At a basic level, "Apaharan" traces the evolution of Ajay Shastri (Devgan), an innocent lad being pushed around by the system to becoming the system himself. There are two influences working on him, viz, his father's Gandhian idealism and acceptance of corruption as a way of life all around him. He tries to escape the insult and exploitation that his father's idealistic stand begets him--- only to get insulted and exploited by the likes of Tabrez Alam (Patekar) who use him for their own purpose. Yet, Devgan's don is a reluctant hero. He takes to crime because as an honest and hard-working citizen, society treated him as a "freak"!
"Apaharan" then talks a State held at ransom by the greed and corruption of a system meant to protect it. It talks of the kidnapping of a child's innocence by a greedy system where merit has no role. It talks of society's resignation to the state of affairs and how we all give in... for there are no options.
What I liked about "Apaharan" is that it does not have any good guys and bad guys, nor does it offer any magic solutions. It tells it like it is. It shows every member of society as responsible for the decay-- right from the ministers to religious leaders to traders to teachers to the youth "experimenting" with crime at a corner tea-shop! At the same time, it is not a cynical story. It has optimism and power of positive action.
To believe that this movie has anything to do with Bihar would be entering a fool's paradise. Yes, it is set in Bihar-- although shot in Satara (Maharashtra), if one goes by the credit acknowledgment. Yes, it speaks of a situation that Bihar is going through. Yes, it uses a Bihari idiom and dialect to move the story.
The characters, their motivations and their reactions are not limited to Bihar, though. If that were the case, it would not find such a wide appeal.
Like all good cinema, "Apaharan (2005)" tells a story. That's it. And kudos to Prakash Jha for telling us an "art house" story with "masala potboiler" action. But for the trademark Prakash Jha finesse, this movie reminds one of typical Bollywood fare like "Vaastav", "Nayakan" and "Company". Good action and powerful performances!
"Apaharan" then talks a State held at ransom by the greed and corruption of a system meant to protect it. It talks of the kidnapping of a child's innocence by a greedy system where merit has no role. It talks of society's resignation to the state of affairs and how we all give in... for there are no options.
What I liked about "Apaharan" is that it does not have any good guys and bad guys, nor does it offer any magic solutions. It tells it like it is. It shows every member of society as responsible for the decay-- right from the ministers to religious leaders to traders to teachers to the youth "experimenting" with crime at a corner tea-shop! At the same time, it is not a cynical story. It has optimism and power of positive action.
To believe that this movie has anything to do with Bihar would be entering a fool's paradise. Yes, it is set in Bihar-- although shot in Satara (Maharashtra), if one goes by the credit acknowledgment. Yes, it speaks of a situation that Bihar is going through. Yes, it uses a Bihari idiom and dialect to move the story.
The characters, their motivations and their reactions are not limited to Bihar, though. If that were the case, it would not find such a wide appeal.
Like all good cinema, "Apaharan (2005)" tells a story. That's it. And kudos to Prakash Jha for telling us an "art house" story with "masala potboiler" action. But for the trademark Prakash Jha finesse, this movie reminds one of typical Bollywood fare like "Vaastav", "Nayakan" and "Company". Good action and powerful performances!