Locating India

On the whole, Eklavya is a disappointment but to acknowledge a positive-- the mesmerising use of the physical location of a Rajasthani Haveli/fort in the plot. Don't often see the structure so seamlessly blended into the narrative and taking it to a new level. Another place where it was done brilliantly was in the song 'Tu hi re' from the film Bombay where the ruins of a fort on the coastline really added to the pathos and longing in the song.

Great to see some confidence being shown in some Indian locations. Our directors have been discovering everything - from Switzerland, Ausralia Manhattan to Korea off late- except India.

Although Maniratnam's films always manage to integrate the Indian geography into the story and provide snapshots of the potential of others in the way he picturises songs. As my cousin once said- India bhi foreign jaisa dikhne lagat hai uski film mein.

I am sure we are going to see the many Indias that we have been told about for years as our cinema comes of age and develops the self confidence as well as respect for its audience. Afterall, if we can do our bump & grind routines with 50 extras on the streets of London, we surely can do with some world-class acting and cinematography in the havelis, forts, gullies, and even the slums of India.