Despite the fact that I am unaware as to what Rangrezz actually means although for all I am concerned it could have been named "a modern Bollywood classroom on moral values with particular emphasis on friendship, trust, recognition, and limits to family loyalty". Having said that, I must concur that Rangrezz is a much more nice sounding title.
The story begins with the arrival of an old friend at the scene who proclaims his infinite love for a girl he totally loves that reciprocates his feelings but cannot have him as their parents are high profile people who dislike one another and so have arranged for them to marry other people. Being in the company of friends, this becomes a non- issue as they instantly plan a kidnapping of the girl, followed by a hiding plan so that the young lovers could elope as they please.
The plot goes to plan in terms of bringing the couple together but the friends of the groom become seriously wounded due to the standoff with the girl's security team. The prolonged fighting sequence was not random; it was a fight of love versus arranges marriage, friendship over submission to family will, untamed spirit of youth versus the set ways of the older generation. Such struggles can be hurtful and so was the drawn out altercation served to our sense of vision.
Again, those injured boys did not mind the pain they endured nor the loss of reputation they and their families suffered; for all they knew it was a worthwhile sacrifice in the name of both friendship and love, something they consider sacred. What did hurt them deeply was the lack of appreciation by those they tried to help.
Watching this, it got me thinking on a rather personal level, in terms of a westerner experiencing an eastern culture, how harmful the extremes are. By this, a reference is made to family. In the west most relax, even sever, their links with the previous generation(s) upon reaching adulthood which has not done our societies a lot of favour; lack or role models combined with fear of commitment has caused a widespread desolation. In India, the family links are so close that they cause asphyxiation since the parents take for granted that they are always in charge of their children's lives with absolutely no regard for their needs or aspirations. Again, no form of slavery is advantageous for all concerned as people think they are meant to be victims until they become parents so that they can freely victimize others.
Although this will not be remembered as one of the great films (there were noticeable flaws), still the simplicity and charm in which it conveyed both a message and emotions will, in my mind, make it stand out from many other recent Bollywood films.
