DVD Review: Samsara 
By Joginder Tuteja, May 22, 2008 - 12:32 IST
MOVIE DETAILS
Cast: Shawn Ku, Tenzin Tashi, Christy Chung, Neelesha BaVora
Director: Pan Nalin
Producer: Monsoon Films
Music: Sukhwinder Singh
Lyrics: Ibrahim Ashq
THE FILM
When filmmaker Pan Nalin, whose full name is Pandya Nalinkumar Ramniklal, would have embarked on a journey called Samsara, even he wouldn't have imagined that over the years his film about spirituality would travel as many as 30 countries with worldwide gross of more than Rs. 100 crores. Though the film saw it's cinematic release in India only last year, the DVDs have now hit the stands.
Set in Tibet, the film asks a pertinent question - "What is more important: Satisfying one thousand desires or conquering just one?” The film tells the tale of lead protagonist, Tashi (Shawn Ku), who lives as many as 3 years, 3 months and 3 days in meditation and is now a monk in a Buddhist monastery. Still young, he is unable to shrug away his materialistic and physical desires and takes a plunge into the real world - Samsara. He starts making living hood as a farmer, marries a young girl, fathers a boy, and is overall content, only to find temptation coming his way in the form of another woman who works as a farmer with him. With guilt overpowering his soul, he decides to leave everything behind him and return to monk hood. But would it all be so easy now?
The best part of the film though is it's landmark technical finesse. Frankly, one can't recollect any other film by an Indian filmmaker which boasted of such neat cinematography. Ladakh landscape only helps the cause for Pan who makes sure that the scenery is captured in it's full glory. Also, the protagonist's tale is depicted well through climatic changes.
This is why in the beginning of the film; a barren land demonstrates that there is not a single soul around, what with a cold cutting wind blowing and emptiness all around. The moment color green comes on the screen; there is life with men, women, and fields around. Later, when autumn sets in, it marks the depiction of everything existing in harmony. With camera helping his cause, Pan Nalin conveys certain decisions and emotions quite well through visuals, colors, and sound!
Of course, with an idea like Samsara, the film can hit upon a miniscule audience. It is not everyone's cup of tea to be reveling upon the cinematic experience of Samsara and hence for 'aam junta' looking for routine entertainment, it doesn't really have much to offer. Nalin does right though in adding some drama and twist to the tale in order to make the proceedings engaging. Still, all of that doesn't threaten to take this film on a tangential route which sticks on to it's roots.
PACKAGING
The film comes in an international class packaging with a soft cardboard case. There is an extensive booklet included as well which details around the film's synopsis, statement from the director, making of the film and other details around the cast and the crew of the film.
DURATION
The film comes in a single DVD pack with the film's duration being approx. 135 minutes and special features lasting close to 45 minutes.
SPECIAL FEATURES
- Pan Nalin Interview
- Behind the Scene Clips
- Behind the Scene Featurette
- Sound Track
- Theatrical Trailer
- Gallery
- Presskit
There isn't much excitement generated while through the special features of the film. Pan Nalin's description about Samsara and the thought about it has been heard a million times before in his countless interviews over the months while sections around 'Behind the scenes' happenings only give a candid account of how different departments from the production unit came together to work in Samsara. In fact, there is an extensive footage around the recording of live music for the background score of the film though one wonders how many people would be really interested in watching it? Overall, a section which can be easily skipped!
TECHNICAL DETAILS
- 16:9 Anamorphic Widescreen Presentation
- Subtitles in English
- Dolby Digital 5.1
PRICE
Rs. 349/=
CONCLUSION
Samsara is a work of art, no two words about it. It is not what you term as a true blue commercial entertainer. From the very question it raises to it's setting to it's style of narration to it's pace to it's culmination, Samsara keeps in mind that it is being made for a thinking audience. It is not for those who are looking for their Saturday night entertainment but for those who wish to introspect on the true meaning of life.
Rating: **1/2
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