'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.