Rang
De
Basanti,
directed
by
Rakeysh
Omprakash
Mehra,
is
a
landmark
film
that
redefined
Indian
cinema
and
reshaped
social
cinema
on
screen.
Released
in
2006,
the
film
completes
20
years
on
January
26
this
year.
Starring
Aamir
Khan
alongside
Sharman
Joshi,
Siddharth,
and
others,
it
struck
a
deep
chord
with
audiences
and
sparked
nationwide
conversations,
becoming
one
of
the
most
defining
films
of
its
time.
Ahead
of
the
film’s
20th
anniversary,
director
Rakeysh
Omprakash
Mehra
reflected
on
the
making
of
the
film,
the
challenges
it
encountered
upon
its
release
from
getting
banned
to
how
it
was
later
perceived
by
former
President
of
India
Pranab
Mukherjee.
Talking
about
the
hurdles
the
film
faced,
the
director
revealed,
“Rang
De
Basanti
was
also
banned.
We
fought
it
out,
ya
and
then
finally
the
establishment
saw
the
intention
of
the
film.
Infact
the
film
was
viewed
by
then
Defence
Minister
Honourable
Pranab
Mukherjee.
And
the
three
heads
of
the
Army,
Navy,
and
Air
Force
in
one
theatre
in
Delhi,
and
then
he
went
on
to
become
the
President
of
India.
So,
it
had
gone
up
to
that
level
of,
see,
you
don’t
tell
stories
thinking
about
whether
they
will
be
allowed
or
not
allowed,
then
stories
will
never
come
out.”
He
further
added,
“If
you
think
of
a
result
and
not
the
process,
I
think
social
cinema
has
always
been
there,
will
always
be
there,
which
picks
up
social
issues
and
issues
of
the
citizens
and
the
society.”
Rang
De
Basanti,
directed
by
Rakeysh
Omprakash
Mehra,
it
starred
Aamir
Khan,
Siddharth,
Soha
Ali
Khan,
Sharman
Joshi,
Kunal
Kapoor,
and
Atul
Kulkarni
in
key
roles.
The
story
follows
a
group
of
carefree
Indian
youngsters
who
get
involved
in
a
documentary
on
freedom
fighters.
As
they
portray
revolutionary
heroes,
they
awaken
to
political
corruption
and
injustice,
leading
them
to
take
a
bold
stand
that
transforms
their
lives
and
conscience.