Rent The Home and the World (1984)

Great novel, exploring dilemmas still prevalent around the world - The Home and the World review by RM

The film is based on the 1916 novel, 'Ghare Baire' by the great Rabindranath Tagore.

The novel is very thought-provoking as it addresses a wide range of human, social and political issues. At a human level, it touches on the wife's independence within a Hindu marriage of the period in pursuing her own political views even if they run counter to the husband's, as well as the most delicate subject of the 'freedom to explore' romantic interests outside of marriage. At a social level, it highlights the need for religious/cultural tolerance and coexistence in a country like India where the Muslims and the Hindus live side by side in many parts of India (with a complex history of suppression and oppression over the centuries). It also shows how innocent people, on all sides, are usually misinformed, provoked, and eventually fall prey to acting in terrible/inhuman ways. At a political level, it juxtaposes the economic necessity to be self-sufficient and not be exploited by a colonial power, against the need to be sensitive towards the immediate consequences of any commercial boycott on all those who are dependent on cheaper products and the retail outlets that sell them.

All the main roles could have been played with a lot more passion and intensity, but maybe the film aims to reflect the restrained social norms of the early 20th century.

The issues raised are universal, and are hot topics even today, in many countries of the world!

'Ghare Baire' is a great novel, and would lend itself to a re-make to reflect the present-day situation in India in 2021.