Three reasons why Sunit Sinha’s Ranj is a must watch!

~ Unravel the journey of Amanpreet with Ranj while experiencing migrants’ alienation and their moral ambiguity ~

Written and directed by Sunit Sinha, Ranj dwells on the struggles of a youth, who is so connected to his village's soil but loses his path in life after migrating to a hostile megacity. The theme of urban alienation coupled with insecurities of a young man who is pushed to the limits by its brutally indifferent inhabitants, this film has been critically acclaimed for its meticulous storytelling and has had several screenings. While there are many reasons why you should not miss out on this movie, here are three reasons to watch Ranj.

 

1.       The Storyline and Character Details

The film Ranj tells a murky tale of an individual’s lonely battle against the pervading sense of rootlessness and alienation in India’s capital city. Sunit Sinha deftly establishes Amanpreet as a man spiralling down into an abyss of justified violence which seems more comforting to him than to own up responsibilities. The protagonist, Adesh Sidhu, uses his striking screen presence to best effect; infuses Amanpreet with unnervingly mild-mannered voice, which contradicts his overall tall and bulky arrogant persona. With impeccable details to the character, Amanpreet is made a figure of sympathetic confusion but refrains from making him a stereotypical wronged one.

2.      Brilliant Cinematography

The theme of urban isolation is brought to life with beautiful cinematography by Bhavpreet Singh. From lush green fields in the thick of harvest back in the village to wintery cold mists blanketing the deserted roads in the city, the camera never fails to capture the irony of Amanpreet’s life. The camera swivels into the bleak lanes of Old Delhi, observing the dangling wires and pillars, while again detachedly standing across a road to observe subjects which fail to impress it. In doing so, the camera becomes the pivotal point of view for the story to unfold.

3.       Soundtrack

A minimal and effective background score that brings in an atmospheric ambience to the film supports the camera work. The sound waxes and wanes along with the protagonist through the movie. It picks up a nostalgic sweetness when Amanpreet reminiscences a life gone by, and yet thereafter settles down to a sense of melancholic preposition when Amanpreet starts to crack under pressure.