ASHUTOSH, A DEVOUT HINDU

Ashutosh Gowariker's last three movies as a writer/director have all been masterpieces. By giving us Lagaan, Swades, and Jodha Akbar, he has carved a niche for himself in Bollywood. Discounting his earlier ventures (like Pehla Nasha, Baazi, etc.), we can say that there are a few trends to his movie making: He uses A. R. Rahman and Rajesh Vivek, the movies run for more than three hours, and they strike a chord in the heart of the viewers. Then?

What about his religious inclination? I think he is also very superstitious- in that he HAS to do a devotional song every time in his movies! I can see Ashutosh as a devout Hindu with great passion for India and her cultures. It was first seen in LAGAAN, with almost every frame depicting a crass "Indian-ness" in it. And to top it off, he gave a devotional song in O Paalan Hare and a semi-devotional one in Radha Kaise Na Jale. While O Paalanhare was purely devotional to invoke Lord Krishna to save the villagers from a looming defeat, Radha Kaise Na Jale portrayed the Raas Lila, with Gopis and Krishna Himself, along with a jealous Radha. Both songs were brilliantly done, and maybe Lord Krishna Himself did ensure the movie's success!

The next movie SWADES moved millions of viewers- and it hit them right at the heart where it pained the most. For this epic movie, Lord Shri Ram was being invoked. Pal Pal Hai Bhaari, a beautifully melodious song depicts Ramlila- complete with Sita's prayers and faith, Ravana's arguments, and finally Lord Rama killing Ravana, with his monkey army! The song was supposed to happen during the Dussehra festival, and the song's picturisation reminds of Ramanand Sagar's Ramayana in Doordharshan. Ashutosh himself personally sang this song for the role of Ravana! A divine song, this song is easily 1000 times better than the so called "devotional songs" dished out by the numerous audio companies.

Keeping up with the tradition of invoking the Almighty, Ashutosh's next movie JODHA AKBAR had its first song Mann Mohana, another devotional number. This time a fervent prayer to Lord Krishna was the theme of the song. Jodha is grief stricken by marrying a Muslim ruler, and prays to Krishna for comfort. There is also another devotional song in Khwaja Mere Khwaja- A R Rahman himself wanted so badly to be able to sing a Sufi song on Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti, and he got the opportunity in Jodha Akbar. Both songs were wonderfully made as usual, and will be remembered for a long time like Swades and Lagaan.

So Mr. Gowariker's religious inclination is well evident from his movies. It will be interesting to see if he would venture into a full-fledged religious, devotional movie in the future. Such movies are becoming rare nowadays, with all the glitz and glamour taking centrestage.