Pansingh Tomar- Sweet and sour!

I was taken aback when my friend suggested that we watch a new Hindi movie titled Pansingh Tomar!!   I thought the title was weird  but decided to watch at least to judge the quality of the home theatre sound!  I got fully engrossed in the movie immediately after the first few minutes and appreciated the bold efforts of the director who made this movie from certain gathered real life stories of an era that existed about 40 years back! The Director Dhulia cleverly mixes sports and army to talk about his favourite subject revolving around Decoits and the so called terror that comes with them. All these ended when the dreaded  duo of Makhan singh and Chidda operating and spreading panic in the ravines of Chambal surrendered to the Sarvodaya Leader Late Jayapakash Narayan along with some 500 odd associates following social reforms announced by the Government.  The movie is all about the  sweet and sour story of a young  village lad from the ravines of chambal ! The sweet part is the child like behaviour of Pansingh whose main ambition is to eat well and live a normal life with his wife aptly played by Mahie Gill  and the sour part is the way our government treats persons of name and fame who bring laurels to our country in various fields only to be left alone to fend for themselves in desperation towards the later part of the life when they age!

This is a story of an athlete who brings encomiums to the nation by remaining unbeaten for 7 years in the national level Steele chase competition  only to turn and become a dacoit due to family feuds as he does not get justice from the administration.  The not so famous athlete becomes notoriously famous the moment he wields the gun and starts his revenge.

Irrfan, the innocent looking young lad from the dreaded Chambal valley in Madhya Pradesh lives the character tossed at him and reconfirms his acting abilities in  Bollywood.  Irrfan joins the army to make his livelihood and also to eat his full stomach which he has been deprived of!  He is noticed by his seniors for   his easy, untiring run that prompts the seniors in the army to coax him to join the sports wing where there were no restrictions on food and eating!  Pansingh is attracted to this offer and accepts his posting as a sports person where he again excels in long drawn races.  He is sent abroad to participate in International sports meet and brings laurels to the country.  The way Pansingh removes his sports shoes while running on the track and runs barefooted evokes laughter and  tears speaking  volumes of the state of affairs that the sports persons faced due to lack of basic facilities and sports infra structure in the past.

Pansingh leaves the army only to look after the agriculture fields owned by his family.  His land is grabbed by his uncle and his harvest set on fire.  The dejected gentle person approaches the village police  to lodge a complaint but is not heard due to bias and nepotism.  The proud army man displays his medals won at the International games meet to the police inspector who grabs the medal and throws it on the floor which brings in lots of sadness and dejection.  Adding fuel to the fire, the cop asks Pansingh as to why the foreign woman athletes wear such scant clothes?  Pansingh Tomar gets deeply hurt and angry at the same time and remarks"Desh ke liye hum falthu bhage kya"? The change of personality from a gentleman to that of a dreaded dacoit is easily executed by Irrfan who goes all out to avenge all those who cheated his family including the cop who refuses to file his complaint earlier. 

As usual, there is an informer who helps the police to spread a net to catch Pansingh.  Pansingh is shot but not captured.  There was pride in his death!

Ultimately, the audience is left wondering as to why our government does not recognise the talents of the country who bring admiration and appreciation for the country and leaves them high and dry once they stop their activities that brought them to prominence!

The story starts with Pansingh Tomar, the dreaded Dacoit  giving interview to a journalist who is death scared to meet him and ask questions about his past.  The interviewer justifies his role by delivering an unmatched skill of acting which seems natural.  Irrfan, as usual is at home doing the notorious role with such ease as he did for his "vodafone" advertisement!!  The youngsters watching Irrfan run on tracks will surely be inspired.

 The recent rising of Naxalism and Maoism can be rightly attributed to the Government apathy and disregard shown to the natives belonging to these belt of Adivasis who, in frustration take to gun culture, kidnapping and ransom as is happening in the current scenario. These people prefer to be called "Rebels" and not Dacoits or Terrorists as branded by the Central government! The system turns an ordinary fun loving man into a Dacoit?  The entire outlook needs to be changed and the government must realise this for steady progress?

The film deserves credits and appreciation from the appropriate authorities including tax concessions.