232. August 16, 1947; movie review

 

AUGUST 16, 1947

Cert 15

143 mins

BBFC advice: Contains strong bloody violence, injury detail, sexual threat, suicide

This movie poses an interesting question - how long did it take before the news of Indian independence reached the country's remotest villages?

The premise of August 16, 1947, is that a merciless British general (Robert Clive) refuses to tell those under his control, so he can continue to treat them as slaves.

Indeed, he and his son (Jason Shah) rape, sexually abuse, torture and murder the poor souls.

Meanwhile, messengers with news of independence are killed en route.

The violence in N. S. Ponkumar's picture is brutal from beginning to end as the villagers face horror after horror at the hands of the British.

Inevitably, the longer the film goes on, the more the audience is hoping they will get a bloody comeuppance.

And, even though the conclusion is obvious from the first minute, I was desperate for vengeance on behalf of its characters.

As the rest of the villagers cower in gear, a maverick (Gautham Karthik) offers resistance and is the only one wily enough to get away with it.

His actions become more heroic and more dangerous as the movie progresses.

I understand the point being made in Ponkumar's film but it is diluted by the one-dimensional nature of the villains.

I have read up on British leaders during the occupation and their ruthlessness is either calculated to maintain authority or has become infamous because of one-off horrors.

In this case, the violence is meted out by an unhinged maniac for fun. 

And the villagers are too subservient. It seems inconceivable that they would have gone as far as killing their own daughters because they feared they would be victims of rape and murder.

Nevertheless, August 16 1947 is intense enough to keep audiences gripped.

Reasons to watch: Heartbreaking drama

Reasons to avoid: Upsetting scenes

Laughs: None

Jumps: None

Vomit: None

Nudity: None

Overall rating: 7/10

Did you know? The British were not the last occupiers of Indian territory. The French ceded Chandernagore in 1951 and Pondichéry and its remaining Indian colonies by 1954. Indian troops annexed Goa and Portugal's other Indian enclaves in 1961, and Sikkim voted to join the Indian Union in 1975 after the Indian victory over China in Nathu La and Cho La.

The final word. Gautham Karthik: "I can't thank Murugadoss sir enough for this opportunity. It might sound like a cliche, but I have truly tried to live as this character in the film. From day one, I could sense a positive vibe around this project. I think something magical has happened with this film." Cinema Express

Share this post