JUNOON

India, 1978, 141 minutes, Colour.
Shashi Kapoor, Jennifer Kendall, Geoffrey Kendall, Nafisa Ali.
Directed by Shyam Benegal.

Benegal's Junoon is a historical film and shows the atmosphere of the Indian Mutiny of 1785. The film takes an Indian point of view and covers a wide canvas. Clashes between Hindus, Muslims and Christians are highlighted. But the main clash is with the British. Their transported way of life is shown as well as the eruption of Indian anger into that governing way of life. Many scenes are brutal. The film is an Indian historical pageant - and suffers by comparisons with western versions of the same material or similar material. The film becomes melodramatic, highlights the heroics, has a musical score which emphasizes this. It is slow-moving at times and then rushes with action scenes. It relies very much on conventions. The leads are Shashi Kapoor and his wife Jennifer Kendall. As an example of big budget Indian film-making, Junoon is interesting and highlights aspects of the Indian film industry.

1. An entertaining film? Historical epic? Romance? The revolutionary aspects of the plot - Indian society and its history, the overlordship of the British, the clash between the British and Indians? In the light of previous centuries. post World War II?

2. The qualities of Indian film-making? Sets and decor, costumes? Re-creation of the atmosphere of the 18th century? Colour photography?

3. The Indian perspective on history? Society? The Indian Mutiny? The role of the British? Religions in India? Anglo-Indian? families? The presentation of historical aspects, facts? The importance of the drama as interpretation?

4. How important was the religious background of India in the 18th century? The long Hindu traditions and the way these were presented in visuals, within the plot, as points of discussion? The fakir at the opening? Muslim traditions and the clash with the Hindu? Beliefs, social customs, for example polygamy? The late coming Indian tradition with the old echoes of the evangelisation of India, the Christianity of the British? Proper Anglicanism? The religion of the West clashing with those of the East? The repercussions for social conditions in India: the wealthy, the Rajah class. the Anglo-Indian? families, the warriors, the poor? The background of caste systems and Muslim, separatist traditions, Christian observances?

5. The revolutionary aspects of the film: the fakir at the beginning, the call to war, the sense of oppression of the British, the Muslim warriors? Fanaticism, the reaction against oppression, military glory? The defeat of the mutiny and the continuing rule of the British and its repercussions?

6. How well were the British presented? historically, as rulers from another world, their contribution to India, their oppression? The complexity of the Anglo-Indian? families and the strange blend of these streams? The importance of the film's focussing on the Labadoor family? The three women representing the generations and the Indian traditions, the British? The atmosphere at home, wealth and gentility? religion and the irony of the massacre in the church? Its bloodthirstiness?

7. How were these themes of violence continued throughout the film towards the family itself, pursuits, searches? The battle sequences? The deaths in battle?

8. Javed Khan as hero? His rank as a nobleman, as a hero, his loyalty in the war? His relationship with his wife? his fascination with Auth? The lengths he went to help the family? Taking them into the household? Auth and her rejection of him? Her gradual softening? The reaction of his wife? His going off to the war after the accusations that he was dallying away from his duty? The final look between himself and Ruth ?an indication of love? His going to the war and being killed? His being presented as a romantic hero? his Muslim background and stances? His heroism in the war?

9. The three generations of the Labadoor family? Mrs James and her age, frailty? Her death and the funeral? Mariam and her strength? Her reaction to the massacre? Her saving of the family? The persecution? The travelling and the hiding? Her ability to cope? Her protection of her daughter and resistance of Javed Khan? The strength of the Indian women? Death, survival, love, protection?

10. The portrait of the Hindu Ramjimal? The risk of life in taking in the family? The devices to protect the family from the searching troops? The taking of the family by Javed Khan?

11. The portrait of the three women in detail? The old lady and her beliefs, traditions? The contract with Mariam facing, the future? Ituth and her initial fears, changing in attitude towards Javed Khan, love? The lyrical sequences portraying her as a young girl, in comparison with other children? The importance of such sequences as Mrs James's death, the insistence on Christian burial, the dark, deserted church and the Lord's Prayer? The end and Auth's glimpse?

12. The idyllic romance - especially in aftermath? The hero who dies? The woman who remains a spinster for half a century? remembering and regretting?

13. The treatment of historical material? Romance? The Hollywood traditions, visuals, music? Did this impede the impact of the film? Universal themes, interest? An understanding of India?