The best thing about DHARTI is that it has been made with a completely different mind-set moving away from the usual fixed norms of a Punjabi film. And for this Jimmy Shergil has to be the mastermind, since he comes from a Bollywood background and is also one of the producers of the film, quite thoughtfully.
So, very thankfully the film is not even close to anything routine and is a hardcore political thriller, which sticks to its subject throughout and doesn't allow any useless romantic angles or comedy sequences to come in uninvited. As a rare event, the actors rise above their assigned roles and perform exceptionally well, even when the writers do not give them a solid backing. Lead by Jimmy Shergill and Rahul Dev, the film majorly becomes enjoyable due to their most believable and outstanding polished acts. However I would like to rate Rahul Dev's performance better than even Jimmy Shergill, due to his remarkable dialogue delivery and the laid back amusing style chosen to enact his role. Prem Chopra as the veteran delivers another great Punjabi act after his "Rocket Singh". Binnu Dhillon makes his presence felt but only towards the climax. Ranvijay, the famous Roadies Anchor, looks sharp and charming in his limited scenes. Surveen Chawla softly provides the required glamour touch to the movie as required and Japji Khera fills the second heroine place quietly. So from performances point of view, the director Navaniat Singh surely deserves his praises for extracting the best from almost everyone in the cast, which is not an easy task, especially in a regional film.
But that's all, as far as merits are concerned and unfortunately I have more flaws to mention about the movie which many may not be willing to read or accept in reality.
1. First of all, the title misguides the viewer completely as the film has neither got any scene or feeling of patriotism shown anywhere, nor does it talk about the farmers or productivity of the region as suggested by the title, DHARTI.
2. Secondly, in the promos we get to see Jimmy as an Air Force Officer and many shots of him flying in a fighter plane suggesting the theme to be related with war, our country's pride or similar subjects. But very surprisingly AIR FORCE has nothing to do with the actual concept of the film and it has been added only to have some extra grandeur in the final product and nothing else.
3. Coming to the main storyline of the film, truly speaking it's the Hit Hindi Film RAJNEETI made in Punjabi minus the illegitimate sons, brutal murders and sensuous scenes. The writers religiously follow the Prakash Jha film giving it a different ending with a suspense element and nothing else.
4. While watching it, I seriously wanted to ask the director many straight forward questions.For instance, how can a respected, responsible Ace Air Force Officer go on the roads like drunk and sing "Gaddi Modhange, Signal Todhange"? That was quite ridiculous watching an Air Force Officer along with a young college boy singing in such a way. Next, if a person gets hit by a truck coming at a great speed, gets thrown into the air with full force,then how can his turban still stick on his head right till the sequence when he is being taken to the OT in the hospital. Come on, I know it's a Punjabi film and we are dealing with all Sikh characters here, but at the same time we got to be realistic while shooting such scenes too.
5. Apart from the above, DHARTI has one of the most ridiculous, questionable, bizarre and absurd climaxes ever seen, where the hero escapes a deadly accident miraculously, may be because he was the hero as well as the producer of the film in reality.
5. Further all the songs featuring in the film are deliberately inserted and have no melody or lyrical value in them of any sort. And I was really shocked to see that the most likable song, which was all written, performed and arranged perfectly by its makers, was used along with the closing titles of the film in a very silly way.
6. Talking about the creative look of the movie, I really felt that the promos and (misguiding) posters of this movie were very loosely made which actually demanded to be designed and conceived with more power and impact telling about the real picture in store for the viewers. But here I also sense as if the producers themselves did not want to reveal their actual movie in the promos as they knew that it was a copy of the already Hit "RAJNEETI". So they very tactfully made all its promos and posters more around the AIR FORCE stuff and other things, which were not even there in the film in reality.
7. Lastly the biggest flaw of the film is related with the casting of Ranvijay Singh. Roping Ranvijay in a Punjabi film in the role of a College Students leader was a real ace in the hands of the director. But I really felt sorry both for the makers as well as for the actor when I saw the kind of treatment given to Ranvijay Singh in a side role having no importance at all in the script.
Summing up, I can only say that DHARTI is undoubtedly a brave and much needed, out of the routine attempt made in the PUNJABI FILM INDUSTRY. But I seriously wish it had an original script of its own and was not a copy. The film has too many flaws in it to be called as something exceptional. But still it's a welcome change in Punjab, making way for something more fresh, innovative and original to be made in the near future.
