<html> <!--Generated by Angelfire: L00S00--> <head> <title>1947 Earth</title> </head> <body bgcolor="#32a3aa" text="#000000" link="#0000ff" alink="#ff0000" vlink="#800080"> <basefont size="3"> <!--Header--> <h1 align="center">1947 Earth</h1> <!--EndHeader--> <!--Freetext--><center>by Ravi Vora</center> <center><img src="http://www.angelfire.com/al/biw/1947.jpg"></center> <b>Deepa Mehta's 1947-Earth is a love story in the backdrop of partition. The film which is adapted from Bapsi Sidhwa's novel `Cracking India' is set in Lahore when India was on the threshold of partition and the actual film has been entirely shot in Old Delhi. The tale is seen through the eyes of a 8-year old parsi girl Maia , repeat maia and not mala, Sethna belonging to an affluent family. Nandita Das is an Hindu ayah of the child,while Aamir Khan is a muslim ice candy vendor and Rahul Khanna is a muslim masseur. Both Aamir and Rahul are in love with Nandita, but the latter is fond of both of them, but is actually in love with Rahul. Communal riots erupt during partition and Aamir's three sisters who are in Gurdaspur are expected by a train in Lahore. However when the train finally arrives, it is blood splattered and this turns Aamir into a fanatic. Nandita's employer Kitu Gidwani advises her to leave for Amritsar and Rahul after proposing marriage to her after agreeing to convert himself into a Hindu. In the climax, which is unpredictably abrupt, Aamir goes berserk and exterminates the two lovers.The making of the film is extravagant and technically too the entire team of Deepa has excelled. Notable among the technical aspects is the cinematography which aptly captures the ambience of the era of the narrative. Editing too is crisp. The background score by Rahman heightens the tempo especially in the riot scenes. There are a couple of hit numbers too including `ruth aayi re'. There have been umpteen films on partition but what makes this film different from the others is the director's treatment and the taut narration of the tale and events. Some scenes are hard-hitting and leaves a lasting impact. But the climax is abrupt and the rationale behind it is debatable. Among the performers, Aamir Khan once again does a splendid job. He does into the skin of Dilnawaz and makes an extremely difficult role, albeit in the negative mould look easy. Nandita Das is excellent. debutant Rahul Khanna is good considering this is his first film. Kitu Gidwani, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Gulshan Grover and others lend commendable support. Deepa Mehta is in her full element as the director and writer. Though the script is questionable at places, she does shows immense sensitivity in story telling. In India, the film has not taken an exceptional initial, but it has been tremendously appreciated by the discerning audiences. it is expected to fetch fantastic returns from the overseas market.</b><!--EndFreetext--> <p> </body> </html>