Every once in a while a movie comes along that reminds you about the power of film - the power to make you feel exhilarated and alive, thoughtful and emotionally moved. Rang De Basanti is such a film. I walked out of the theater after viewing the film with a sense of contentment that I rarely derive from cinema these days.

Rakeysh Mehra has made a film that speaks to today's generation while simultaneously paying tribute to the past: He's aware of our restlessness, the search for meaning in our lives, and yet he's also cognizant of our inability to channel these feelings toward a tangible cause. Juxtaposed to this portrayal of contemporary angst-ridden youth, Mehra showcases our forefathers, brave revolutionaries who fought for India's freedom, and whose lives were utterly focused on the single goal of independence. This tension between the past and present is the essence of the film, and Rang De Basanti's climax explodes when historical forces and youthful angst collide.

Sue is a British film-maker who reads the diaries of her grandfather, a former British Police Force officer in India during the freedom struggle. She's inspired by the stories of the freedom fighters such as Bhagat Singh and Chandrashekhar Azad, and goes to India to make a film about these largely unsung heroes.

In Delhi, she recruits a group of five friends to play the key roles in her film: DJ (Aamir Khan), the aimless protagonist unable to make the leap into post-university life, Karan (Siddharth), the neglected son of an industrialist, Aslam (Kunal Kapoor), a Muslim struggling to reconcile his own ideals with those of his traditional parents, Sukhi (Sharman Joshi) and Sonia (the effervescent Soha Ali Khan, sister of Saif Ali Khan). A young member of a Hindu nationalist political group, Laxman (Atul Kulkarni), joins them as well. Aamir Khan further establishes himself as one of Bollywood's best in Rang De Basanti. He manages the impossible - not only does he melt effortlessly into the brilliant ensemble cast, but he simultaneously stands out of the crowd with his capacity to convey great emotion with the most subtle expression.

Initially Sue faces many problems while making the film as she finds her cast completely unfocused and disengaged from the film's story. Mehra shows us how this generation, a product of modern India, has become cynical about government as a result of rampant political corruption. They cannot see any value in patriotism given the nation's current state. The cast and crew, led by Sonia and Sue, embark on a re-education about India's early revolutionaries and their stories. While doing so, they reconnect with their nation by exploring culturally significant sites in Punjab. Through this journey they also expand upon their relationships with each other.

This initial exploration period of Rang De Basanti is magical: Delhi, the Golden Temple, and a Punjabi horse-riding festival are just a few of the images so beautifully shot by Binod Pradhan. A.R. Rehman's powerful soundtrack is energizing and conveys the right balance of anger and exuberance to reflect the characters' development as they immerse themselves in their artistic goals. The heart of the film is in its characters and their chemistry with each other - we believe in their friendship and their camaraderie takes us back to our own carefree college days.

As the making of Sue's film progresses, the cast turns inward and begin to reflect seriously on their own feelings of nationalism. The death of a close friend provides a turning point in the film. The catalyst of loss and pain hurls the group into the second half of the film, where the tone dramatically changes. DJ and his group of friends, now filled with rage toward the corrupt government which has indirectly stolen one of their own, begin to see parallels between contemporary figures in the Indian government (fictionalized characters) and the British Imperialists who illegally governed their ancestors.

With Rang De Basanti, Mehra has forged new territory for Indian cinema. He has carved out a place for today's youth to re-examine nationalism in a modern setting. Further, he's created a film that satiates the senses and challenges the mind. Rang De Basanti, in the tradition of Lagaan, Dil Chahta Hai, and Parineeta, among others, is part of a new breed of Hindi cinema that is veering away from the Bollywood masala formula and moving toward more original stories and themes. This is an exciting time for Hindi cinema, and if Rang De Basanti is an indication of things to come, I can't wait.