Movie Musings
#5: Aatmapamphlet (Autobio-Pamphlet)
They say all creation sprang from the same seed of life. Humans, animals, birds, plants, and rocks. Everything. Lineages increased gradually and branched out. And we eventually ended up with so many different castes and religions. Though we believe we have a million different identities, we are the leaves and branches of the same tree.
Situations seem to happen to people, but in reality, they unfold from deeper causes. The universe unfolds to itself, bringing to bear any cause that needs to be included. The working out of cause and effect is eternal. The rising and falling never ends, and only by riding the wave can one avoid getting drowned. If you can, realize that a cosmic plan is unfolding and appreciate the incredibly woven tapestry for what it is: a design of unparalleled marvel. Aatmapamphlet is such a marvel that’s driven by madness and pandemonium in its glorious cinematic ride.
Aatmapamphlet follows the journey of Ashish (brought to life by the talented Manas Tondwalkar and Om Bendkhale) from birth to late adolescence. Our protagonist is nurtured in the embrace of affectionate parents and encounters the phenomenon of ‘love at first hand’ when a charming classmate named Srushti (Pranjali Shrikant) accidentally holds his hand during a school play and thereby captures his heart.
Ashish is an unremarkable, regular Indian child. As he tells us early on, he’s too common to have something as great as an autobiography — that’s for freedom fighters and others blessed with greatness — which is why this film is named after the humble pamphlet instead. The director, Ashish Avinash Bende, finds amusing ways to depict the common man’s experiences alongside significant events in Indian history, from Indira Gandhi becoming prime minister to the Indian cricket team winning the World Cup.
Taking a step back, we come to know that Ashish is who he is because of a crucial choice that his great-grandmother made when her husband kicked her out while she was pregnant. She marched for her freedom as Gandhi started the Dandi march toward the nation’s freedom. She comes across a quote, “Education is like the milk of a tigress,” and decides to drink it (in a figurative fashion). She became the headmistress of a school, and thus, from her choice sprang a whole lineage of well-educated and respected men.
At its core, the film revolves around Ashish’s attempts to confess his adolescent love for Srushti. Supported by his friends in this gallant quest for affection, their camaraderie comes at a cost — a delectable ice stick from a vendor stationed outside their school. Remarkably, this eclectic group, comprising individuals from diverse backgrounds — Maratha, Muslim, Brahman, Dalit, Sikh, Christian — defies societal divides with their unbreakable bond.
As they progress to the fifth grade, new schedules separate the girls and boys, but Ashish finds inventive ways to maintain his connection with Srushti. This delightful rendezvous continues through their journey until grade VII. Simultaneously, on Ashish’s family front, we are shown that his grandfather is increasingly becoming an alcoholic, and Ashish’s father is having a difficult time dealing with him. During an argument, in a fit of rage, his grandfather threw the whole family out of the house. The fate that his great-grandmother experienced continues to persist. Ashish realized life is like this. A kiss on one cheek and a punch on the other.
We are shown that Ashish and his friends are dealing with pertinent existential questions like “Who are they?” and “Why is Ashish fee exempt but not others?” An artificial construct, a fixed and embedded ranking of human value that sets the presumed supremacy of one group against the presumed inferiority of other groups. They get an answer, but it comes with an accompaniment of labels. Labels like “Dalit,” “Backward Class,” “Mahar,” and “Buddhist.” Overnight, the 14-year-old adolescent boys were radicalized by society.
Caste is insidious and therefore powerful because it is not hatred, it is not necessarily personal. It is the worn grooves of comforting routines and unthinking expectations, patterns of a social order that have been in place for so long that it looks like the natural order of things.
One of the film’s most impactful scenes transpires within the confines of a classroom, where the children find themselves entangled in a brawl. As the dust settles, they collectively acknowledge the uniformity of their wounds — each one painted in the same shade of red. More importantly, the “flock of sheep” attitude was drained out. In a poignant pledge, they vow to stand united, transcending disparities that society seeks to impose upon them.
Ashish realized that being a devotee is really easy. All you have to do is buy a symbol and shout some slogans. But it’s difficult to be a disciple. He realized his father was a disciple, and that’s why it wasn’t easy for their family. He realized the number of conflicts that “Dalits” alone are involved in, and suddenly, concepts like “remorse” and “suffering” begin to emerge in his psychic landscape. He realized that society has been brainwashing kids with these constructs and feeding them with hatred. The kid coming out of this mistreatment is not only not proud of its own self but also hates everyone.
This poignant narrative, set against the backdrop of the ’80s and ’90s, weaves a tapestry intricately adorned with references to real events. Aatmapamphlet serves as a canvas for both subtle and overt commentaries on a myriad of subjects, from the ideals of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar to the profound impact of Buddhism, from reflections on the Babri Masjid demolition to discussions surrounding decentralization, the Kashmir conflict, the Latur earthquake, and figures like HC Devegowda and Vinod Kambli.
The attention to detail and foreshadowing in these scenes add depth to the narrative, allowing the audience to ponder on the broader themes discussed in the film. By using background storytelling, the director adds a layer to a simple story and delivers one of the most charming satires of all time in Indian film history.
Aatmapamphlet is more than just a coming-of-age tale; it evolves into a nuanced commentary on the multifaceted journey of a kid growing up amid the socio-political landscape of that era.
