Panga: The Comeback!

It is hard to put the recently released film "Panga" in the frame of a particular genre. Is it a slice of life film, or a sports drama, or a family entertainer, or something else? Perhaps a bit of all of these. The story is about a person following his/her passion. That the person happens to be a woman, and the passion happens to be kabaddi is incidental.

Well, our leading lady Jaya Nigam is a happily married woman with a loving husband and a smart 7-year-old son. She has a cosy home, and her life is centred around her husband, her son, and her job as a ticket seller at the railway booking window. She had been a promising kabaddi player with trophies and national/international recognition to her credit, but she quit her game after marriage and motherhood. Sounds familiar? So many of married women can identify with her, having left some such thing behind after matrimony.

Unlike many who left their passion behind for good, Jaya decides to get back into the game. Finding her physical form, and overcoming her guilt for neglecting her household duties as a wife and a mother are her biggest obstacles. Everything else is picture perfect: a very supportive and understanding husband, an encouraging son (too mature to be 7?), a good coach who happens to be a dear friend, co-operating colleagues, helpful neighbours and what not. She could have had parents or in-laws who were ill and needed her help, she could have faced discrimination at work for being a woman, or she could have had a husband who was not so caring. But no, none of that. She is free as a bird to leave her nest and find ways to realise her dreams.

Even then, there are difficulties, ups and downs and emotional conflicts. Kangana Ranaut has played her part with sensitivity and energy. She switches between a vulnerable mother and wife, and an ambitious sportswoman with ease. The story is set in Bhopal and it is refreshing to see unexplored locales. Jassi Gill as the husband, Richa Chadda as Jaya's friend and coach, Yagya Bhasin as the son have all done very well. Richa Chadda is particularly impressive as the spunky single woman who has stayed away from marriage for her sport. Neena Gupta as Jaya's mother has nothing much to do. She manages to stay on the outlines with a character that has not been crafted well, having no chemistry with Kangana Ranaut as a mother would have with her daughter. To have someone of her calibre for this role is a complete waste.

Director Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari has tried and succeeded to a large extent in capturing the life of a young couple in present times, complete with their struggles and their challenges. Her offering has most of the ingredients to make it a wholesome dish, but perhaps somewhere along the way, a bit of tang could have helped? That would have elevated the film to a whole new level, although it is clean, honest and good now.

Queens Of The Silver Screen

It is very easy to see that both "English Vinglish" (my take on it here) and "Queen", released about 17 months apart, are stories of an individual's coming-of-age. Both the films not only did well, but they also managed to strike a chord with the viewers. The fact that protagonists in them happen to be charming, lovable, family-oriented women adds to their appeal.

One is set in Pune, the other in Rajouri Garden, Delhi. One features a docile, duty-bound homemaker who is a loving wife, doting mother of two and a caring daughter-in-law. The other portrays an obedient young woman living a sheltered life with her over-protective family. When circumstances throw them out of their insulated existence (to foreign shores, in both cases), they discover a side of themselves that they didn't know existed. They become new, improved versions of their old selves.

One marked the comeback of yesteryear star Sridevi with a big bang, while the other catapulted young Kangana Ranaut to new heights. Both films are obviously women-centric where men are made to take a back seat. If Shashi in "English Vinglish" rediscovers herself during a trip to the USA, Rani in "Queen" learns to believe in herself while she is finding her feet in Paris and Amsterdam.

Both the stories have been told well and so one can connect with them easily. Interestingly, food makes a delightful appearance in the two films. Shashi is not only a good cook, but she also supplies high quality sweets and snacks at weddings. Rani is the daughter of a prosperous sweet shop owner, loves cooking and takes lessons in the culinary art in Home Science classes in her college.  Elaborate shots of food --both Indian and Continental--make for lovely visuals in both the films.

With so many similarities, what made "Queen" click with the audiences that had appreciated "English Vinglish" earlier? Perhaps the dissimilarities between them worked in its favour? The age of the protagonist, her marital status, circumstances and the kind of things she is exposed to during her journey are markedly different in both the films. While the older leading lady stays within the comfortable environs of her sister's house and comes across mostly "feel good" situations, her younger counterpart faces the rough and tumble of life in an alien atmosphere almost single-handedly. Perhaps the difference in settings and their treatment is the key!

Maybe there is room for a third story where the metamorphosis takes place in India itself! It sure will be interesting to see that. But before that, it is time to stop this rambling!