Urban life has always been fantasized in cinema. Even Bollywood loves to show the glamour and convenience that comes with life in the city. It’s no wonder that cities see increasing immigration of people from rural areas every year. But these movies fail to show the downsides that come with urban life. Most immigrants living in the city, far away from their families, tend to find more despair than success here. Sunit Sinha‘s Ranj explores a man’s slow descent into this world of despair as his life falls apart. It focuses on Amanpreet (Adesh Sidhu) who has moved to Delhi from a village in Punjab at his parents’ behest but is unhappy with life in the city. He has no family here, finds no pleasure in his job, and is constantly hounded by his landlord for rent he cannot afford. He drowns his depression in alcohol and eventually, the bottled-up emotions erupt in the form of violence.
Juxtaposing urban progressiveness with hollow lives
Urban life is generally portrayed as fast, convenient, fulfilling, and something straight out of one’s fantasy. But the reality of cities is very different. Poverty, hunger and homelessness are rampant in these parts of the country. The air and water is impure, the streets are dumped with filth, and even one’s own house feels like a prison cell. In this fast-paced life, people are constantly trying to keep up with one another and never stop to appreciate the things they need. The director perfectly captures these emotions with the grim shots of the city as opposed to the village that is portrayed to be full of life. He takes us through the vast green fields that spread over acres and you can feel the breeze of the fresh air flowing through them. Comparatively, the staleness of the city is evident with the dark shots of nightlife in the abandoned lanes of Delhi.
Amanpreet’s despair feels too real
Amanpreet’s former reluctance to move to the city gives way to indolence. He is not fulfilled in his personal life, work life, or sex life. Slowly, the alienation and loneliness turn into despair. He feels hopeless in his situation and makes no effort to find self-fulfillment. While this can easily be categorized as him being lazy, anyone who has suffered from depression will know exactly what plays in Amanpreet’s mind. His emotions are bottled up and just when he is pushed over the brink, his despair brings out his violent side. The events that eventually unfold in Amanpreet’s life are not surprising but still fill you with sadness.
WATCH OR NOT:
Ranj is an unpretentious reflection of urban despair. If you like art films, you must give this one a watch. Do not expect drama or masala. This film was not made to entertain but to invoke empathy.
Director: Sunit Sinha
Writer: Sunit Sinha
Cast: Adesh Sidhu
Language: Punjabi, Hindi
Credit: www.in.bookmyshow.com