'RCTI' to screen good quality Indian films

'RCTI' to screen good quality Indian films

By Marselli Sumarno

JAKARTA (JP): People used to see many films from India and
Hong Kong in local movie theaters that were dominated by
Hollywood films.

But now the situation has changed. While the domination of
Hollywood movies remains, those of India and Hong Kong are rarely
shown here. The number of movie theaters has sharply decreased
from around 3,200 in 1990 to 1,100 theaters this year. What's
more, all five Indonesian private television channels screen a
lot of Indian and Hong Kong movies, thus minimizing the chances
for these films to get screened in movie theaters.

There is no clear explanation for this. Yet, one thing is for
sure, the Indian and Hong Kong movies which are on television are
extremely commercial. It is difficult to find good quality Indian
or Hong Kong films on television. On the other hand, the chances
to do so should be greater nowadays. In the current reform era,
there is a great chance to become importers of foreign films.

On this basis, let's take a look at two Indian movies that
will be screened by RCTI. Mother of India will be aired on Dec.
21, in conjunction with Women's Day on the following day. Another
is The Making of the Mahatma, which will be aired next year
exactly on the date when India's most charismatic leader, Mahatma
Gandhi, died,i.e. Jan. 30. Both films are scheduled to be played
at 1 p.m.

Mother India is a film depicting the typical Indian mother:
dedicated and loyal to her homeland. The main character's name is
Radha (Jelita Nargis). The old woman is reminiscing about her
happy past, living a happy marriage in the village with three
sons.

Radha's family have to work hard for a cruel landlord. Bad
fortune comes Radha's way. Her husband abandons the family. One
of her sons dies due to a massive flood which occurred on her
land. Another one of her sons becomes a rebel. Only one of her
sons remains to be loyal to her.

Radha becomes poorer and is harassed by her landlord. And
finally she has to face the fact that her son turns out to be a
criminal. She believes that to become a good mother, it does not
matter for her to be against her own son.

Mother India is produced by Mehboob Khan in 1957. The film
became a big hit in India, it was also said to be India's Gone
With the Wind. Mehboob Khan's ability to create such a colossal
movie is appreciated with people calling him, "India's Cecil B.
DeMille".

The commercial success spread to Indonesia, Mother India came
to Indonesia in the 1960s. Its phenomenal commercial success did
not diminish the quality of the movie itself. Because aside from
its simple plot, there are appeals to the audience's
subconscious with lots of touching symbolism and lyrics. Even if
the songs in the movie are too much, this can actually be cut.
The version of Mother India which will be aired on RCTI is a
shorter version which lasts for 168 minutes.

Mother India can be said to be an Indian classic. On the other
hand, The Making of the Mahatma, was directed by Syam Benegal in
1996.

As a serious director from the "side-stream" group in India,
Benegal based this film on a novel entitled Apprenticeship of a
Mahatma, by Fatima Meer.

The main character is Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (Rajit
Kapur), a lawyer who graduated in Britain. Gandhi receives an
invitation from an Indian firm in South Africa to handle their
case. Thus, with his wife and son, Gandhi leaves for South
Africa. Gandhi first plans only to stay in South Africa for one
year, but he ends up staying for twenty years.

In a land tainted with racism, hardship upon hardship comes
Gandhi's way. But he does not heed violence. He accepts violence
as a lesson, and that South Africa is a hostile classroom. Yet,
later in his life, he becomes a great man and is known through-
out history.

Compared to the English-made film, Gandhi, directed by Richard
Attenborough, Benegal's version is rather "soft". Violence is a
commercial element which Benegal avoids.

Thus, in result the film The Making of a Mahatma is a
philosophical and deep movie. The style in presenting the movie
is based on Gandhi's anti-violence commitment. Benegal relays his
messages through amusing movements and interesting imageries.
That is well-known as Benegal's personal touch in his movies.

The Making of a Mahatma is rather relevant to India's young
democratic generation. Thus it is also relevant for the movie to
be played in Indonesia, a country which almost for the whole of
the past year has been oppressed by constant acts of violence.

The screening of both imported movies was sponsored by the
Gandhi Seva Loka/Gandhi Memorial International School. Perhaps
these actions to promote the importing of quality movies can
encourage other institutions to do the same.

The writer, a film maker, teaches at the School of Film and
Television, Jakarta Institute of the Arts.