Laal Singh Chadha: A malcontent who becomes genius

Book/Film Review- 9 

        It’s not wrong to say it is probably the power of social media that shapes people’s minds to decide what they have to do. Sometimes it works and for the Laal Singh Chaddha, it proved its power. The film businesses low even after theming the apparently best ideas in comparison to Bollywood’s films.

A scene from the film Laal Singh Chaddha

       I watched the movie last night and found that Lal Singh Chadha is a narration of incidents that have made their contributions to portraying the current political scenario of India. Army’s march at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani’s chariot procession, demolition of Babri Masjid, Kargil war, and implementation of Mandal recommendations for OBC reservations are some frequent examples.

      It is a remake of the Hollywood film Forest Gump, but as per the demand of Indian society, many scenes have been changed. Laal’s mother's approach to the teacher for her son’s education, prawns business as an undergarments business, and rescuing a terrorist during Kargil's operation are many of them. 

       Laal saved a terrorist in an attempt to rescue his Army colleague Bala, who shared his ideas of the undergarments business after the services, but he was unable to save his friend and that terrorist lost his both legs. He gets the Sena medal for rescuing five lives including that terrorist who later becomes his business partner, returns to Pakistan, and opens a school after the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack. 

       The terrorist gets emotional when he watches the news of the attack at the Taj Hotel and regrets being so religious. He stops the channel when a preacher interprets the religious dogmas. He says thank you to stupid Laal for saving his life. The movie tries to give a message that a terrorist is of no use when his need would be over. Many attempts made by that terrorist to go to his country failed because he has lost his legs and his utility is nothing to them.

       The movie terms communal violence as the Malaria pandemic and it finds the reason behind it: To be more religious. Laal says that following religions is a matter of individual choice. Worshiping god is a personal motive because god lives in everyone’s heart. 

       Overall, the movie is interestingly filmed except for some long and boring scenes, illogical dialogues, and no answer to many events why these happen. 

       The movie may be a great motivation for individuals of different personalities. In childhood, Laal is unable to even walk but in the end, he keeps running for a long time. He narrates the stories of his life journey in the context of wearing shoes of different utilities like disability, army, businessman, running, and gifted footwear. 

       He loves his childhood friend Rupa so intensely that he makes no harm to her after getting rejections from her many times. He always cares for her. She struggles to be an actress, but she is not able to find the right place. Ultimately, after making her efforts and getting humiliation, she returned to Laal who has become a successful person in his life due to his hard work and devotion to any work that he does in his particular time frame.

Disclaimer- I am not fond of Amir Khan but I like some of his movies. 3 idiots, Mann, Dil Chahta Hai, PK, and Taare Zameen par are many of them. I, ideologically, follow center-right politics that’s why I never appreciated his statement during the debate on intolerance. When his film is about to release, the IT cell of a particular ideology becomes active to spread propaganda against him and his film. I think that this is not good for the art and practice of freedom of speech in India. That was a debate over intolerance and it’s now over in favour of right-wing politics. There is no need to propagate malicious content, and we should appreciate and promote good films.