck' look and the people who have seen it and din't understand it a biiiiig 'urge to go and see it again' look. Whoever is reading this blog I might just add, that this is not a review of the film. It is just an endeavor from my side to share my feelings and views. Its in no way objective.
               I did not think I could seat with a bowl of popcorn and munch my way out. The film is hard hitting and am sooo proud that such an amazing and thought provoking film is made in bengali. It only proves how regional films are so so far ahead than our Bollywood. Chitrangada is my own personal favorite among Tagore's dance dramas, and I have myself portrayed the role of Kurupa and Arjun innumerable times (wonder why not Shurupa...hmmm) and I am glad, that Rituparna did justice with the subject. This is not a love story, neither it is about homosexuality or gays or sex. Chitrangada is a film about individuality, about ones own deepest choices about ones own desires. It is a film about how we make certain choices in our life and in which conditions it gets induced. Rudra is a choreographer who is controlled, strong, and powerful and Partho is his lover who is a lost percussionist  untamed, uncontrolled and unloved. Its like the meeting of the north and south pole...but it did meet. Rudra had the every quality of a star but he does not want to surrender whereas Partho is a tame less junkie who wants to surrender. The love that is shown , full of passion and emotions in every step about their lives. Ultimately, with the situation and Partho's happiness Rudra has to make a choice...a decision which altered everything that he had. You, know  I thought for a moment what could make a strong personality like Rudra to take a drastic decision of sex change and I realized its plain and simple love. You know, its one of those times, when many of us has taken certain decisions and has done adjustments not for ourselves but so enamored by love that it seemed the right thing to do... definitely for the other....after all love indeed is wild and blind...!! It is very similar to the real Chitrangada who too wanted to change herself...from the manly hunter to the epitome of beauty..only to be accepted by Arjun. We say times have changed but when in love time stands still. Its like Chitrangada is always the same; whether in 21st century or in the times of the Mahabharata.

                         The question however remains whether the decision is right or wrong? But who shall give that answer ? Who shall bear the responsibility of Chitrangada from a male to a female ? Or more importantly, how well will she be accepted ? I loved the way how the parents were shown. Their transition was bouncy, but not consists of screams and cries. Actually, to be frank, it is rightly understood that there is nothing as 'normal.' Normal can be anything. A beggar licking his food from his plate is normal and so  a man with womanly distinctiveness. A body does not personify a personality. A body is a simple entity which is given by the almighty to be visible in the world. A personality is what we build up. Me is not my body but my personality. But i believe we have to go a loooong way to judge a person only by his or her personality and not body. Rudra's decision of becoming a woman was only to have legal rights on adopting a child with Partho. Its not like Rudra was unhappy being a man nor was he unsatisfied...but Partho and his feelings towards him induced him to take the decision of transforming himself into a woman. But that still did not satisfy him as he went ahead and decided to be with a 'real woman'. Real why..? because she was born with a vagina and breasts...no synthetic...but  natural ones.
                           Rudra did not become a woman. Partho left for other option. But like Chitrangada, Rudra also decided to be the Kurupa, because thats what his mind decided to be. Movies like these, makes you realize that there are so many unattended issues in India that requires our attention. How do you decide to transform your body ? And what social norms one should follow ? Who decides these social norms ? I was bowled by the scene when his parents came down to see him at the hospital, and how lovingly his father hugged him and said, " come back home. Your mother has re decorated your room with new curtains." Acceptance is the biggest power that god has given us, but the most difficult one. Rudra did not care whether his parents accepts his new self or not but their acceptance indeed increased his confidence. I simply adored the scene. It has the deepness and an uncanny silence which so evidently reaches the audience. I hope such films are made more often and nurtures our mind. Its like we are continuously being conditioned to be someone and it becomes difficult for us to fathom as to decipher what we really want. This conditioning becomes permanent  and any alterations will be witnessed with raised eyebrows.
                     Watch the film, try it out at least once. Don't just discard it as obnoxious. It will make you think. But unless you are like my aunt whose reaction was ' ki jata...esober kono mane ache....uuufff...matha dhore gelo...' then its best to avoid. I love Rituparno...and am sure so will you...till then...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7prDTZhwA8U