Aarakshan (Reservations) turned out to be a disappointment for us.
Directed by Prakash Jha, one of India’s rare political film-makers, the much hyped movie is supposedly centered on the hot-button issue of reservations aka affirmative action that allows less qualified candidates from lower castes to get government jobs and seats in colleges via special quotas. (By the way, a corporate bootlicking American politician named Barack Obama got into Harvard University through a similar Reservation program for Blacks.)
Story Flounders
But the reservations subject occupies center-stage in Aarakshan only for the first 1 hour or so.
Then the reservation train derails and the movie is all over the place turning its gaze one moment on the commercialization of education, the next moment hinting at corruption and moments later focusing on personal enmity between two individuals.
Reservation is a vexing issue in India and there are no easy solutions on a matter that has often led to severe violence and occasional deaths, particularly in North India.
But the movie never even makes an effort to explore the topic in depth or treat the subject with the gravity it deserves.
And that’s a shame!
Since Prakash Jha and Anjum Rajabali are responsible for the screenplay, responsibility for screwing up the story must lie at their feet.
Decent Acting
On the positive side, the key actors have done justice to their roles. Continue reading »
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