I like to watch movies. I’ll watch movies from just about anywhere. Some years ago while in college I watched a few movies from India, like Bollywood films. A trend of music and dance numbers permeated every one. Even the serious action flicks. I’m aware this is a cultural staple now, but I didn’t then. Well I’ll admit it, I’m not a fan of musical numbers in general so I’ve avoided Indian films. Not to imply the films are inherently bad, just not my cup of tea. On the recomendation of The Critical Drinker I gave a Tollywood film a try, RRR.
Going into the film I knew there would be song and dance pieces but felt if I really didn’t like them I could just skip them. However roughly a third of the way into the film one appeared from the tall grass. Immediately it stood out providing both character development and servicing the themes already loosely established; by the end it served as a powerful representation of the film itself.
Why I liked this dance scene and not others made me think of a video by Super Eyepatch Wolf who described how in a fight there are two narratives: a technical one and an emotional one. The technical narrative follows the movements and actions of each party. The emotional narrative is each parties motivations, goals, challenges, etc. A good fight scene may have either but a great fight scene will have both. All of this to say that this dance scene in RRR satisfied the same rules, which I agree with, on what makes a good fight scene. Here we have a visually pleasing well executed dance with music but everything about it, including the music, carries the themes of the film with it. Meshing character growth, music, foreshadowing as well as providing a satisfying resolution to the current predicament. It’s well crafted and implemented.
So even if you don’t like Indian movies or dislike musicals I’d still give RRR a chance, it’s an epic story and those bits are just small pieces of it. In the end this movie bespite being over three hours is a fun watch.
ooglykraken 