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EDITOR'S PICK
Rating: *** and 1/2
Arundhati Roy called their fight the single greatest resistance against
oppression in the world, while our prime minister, the deceptively genial
Manmohan Singh, called them the greatest internal security threat. Between these
extreme reports of their bringing rural-equality and their massacres, what`s the
truth about the Maoists or Naxalites?
What is their motivation, and why has this movement of the 1960s recently
gathered momentum for such extreme views to develop. Between this hero-worship
of Roy and the hyperbole of Singh, lies "Red Alert".
When Narasimha (Shetty) gets caught in the crossfire between police and Maoists,
he is rescued and taken along by Maoists. Here he lives among the outlaws and
become one of them. However, a farmer cannot really come to terms with killing
people and he is at loggerheads with the Maoist group`s leader Velu (Vidhyarthi).
Through the eyes of Narasimha "Red Alert" shows us the life of the
`red` rebels who live and fight in the jungles. It paints their motivations,
their weaknesses, their compassion and brutality, while never once patronising
the rebels, the police, or the viewer. Everything in the film, like in life, is
grey.
The Maoist movement began as a resistance against the oppression of landlords in
the 1960s and today it is a violent resistance against the new landlords -
government backed MNCs and national companies who want to make profit at the
cost of the very people living there and of the environment, not to mention the
nation if you consider deeper economics.
Fighting them are the armed forces of the country - the police and paramilitary
forces. How then have they been able to survive the might of the state? The film
gives examples of how they often bring justice and fair wages to the rural
populace, leading to their support.
Instead, because of the use by security forces of various injudicious methods
like `rape` and burning of villages as a weapon against Maoists, they have only
further alienated the people who have found no recourse but to become guerrillas
themselves. "Red Alert" depicts this reality with precision.
Director Anant Mahadevan has done a commendable job of accumulating a motley
group of great actors who do not fail the story and their parts. The lead,
Suniel Shetty, however, looks like a rank amateur pitted against this ensemble
of actors like Seema Biswas, Ayesha Dharker, Ashish Vidhyarthi and Vinod Khanna.
Even Nasseruddin Shah in a two minute cameo as a drunkard soars, telling us once
more as to why many worldwide consider him a living legend.
The dialogues and treatment are crisp and sympathetic to both the sides. The
details of Maoist movement and modus operandi are well in tune with known facts,
and so is that of the security forces.
The main drawback of the film, however, is that it often ends up becoming a mere
document of these, rather than a cinematic reinterpretation. Though, even in
this it does a commendable job, interweaving multiple plots and characters
believably.
In the end, the film also tries to elucidate a third way of peace and prosperity
for all. But it seems more utopic than real as it relies on the good nature of
otherwise greedy Indians.
Yet it is a triumph that in such charged times, the film not only got made but
found a release. Hats off to every filmmaker like Anant Mahadevan who dares to
venture to cinematic realms few dare go.
Bollywood actor Suniel Shetty takes pride in doing issue-based movies like the recent "Red Alert: The War Within" and the 1997 hit "Border" as they allow him to give something back to society.Read More
Shooting for 'Red Alert' was not easy: Sameera ReddyNo make-up, no trendy clothes -- Sameera Reddy has got rid of her glamour girl image for the forthcoming movie "Red Alert-The War Within". Read More
`Red Alert: the War Within` is based
on the true story of Narasimha (Suniel Shetty), a poor farm labourer who
desperately needs money to fund the education of his children. To earn his way,
he finds himself in the midst of the Naxalite movement, forced to make
difficult, and morally questionable, choices.
At first, he starts as a mere cook for the terrorist group. Before too long, he
graduates to weapons training, shootouts and kidnappings. A good, kind man
trying to earn for his family, Narasimha finds himself in a position he had
never bargained for; a man left with no choices.
The conflicted Narasimha`s life gets more complicated when a confrontation with the group leader (Ashish Vidyarthi) turns his world upside down; now he`s caught in the middle of the law and the militants.
The only way Narasimha can survive is when he finally takes matters into his own hands. Does he follow his conscience and thwart the movement? Or, does he look out for himself and his family, and embrace the Naxal cause?
Though `Red Alert: the War Within` is the account of one man, it embodies the true conflict facing the impoverished: Do we fight to protect a nation that has forgotten us? Or, do we fight to survive and feed ourselves? Do we really have any choice?
`Red Alert: the War Within` is
based on a real life story, culled straight from today`s torrid headlines.