BHOPAL: The six-day-long film festival ‘Rangchhaya’ concluded with much controversial Hindi movie of 2014 ‘Rang Rasiya’ screened at Antrang Hall of Bharat Bhavan.
Based on the life of the 19th-century versatile painter Raja Ravi Varma, the film was directed by Ketan Mehta and produced by his wife Deepa Sahi and by Aanand Mahendroo. Made as a bilingual, the film is titled Rang Rasiya in its Hindi version and Colours of Passion in English. It stars Randeep Hooda as Raja Ravi Varma and Nandana Sen as his love interest.
It is an adaptation of the biographical novel Raja Ravi Varma authored by the Marathi writer Ranjit Desai. Inspired by the real life of the great artist, a young Raja Ravi Varma is looking for inspiration for a painting. He meets a girl and starts painting. His first two boxes Lakshmi and Saraswati are praised but after the woman seduces him, there begins a relationship, which destroys his inspiration, and he starts painting inappropriate images which bring anger in people.
The much desired controversy regarding ‘censorship of art’ was quickly forthcoming, and Nandana was the willing lynchpin of that achievement. Among several scenes in the film that depict her in various grades of undress, one wide angle shot shows the bare breasts of a skimpily clad Nandana. Central Board of Film Certification, which regulates the ratings and certification of media in India, duly objected to the scene, terming it nudity.
Centred on internationally acclaimed artists, the fest was organised by Chhavi, a film wing of Bharat Bhavan. A large number of movie buffs were present here to watch the romantic drama.
