Pinjar

Pinjar -- Cage (some translations say Skeleton)

MAIN CAST

Puro -- Urmila Matondkar

Rashid -- Manoj Bajpai

Ramchand -- Sanjay Suri

Trilok -- Priyanshu Chatterjee

BRIEF PLOT OVERVIEW:

There are many films that attempt to capture the horrifying consequences of India's partition, but none are as incredible as Pinjar. The script turns what could have been a droll bloodbath in a psychologically intense story that never misses a beat. It follows the tale of Puro, a young Hindu girl who is engaged to an intellectual named Rachmand. One day, while Puro is strolling in the fields, she is kidnapped by a Muslim man named Rashid. (In the original novel, it is mentioned that Rashid rapes Puro; this is never specifically stated in the movie, though it is implied.) According to Rashid, Puro's ancestors once kidnapped one of Rashid's ancestors, so his family has decided to even the score. Desperate to maintain the family's honor, Puro's parents marry their younger daughter Rajjo to Ramchand's cousin, Kirpal, and marry their son Trilok to Ramchand's younger sister, Lajo. Meanwhile, Rashid admits that he is in love with Puro.

FILM -- 5/5

This story throws you from one emotional extreme to the other; one moment you're biting your nails, your breath bated and your heart skipping beats due to the suspense, and minutes later you're bawling your eyes out and wailing at the screen as if the characters can actually hear you. Pinjar is so perfectly written, crafted, and presented that it surpasses almost every other film I've ever seen in terms of raw power and technical mastery. Pinjar is beautifully shot, and it doesn't just use bright colors to create beauty, which is the pitfall of many Bollywood films (cough cough, Karan Johar, cough cough). There are plenty of simple but elegant scenes that are gorgeous because of their composition, not their colors.

CHARACTERS -- 5/5

Pinjar is the movie that cemented my love for the incredible Manoj Bajpai. His acting is, as always, impeccable; this is his crowning performance, and it proves that he's an underrated superstar. The intensity he brings to Rashid's character will bowl you ever; Bajpai is especially good at speaking with his eyes, and they speak volumes when he and Puro first exchange glances. Urmila Matondkar, long considered little more than a 90s sex symbol, uses Puro as a vehicle to prove she has talent. Her Puro is outwardly demure, but harbors a brave heart. Sometimes Isha Koppikar's voice gets a little annoying, but other than that, the supporting cast's performances are as award-worthy as the main cast's. The underused Priyanshu Chatterjee and Sandali Sinha are particularly notable for their complex portrayals of Trilok and Lajo.

MUSIC -- 5/5

There are no magical costume changes or classic Bollywood song breaks in Pinjar. The soundtrack is comprised primarily of integrated background music, mostly in the form of hymns and traditional songs, and each composition is haunting in its own way. "Waris Shah Nu" opens the film, striking fear and anxiety in to the viewer's heart. This song sounds so creepy! The lyrics are so sad! What's going to happen?! The cute, upbeat "Maar Udari" soothes your nerves soon after, and "Sita Ko Dekhe" calms you musically and intrigues you lyrically. "Charkha Chalati Maa" features slow, intoxicating drums and soft, luxorious vocals, framing a heart-wrenching poem about the unfair treatment of women that still plagues parts of India today:

all of the comforts and luxuries for the son,

the stranger's hand for the daughter.

My favorite song is definitely "Darda Marya," a beautiful piece integrated in to a Muslim religious ceremony. Cheerful music in the midst of such a dark story should feel jarring, but instead it provides a much-needed break from the gritty atmosphere, and the more melancholy tunes are so chilling! If you don't enjoy the soundtrack the first time around, you're certain to fall in love with it after one or two playthroughs.

OVERALL -- 5/5

Pinjar's portrayal of the Partition is honest and unflinching; no side is favored over the other and no grisly truth is left unexplored. This isn't your usual saccharine Bollywood love story, drenched with colorful item numbers and melodramatic speeches. It's a realistic, powerful story with 10 times the emotional value of Dil Se and a thousand times more starpower than Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. Pinjar is also the only story that has had a rape victim fall in love with her rapist and fully convinced--and did not offend--me. I certainly wouldn't recommend Pinjar if all you want is lighthearted fluff (which is great in its own right), but I suggest that you give it at least one viewing. If Pinjar doesn't strike you as one of the greatest movies ever made, your heart is painted black.

TOTAL SCORE -- 20/20 (perfect)

ON A SIDE NOTE:

I've heard a lot of people say that Hindus were portrayed more favorably than Muslims in Pinjar, but I have to respectfully disagree. Yes, the Hindus are wonderful on a mass level, with colorful dance numbers and bright ceremonies...but are they that great on a singular level? Puro's parents reject her, her brother commits vengeful acts with no thought of their effect on Puro, Ramchand--the supposed "ideal Hindu husband"--doesn't even recognize Puro, and several Hindu men treat Puro and Rashid's loving care of an abandoned child as Muslims' attempt to one-up them. By contrast, the Muslims are awful on a mass level; we see them burn villages and attack women. But on a personal level, they are much more interesting and complex, especially Rashid, who is a gem of a man. They also seem to put up with more abuse, and it's made quite clear to the viewers that the Hindu population has a stronger grasp on India.