Gaon

Set against the exquisite and serene backdrop of a village named Bharatgaon, "Gaon" which is an Indian Hindi language film released in 2018, presents to the audience a dive into the lush, quiet beauty of rural India unheard and unspoken of in the realm of mainstream cinema. Directed by Gautam Singh, the movie's palette is embedded with an unconventional genre, moving away from modern commercialized narratives and focusing on socio-economic culture and structure, the survival and tradition of a quaint little village that is untouched by the claws of globalization.

The film weaves its plotline around the protagonist, Bharat (Shadab Kamal), a simple, straightforward, and responsible villager who inherits the responsibility of leading his people. Bharat is born and raised in Bharatgaon, and he respects the traditional, self-sustaining lifestyle they have preserved for centuries. He, like his ancestors, firmly believed in the principle that the residents of the village were the sole owners of its resources, and any diversion from the principle would lead to anarchy.

Bharat is betrothed to Suman (Neha Mahajan), a vivacious young woman, who stands by Bharat through his trials and tribulations. Neha's character is the embodiment of strength and compassion, the two most crucial qualities required for the survival of any human settlement.

Their utopian world starts to shatter when Naga, played by genius actor Dibyendu Bhattacharya, a shallow and manipulative businessman from the city, sets his eyes on the resource-rich Bharatgaon. With his modern ideologies and glamourous lifestyle, he gradually infiltrates the village folk. The contrast between the two lead characters, Bharat and Naga, sharply highlights the intense ideological clash between traditionalism and transnational capitalism.

The film “Gaon” exists in a realm of cinema that underscores the relationships between human and nature, pride and power, greed and simplicity while steering itself away from melodramatic touches, straight to the point. The pace of the movie is deliberately slow, imitating the lifestyle of the village it so powerfully depicts. It beautifully outlines its characters, giving the audience space and time to absorb the complexities and layer within their simple lives. It's a dialogue-heavy drama, and the lines are not just a part of the conversation; each dialogue pivots the narrative, subtly moving the story forward.

Vijay Mishra's exceptional cinematography captures the heart and soul of the village in the most raw and true to its essence kind of way. Every frame is meticulously created to narrate an unseen part of India. A number of shots seem like portraits that communicate a lot more than words ever could. Scenes like the villagers engrossed in their daily chores, their celebrations, their tales of togetherness and personal narratives have a profound impact.

The music of the film composed by Sidhant Mathur becomes almost as important as the script, with soul-stirring melodies that tug at your heart, capturing the spirit of the village, enhancing the emotional crescendo at different junctures of the narrative.

What makes “Gaon” stand out is not just the visually enchanting shots of the untouched Indian village life, but also its innovative approach to telling a story about how modernity, in its hunger to grasp more, often fails to respect and acknowledge the age-old traditions and cultures. It embodies a sense of nostalgia and paints a powerful picture of a life untouched by modern chaos and noise.

“Gaon” is thus, a must-watch for those who appreciate art-house cinema, deeply connecting with the audience who yearn for an authentic narrative beyond the glossy superficiality of mainstream Bollywood. It undauntedly illustrates that simplicity is not synonymous with naivety. Even when faced with the complexities and deconstruction of globalism, the people who choose a simple life aren’t oblivious; they understand and make informed choices in preserving their culture and tradition. Everyone who watches the film will leave the experience touched and pondering, opening their minds to a thirst for introspection of the modern ways of life.