Ekla Cholo Re: Newton and Sherdil film reviews
It started with Rang De Basanti (RDB). Taking things into your own hands, when the system lets you down, was powerfully portrayed by 4 young actors, inspired by freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Raj Guru and Sukhdev, to avenge the death of a friend due to corruption. The solution presented in RDB was violent, anti-establishment and to a large extent, ineffective.
Many films come to mind where one individual feels responsible and more importantly, empowered, to make a change. Two of my favourites are Newton and recently released Sherdil. Such an impact these films had on me, that my students and clients are now having to watch these before I meet them (yes really).
Newton (2017): Nutan Kumar (Newton) is a government clerk. He is sent on election duty to the interiors of Chattisgarh forest, well known for being a hide-out for Naxals ( anti-establishment/ political rebels). Existing government officials, including the security force, are aware of the futility of holding elections in such a place and are in a hurry to get over with the day, with some token actions. Newton, is having none of this tokenism. He has been sent to conduct free and fair elections, till 3 pm. He intends to stay till then and do everything needed to get the forest dwellers to come and cast their vote. All kinds of measures are tried — on Newton! From gentle cajoling to lectures on failed past attempts to a sound beating by the security force, who were sent, ironically, to keep Newton’s team safe. The scene which gave me goosebumps every time I saw it (which is many) is when after the Security Head dusts his hands after beating Newton into what he hopes is submission, Newton picks the voting machine and runs right back to the booth. And stays till 3 pm.
The film ends with Newton working at his desk, bent over his files while his colleagues are drinking tea and waiting for the day to end.
Sherdil (2022): Fun trivia. The mildly villainous or rather, cynical security head of Newton, is the protagonist of this film. He plays Gangaram, the Sarpanch (village head ) of a village near a Tiger reserve. Thanks to climate change (they didn’t mention this explicitly but of course they meant it) there has been consecutive years of famine and villagers have been driven to suicide. Additionally, because of encroachment on forest land (didn’t mention explicitly but…) animals have been straying into the fields and spoiling crops. Gangaram feels deeply responsible for the plight of his village folk. Despite multiple attempts at getting the government to help out, no aim comes their way. He doesn’t want the villagers to leave their land and live a life without dignity, in the big cities. At the same time, he cannot watch them die. Inspired by Bhagat Singh, like our RDB protagonists, he takes it upon himself to save the village by sacrificing himself.
No one else comes forward to join him in his suicidal mission. No one else feels they are responsible.
In both the films, the protagonist feels it is up to him to take action. He is not bothered that it is only he who is sticking it out in a sea of nay-sayers. In a sea of those who feel powerless to make a change, to make themselves amount to something.
যদি তোর ডাক শুনে কেউ না আসে
তবে একলা চলো রে
(If they answer not to thy call walk alone,
If they are afraid and cower mutely facing the wall,
O thou unlucky one,
open thy mind and speak out alone)
Rabindranath Tagore, 1905.
