Takethispunch
The story is set in Lahore (now the capital of Pakistani Punjab) in the time period directly before and during the partition of India in 1947 at the time of Indian independence.A young girl with polio, Lenny (Maia Sethna), narrates the story through the voice of her adult self (Shabana Azmi). She is from a wealthy Parsi family who hope to remain neutral to the rising tensions between Hindus, Sikhs, and Muslims in the area. She is adored and protected by her parents, Bunty (Kitu Gidwani) and Rustom (Arif Zakaria), and cared for by her Ayah, a beautiful Hindu woman named Shanta (Nandita Das). Both Dil Navaz, the Ice-Candy Man (Aamir Khan), and Hassan, the Masseur (Rahul Khanna) are Muslim and in love with Shanta. Shanta, Dil, and Hassan are part of a small group of friends from different faiths (some of who work for Lenny's family) who spend their days together in the park. With partition, however, this once unified group of friends becomes divided and tragedy ensues.
silvan-desouza
Aamir Khan in 90s did more commercial films, except some offbeat films 1947 Earth is one of them, it's based upon Bapsi Sidhwa's novel, Cracking India, (1991, U.S.; 1992, India; originally published as Ice Candy Man, 1988, England). The film was another memorable film by Deepa Mehta It tells the hardships that Indians and Pakistanis faced during partition and it's well handled by Mehta, The manner in which the friends turn foes and the end is well handled. Aamir's transformation is brilliantly handled and well shown At 1 hour 50 minutes long it's taut and engaging, only it does get slow at times Direction is amazing Music is amazing, Rut Aa Gayi is good song and most songs are kept in background. The film is shot in sync sound and half the film is English and Hindi which suits itAamir Khan is perfect in his part, he underplays his part well and his expressions are topnotch, this was his first negative role Nandita Das is amazing in her role, Rahul Khanna makes an effective debut, sadly this people are not seen much in films now Khulbushan Kharbanda is topnotch, Raghuvir Yadav,Pawan Malhotra are all superb, Kitu Gidwani is good, Mala Sethna as young Lenny is amazing, Shabana Azmi has 1 scene in the end
Srinivas G Phani
1947 Earth tells the story of the lives of a few people in Lahore in the year 1947 – how their lives were and how they change with the partition. Central idea is good and so is the development of characters but the film fails in the portrayals, especially by the three main ones – Aamir Khan, Nandita Das and Rahul Khanna.The narrative is indulging in parts and most of the film is simply going on and on without much movement in the story. Some of the sequences in the film stand out like the train sequence and the finale. Cinematography by Giles Nuttgens and music by A R Rahman are the few positives in the film, especially the former which is so lively. Only actors who actually act are Maia Lethna as the young Lenny who is perfect for the role, Kitu Gidwani and Khubhushan Kharbanda. Rest all give very 'filmy' performances not matching with the theme. Profanity, nudity and sex in the film do not match with the production design, and rather turn out as offending elements. Certain scenes in the film come and go with no sign and sense e.g. why was the child marriage scene and Lenny's birthday scene inserted in between?I am happy that I saw Earth much after I saw Water and Fire, else had I seen this before, I would never ever have seen the other two gems. Earth is a complete letdown from Ms. Mehta. Movie is strictly not to be watched by the people of India and Pakistan as there are certain elements in the film which may offend them (and I am one of them).
anshul2001anshul
Good movie but lot is left unsaid probably because it is an autobiographical account of author. The only problem people who do not know history will form wrong impressions e.g. movie gives a feeling that riots started in Lahore after Tara Singh's speech and Sikh procession while low scale rioting was on since many days. Only one scene where fire brigade actually puts petrol in fire shows that administration was partial but there could be many such scenes. One thing is sure that human tragedy is covered in its fullness but child marriage of author's friend is completely out of frame . Child marriage could be shown but that too with an old man !!! I think movie director has something against Hindus. e.g. costume of nandita Das is completely out of sync from those times. A character of Gulshen grover actually subscribes to the stereotype of violent Sikh without looking into their real loss i.e. loss of thei motherland. In all movie is good if just seen as a human tragedy but it would be foolish if viewers try to make judgmental on role of communities based on this limited information
AD
