kaushal agrawal A great Indian movie reflecting how India restored her historical temple of culture and civilization, gods and goddesses, people and rulers. The movie is filmed a century backwards, and it captures the social elements which has been the main reason why the Indian history has not been fostered by its people so long.The central character, who is an independent painter, gets inspired with Indian goddesses via a lady he meets in a temple. His talent of painting is his life. Being a human, he can not live with his talents spirited away by new technology of cinematography. He quits painting but gets trapped by law for spreading nudity and false image of gods, in words of a famous community leader. Airs get cleared when he explains his intentions behind these paintings which prove to be an unforgettable contribution in bringing back the nation's history and culture.The movie is plotted in Kerala, a south Indian state and it holds a very nice illustration of people and families living there. Visual effects have been successful in rendering the lifestyle those people enjoy. The movie shows how gods in India descended from temples to homes and everywhere, how the third class of society got access to public worshiping. It reflects existence and functioning of social division of 'varnas' which was very prominent in India a century ago.The movie ties up with chronological events like revolts in late 19th century, formation of Indian National Congress, spread of plague etc. It also shows France introducing cinema to India, leading to the formation of Indian film industry by Dada Saheb Phalke, a constant side-role in disguise.Overall, a great movie with almost no flaws, successful in its goal of introducing the viewers to early Indian culture.

Alex Deleon Colors of Passion, original Hindi title "Rang Rasiya" Directed by Ketan Mehta - 2008, 2015Viewed at Innsbruck Film Festival, June 2015By Alex Farba DeleonThe Message of the movie is "Down with Artistic Freedom of Expression" --very timely in the year of the Charlie Hebdo massacre in Paris only six months ago, but the Medium is unfortunately weak. Rang Rasiya was actually made in 2008, and even premiered at Cannes Festival, but was not released in India, because of certain bold scenes. The film was finally given a theatrical release after six years in 2014.TRIVIA:This Indian film by a highly respected veteran director, Ketan Mehta, when completed five years ago in 2008 and revealed at the River to River Indian Film festival in Italy at that time, but was quickly banned from circulation in India and shelved until now. The reason for the ban at the time was not for political reasons but rather because Mehta dared to tweak the long standing Indian taboo against female nudity and mouth to mouth osculation on screen -- involving actress Nandana Sen, the daughter of an Indian Nobel Prize winner, no less! That restriction has now been openly challenged in a number of other films since, so a somewhat modified version of Rang Rasiya has been approved for general release. At Innsbruck two versions were actually shown, a full length original director's cut, and the somewhat trimmed and shortened version currently on release. Lead actress Nandana Sen, an official guest of the festival, was on hand to introduce the film and field audience questions at both screenings.Basically Rang Rasiya is a classic biopic focusing on the life of 19th century Indian Painter Raja Ravi Varma, who was and is India's most famous painter, contemporary with the French Impressionists, but who became quite a controversial figure because he painted the gods and goddesses of Indian tradition as down to earth humans, often partially nude in erotic compositions. So compelling was his painterly skill that many people worshiped his tableaux on their knees seeing them as divinely inspired sacred iconography. At one point Varma was arrested and put on trial for offending public decency but eventually acquitted by a sympathetic judge and jury. Director Mehta has made a handsomely crafted picture rich in color, period detail, and voluptuous imagery, but strangely lacking in passion. One big problem is that lead actor Randeep Hooda is too macho-handsome and 21st century contempo to convince as a sensitive 19th century artist from the Dravidian south. Which is not to say that he doesn't give what the script asks of him -- just that he was the wrong man for the job -- a tricky case of miscasting probably aimed at attracting the mass audience to a touchy subject. What comes out is a preachy dissertation on censorship of sexiness rather than a moving condemnation of artistic repression in general.Because of the surface glossiness and compromises made in order to reach the unwashed masses the sincerely intended message(s) become muddled in a colorful but dispassionate biopic that could have and should have been much more gripping. Bottom Line, nice try but no Cigar ~ better luck next time

Vishnu Mishra I had never heard of Raja Ravi Varma, and after seeing the movie I got to know much about the lost literature and piece of history unknown to me. Since I was unaware of any fact regarding the character, hence I can't criticize on any point or misleading detail. And the speeches were really well delivered both by talented actor Randeep and gorgeous Nandana.I enjoyed the movie and I wish to see the standards of Indian cinema more alleviated and up to the mark. Because in recent years the quality of movies is degrading at a accelerating rate and this movie provided some of the healing aid to the classical cinema lovers.

Akshay Ranganathan Biopics have been made in Bollywood, but on an artist is for the first time. Directed by Ketan Mehta, way back in 2008, 'Rang Rasiya' finally gets released in India.Ketan Mehta, the man behind films like 'Sardar', 'Mangal Pandey: The Rising', 'Mirch Masala' and so on, has made another biopic. After having a good time at The Times BFI London Film Festival, finally we get to see the movie. Let's analyze how good is it?Raja Ravi Varma (Randeep Hooda) is an artist for whom painting is worship. When he marries the princess of Kerala (Tripta Parashar), he decides to paint his wife as an inspiration. But when she demeans the art form and shoos him away, he decides to look for beauty beyond and finds it in Kamini (Rashanaa Shah), one of the servants in the palace. While she inspires him to paint one of the masterpieces that is responsible for him to win the title 'Raja' from the King of Travancore, the death of this old king leaves Ravi Varma shattered and he decides to shift base to Mumbai where he attempts to rediscover the love for art. So when he meets the gorgeous Suganda (Nandana Sen) in a temple, she becomes his inspiration for his future works. In an attempt to impress his biggest patron, the Raja of Baroda (Sameer Dharmadikari), Ravi Varma undertakes the task of showcasing Indian culture through the language of art with his paintings. While his paintings become available to the common man, the 'so called' guardians of the Hindu culture raise objection and Ravi Varma is arrested for using human face for God and also for portraying aesthetic art through nudity.The story-screenplay (Ranjit Desai (based on his novel, 'Raja Ravi Varma'), Ketan Mehta, Sanjeev Dutta) has the artistic aesthetics to it. The final print too looks arty but mostly targets the snooty- class of audience, which I belong to, and it does not appeal to everybody. Music (Sandesh Shandilya) is quite melodious, but forgettable. The BGM is noteworthy though. Cinematography (Christo Bakalov) is mesmerising. Each frame looks alive and artistic. Direction (Ketan Mehta) is quite good too, but the ending is quite abrupt. Editing (Yves Beloniak, Pratik Chitalia) is quite apt. Stunts (M. E. Nigade) are well-coordinated. But the best parts aspects of the film are the costumes (Anurag, Niharika Khan), art work and the paintings. All of these look authentic.Of the cast, Randeep Hooda steals the show. His chemistry with Nandana Sen is sensuous. Rest of the cast act with sincerity.'Rang Rasiya', is a perfect example of a classy biopic on an artist, forgotten by the History. But the problem is it does not appeal to everyone's taste, unlike 'Jodhaa Akbar', directed by Ashutosh Gowariker. Go to your nearest theatre to witness this artistic movie.