So, very thankfully the film is not even close to anything routine and is a hardcore political thriller, which sticks to its subject throughout and doesn't allow any useless romantic angles or comedy sequences to come in uninvited. As a rare event, the actors rise above their assigned roles and perform exceptionally well, even when the writers do not give them a solid backing. Lead by Jimmy Shergill and Rahul Dev, the film majorly becomes enjoyable due to their most believable and outstanding polished acts. However I would like to rate Rahul Dev's performance better than even Jimmy Shergill, due to his remarkable dialogue delivery and the laid back amusing style chosen to enact his role. Prem Chopra as the veteran delivers another great Punjabi act after his "Rocket Singh". Binnu Dhillon makes his presence felt but only towards the climax. Ranvijay, the famous Roadies Anchor, looks sharp and charming in his limited scenes. Surveen Chawla softly provides the required glamour touch to the movie as required and Japji Khera fills the second heroine place quietly. So from performances point of view, the director Navaniat Singh surely deserves his praises for extracting the best from almost everyone in the cast, which is not an easy task, especially in a regional film.
But that's all, as far as merits are concerned and unfortunately I have more flaws to mention about the movie which many may not be willing to read or accept in reality.
1. First of all, the title misguides the viewer completely as the film has neither got any scene or feeling of patriotism shown anywhere, nor does it talk about the farmers or productivity of the region as suggested by the title, DHARTI.
2. Secondly, in the promos we get to see Jimmy as an Air Force Officer and many shots of him flying in a fighter plane suggesting the theme to be related with war, our country's pride or similar subjects. But very surprisingly AIR FORCE has nothing to do with the actual concept of the film and it has been added only to have some extra grandeur in the final product and nothing else.
3. Coming to the main storyline of the film, truly speaking it's the Hit Hindi Film RAJNEETI made in Punjabi minus the illegitimate sons, brutal murders and sensuous scenes. The writers religiously follow the Prakash Jha film giving it a different ending with a suspense element and nothing else.
4. While watching it, I seriously wanted to ask the director many straight forward questions.For instance, how can a respected, responsible Ace Air Force Officer go on the roads like drunk and sing "Gaddi Modhange, Signal Todhange"? That was quite ridiculous watching an Air Force Officer along with a young college boy singing in such a way. Next, if a person gets hit by a truck coming at a great speed, gets thrown into the air with full force,then how can his turban still stick on his head right till the sequence when he is being taken to the OT in the hospital. Come on, I know it's a Punjabi film and we are dealing with all Sikh characters here, but at the same time we got to be realistic while shooting such scenes too.
5. Apart from the above, DHARTI has one of the most ridiculous, questionable, bizarre and absurd climaxes ever seen, where the hero escapes a deadly accident miraculously, may be because he was the hero as well as the producer of the film in reality.
5. Further all the songs featuring in the film are deliberately inserted and have no melody or lyrical value in them of any sort. And I was really shocked to see that the most likable song, which was all written, performed and arranged perfectly by its makers, was used along with the closing titles of the film in a very silly way.
6. Talking about the creative look of the movie, I really felt that the promos and (misguiding) posters of this movie were very loosely made which actually demanded to be designed and conceived with more power and impact telling about the real picture in store for the viewers. But here I also sense as if the producers themselves did not want to reveal their actual movie in the promos as they knew that it was a copy of the already Hit "RAJNEETI". So they very tactfully made all its promos and posters more around the AIR FORCE stuff and other things, which were not even there in the film in reality.
7. Lastly the biggest flaw of the film is related with the casting of Ranvijay Singh. Roping Ranvijay in a Punjabi film in the role of a College Students leader was a real ace in the hands of the director. But I really felt sorry both for the makers as well as for the actor when I saw the kind of treatment given to Ranvijay Singh in a side role having no importance at all in the script.
Summing up, I can only say that DHARTI is undoubtedly a brave and much needed, out of the routine attempt made in the PUNJABI FILM INDUSTRY. But I seriously wish it had an original script of its own and was not a copy. The film has too many flaws in it to be called as something exceptional. But still it's a welcome change in Punjab, making way for something more fresh, innovative and original to be made in the near future.
