One of the finest artistic movies made on the suppressed lives of Indian villagers living in the British Raj, “Mirch Masala” is a pure cinematic masterpiece from the director Ketan Mehta. It proudly represented Indian Cinema all over the globe in those golden years of art movies in the eighties. Still remembered for its well written, engrossing theme and perfect execution, the movie surely deserves a place in every “Must Watch Movies List” compiled by any serious lover of world cinema.
It realistically showcases the life of poor villagers in that pre- independence era, when they were forced to live on the mercy of their tax collector called ‘Subedaar’. At that point of time, the Subedaars acted as a God for the villagers and nobody dared to oppose them in any way fearing severe punishments in return. “Mirch Masala” also revolves around such a cunning Subedaar (enacted by Naseeruddin Shah), who treats villagers as his slaves and feels no sympathy for them even in the times of poor harvest and drought. His cruel reign comes to an end when once he crosses all the limits of human dignity and demands a village lady (Smita Patil) for his own personal pleasure. That triggers an unexpected revolt in the village, surprisingly coming from its women community. Opposing the disgraceful demand of the Subedaar, the women get together in a “Mirch Factory” and refuse to open the doors getting their only help from an old caretaker who has a gun to safeguard them all.
And when the doors are opened forcibly, we are made to witness a well conceived climax, shot in a stylish way which rightly justifies the title of the movie, “Mirch Masala”. The director brilliantly uses the backdrop of a Mirch Factory into the story plot, which unarguably gives it a fresh and unique feel of its own.
With a huge ensemble of talented actors (mentioned in the end), it is a precious cinematic gem with many worth watching sequences canned superbly. It skillfully portrays the miserable life led by the women of that era, when they were merely treated as a means of entertainment and were not permitted to study or move out of their small kitchens. Among the best scenes of the movie include the one where the villagers see a gramophone record for the first time, the traditional dance by the village women in their colourful dresses (edited in fast cuts) and the well directed climax sequence with its famous surprise twist.
In short it’s a must watch for all lovers of serious cinema and especially for those who still adore the eighties Art Movies Wave in Hindi Cinema.
Directed by Ketan Mehta
Starring : Smita Patil, Nasseruddin Shah, Om Puri, Raj Babbar, Dina Pathak, Deepti Naval, Mohan Gokhale, Paresh Rawal, Suresh Oberoi, Ratna Pathak, Supriya Pathak, Benjamin Gilani & more.
