And I thought Anurag Kashyap really stood out in Dev D, especially since playing a proven classic can be a tricky proposition. He did it and eminently! Hardly had I recovered from that incredible movie that AK has unleashed another explosion of emotions with a relentless assault on our sensibilities. Set in the midst of the feudal spirit of Rajasthan, the story is about the pursuit of ambition, the accumulation of power, innocent and betrayed love. In true Shakespearean setting there are plots and subplots, and yet some more hidden beneath them, but each interconnected to eventually coalesce into the inevitable climax like a Greek tragedy.

Except for Kay Kay Menon, almost everyone is a new face. The main protagonist, Raja Singh Chaudhary, is also the author of the story revolving around student politics, which was rewritten by Anurag Kashyap and Aparna Chaturvedi after incorporating rebellious regional aspirations consecutive to perceived injustices by the state. So contemporary and yet so well portrayed! Kay Kay is the parish manipulator who uses student politics to create a cadre to pursue her secessionist agenda. Abhinayu Pratap Singh is the lonely and reckless prince who tries to hide from the rich of his father. Aditya Srivastava and Ayesha Mohan are the prince’s Machiavellian half-breed brothers whose yearning for legitimacy leads them to deceit and murder. Deepak Dobriyal is the main hitman for Kay Kay and Man Friday. Mahie Gill as Kay’s mistress Kay once again impresses with her liveliness and her natural ability to act. Jesse Randhawa’s path from the ramp to the screen promises a lot.

I have to dedicate a separate paragraph to Piyush Mishra. The man has so far played small roles in several films and wrote the script for Black Friday, but in this film he writes, composes the music, sings and also acts. This will easily be one of the performances of the year, if not the decade. Music first! Don’t ignore the songs. Listen; Listen to the lyrics and you will be speechless. While “Arambh hai prachand” sounds like the battle cry, her rendition of “Duniya”, which is a cover of Pyaasa’s classic “Yeh Duniya Agar Mil Bhi Jaye To Kya hai”, manages to retain its integrity and freshness. The mujra song “Rana ji” has to be one of the most original songs I’ve heard in a long time. Using traditional language and style, the lyrics go global without warning. Then, with Mahie Gill’s sexy thumka, you’re suddenly presented with a comment in your face about 9/11 (Jaise door desh ke tower main ghus jaye re aeroplane), Iraq, Afghanistan, democracy, and cola wars. Crazy imagination at its best! Another beautiful composition is “Sheher” sung together with the talented Swan and Kirkire (Remember Khoya Khoya Chand). Mishra plays the role of Kay Kay’s schizophrenic older brother. He idolizes John Lennon, he composes poetry on the spot and has an opinion on everything. The pathos on his face after losing his dancer consort is heartbreaking.

I feel that Anurag Kashyap is not an ordinary filmmaker. His films are like a painting canvas where he tries to unite various forms of art. If the music resonates with folk songs and fine poetry, shots of Ram Leela’s practicing characters impart a color similar to that of the theatre. If one song reminds you of wandering minstrels, the other carries the guitar strums of western country music. He is also a hopeless romantic. Look for the sketch of John Lennon peeking out from the mad poet’s medallion and posters of Che Guevara and Jimmy Hendrix located in a neon-lit bar posing as a residence in the middle of the desert. For me this is better than any parallel art/cinema.