‘Rebellious Flower’ – Osho’s Unhurried Rustic, Sensitive Childhood
Letter from New Delhi —
‘Osho’ and ‘Rajneesh’ these two names instantly project images of laughing, singing and dancing young men and women in orange of maroon robes. Such is the mystique of this enlightened master.
But have you ever wondered how Osho reached this status to attract millions from all over the world? What was the start of this journey during his early childhood until the age of 21 when he became enlightened? A new movie, Rebellious Flower, presents this flowering.
Slow down. Press the ‘pause’ button of your non-stop mind when you start watching Rebellious Flower portraying the early years of the mystic master, Osho. Here is the unhurried, rustic and realistic depiction of the small village in Madhya Pradesh where he was born and grew up with his grandmother in a nearby village. No sets needed to be put up as the movie has been shot on real locations that are still almost the same as 60 years ago. The outdoor scenes send you to the clean and crisp air and vast horizons.
How did Osho become the master of masters? Here is the answer based on his early life as an inquisitive and fearless child, a voracious reader and a seeker. As a chubby prodigy, Prince Shah, plays the part charmingly; then Shashank Singh takes over as a teenager. The resemblance to young Osho is incredible, especially the enigmatic eyes.
His grandmother, played by Kirti Adarkar had a crucial role in his formative years by encouraging his prickly questions and supporting his quest. He was greatly influenced by three mystics, all of them played faultlessly by Mantra.
The real challenge is to show how and when Osho gets enlightened on 21 March 1953. Very sensitively crafted, these scenes stay clear from showing a new glow around him with thundering music. Instead, it is very silent and plays with light. No histrionics here.
Director Ashok Hooda has shown soft restraint while producer Swami Jagdish Bharti has made a sincere offering at the feet of his master.
Overall, this is a meditative movie that sincerely presents the childhood of an enlightened master. If you are looking for action, scandal and sensation, it is not for you. But if you want to break away from the mad, mad world for two hours and become meditative, watch it when it is released worldwide on Netflix in a few weeks’ time.
Kul Bhushan worked as a newspaper Editor in Nairobi for over three decades and now lives in New Delhi
* Published in print edition on 22 January 2016
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