Is 'RRR' a masterpiece of Indian cinema or just an attempt to atone for the sins of colonialism?
The film depicts the lives of two anti-colonial revolutionaries, and while it was well received in both India and the West, some questioned whether its success resulted from a newfound interest in non-Western cultures and a desire to make amends. for past mistakes. Despite its accolades and global appeal, RRR continues to generate controversy over cultural representation and the legacy of colonialism.
Some critics argue that "RRR" is a product of the continuing trend of Western countries trying to come to terms with their past actions by uplifting and celebrating cultures they once oppressed. They claim that the film's success is not a true reflection of its artistic merit, but rather a manifestation of a guilt-ridden Western looking to right the wrongs of colonialism.
However, the film's supporters maintain that it is a masterful work of Indian cinema that transcends cultural boundaries and deserves recognition on its own merits. They argue that the film's themes of anti-colonialism and resistance to oppression are universal and resonate with audiences regardless of their cultural background.
Regardless of one's stance on the issue, it is clear that RRR has sparked important debates about cultural representation and the role of art in addressing historical grievances. As the film industry continues to globalize and become more inclusive, it is imperative that these discussions continue in order to create a more equitable and representative film landscape.
RRR: A Critically Acclaimed Indian Film with Historic Achievements
RRR, directed by RRR, received international acclaim for its direction, writing, acting from the protagonists, soundtrack, motion scene photography and design, and visual effects. The film was considered by the National Review Board, a New York-based nonprofit focused on film evaluation, as one of the top 10 films of 2022. RRR became the third Indian film to be nominated for a Golden Globe and the first in the Telugu-speaking language.
Notably, RRR is the first Asian film to win a Golden Globe Award for Best Song. Its song was also nominated for an Oscar, making it the first Indian song to be nominated for this award. At the 28th Critics' Choice Awards, the film won Best Foreign Language Film and Best Song.
The budget for RRR is the highest ever in Indian cinema at $72 million due to the high cost of multiple action scenes.
The film begins with the kidnapping of a young girl from her mother, who becomes the private singer of the wife of the British ruler. In the next scene, the protagonist of the film, Sharan, searches for the girl and fights a tiger. Indian officer Kumaram Bhim (Rama Rao), who works for the British army, breaks through a crowd of tens of thousands to bring down an Indian who insulted the British crown during a vigil.
The events present a fictional version of two real Indian revolutionaries, "Charan" and "Rama Rao", and focus on their friendship and battle against British rule. The film clearly shows the sides of good and evil, with the occupied British rule being portrayed as the side of pure evil. This is in contrast to the belief among many English that their colonization was a kind of "charitable colonialism".
In one scene, the British commander instructs his soldiers not to waste their heavy bullets on these brown-skinned people and kills the mother of the kidnapped daughter with a blow from a tree branch on the head to save money.
RRR: The Indian Film That Captivated the West with Epic Action and Cultural Authenticity.
Why was the West captivated by RRR? Since its release on Netflix, RRR has received praise from Hollywood elites such as James Gunn and Danny DeVito, as well as fans around the world.
Initially, RRR was described as an "illogical Indian movie" upon release, as it featured many action scenes that defied logic and gravity. However, according to the director himself, he wanted his heroes to appear larger than life, with powers similar to those of superheroes. These unbelievable scenes were easy to ridicule in other works, but the creators of RRR had a reasonable justification, and they used music to make the action scenes truly epic, rather than just for the sake of excitement.
For example, there is an epic scene where Sharan lifts a motorcycle with his hands. This may seem strange and "fairy-like," but it seems plausible because the director has already demonstrated the "supernatural power" of the hero in his introductory scene when he fought a tiger. In this scene, Sanskrit hymns are played to show that what is happening is indeed unnatural.
The film is also firmly rooted in Indian culture, with director C.C. Rajamuli creating two muscular, handsome protagonists who can do everything in the world, and are vividly reminiscent of the characters played by legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan. The director reset the heroes that Indian commercial films had been lacking for a long time, where the hero used to walk between the explosions at the beginning of the film and then enchant the heroine with a dance.
Speaking about the huge uproar, director C.C. Rajamuli told Empire magazine, "Personally, I'm amazed. India has a huge community all over the world, and I thought the film would do well wherever the Indian audience was. But then the reception began to come from Westerners. I didn't expect anything from this."
The director adds that the COVID-19 pandemic may have played a role in the film's popularity. "When everything shut down, the whole world started looking at different cultures, absorbing content from different countries in different languages," he said.
Part of this success may be due to the West's treatment of the film as a well-deserved anger and belated revenge from India towards its occupiers or a fascination that expresses ignorance of the authenticity of Indian cinema. Indian cinema is similar to its American counterpart and has a very wide global reach.
"RRR" is a fortunate work that has reached viewers at the right time, carrying many advantages such as action scenes and its distinctive song. If it wins an Oscar, it will surely be immortalized in the award book.
