|
Bollywood films are made to entertain but they are also a great medium to convey social messages. Very few films manage to achieve it successfully.
One such film is Mumbai Meri Jaan. Directed by Nishikant Kamat, who directed the award-winning, socially relevant Marathi flick Dombivili Fast.
Mumbai Meri Jaan is just the sort of a film needed at a time plagued by terrorism, racial issues and diminishing social responsibility.
Set against the backdrop of the July 11, 2006, Mumbai blasts, the realistic characters and slice-of-life sequences make watching the film a heart-warming experience.
The film follows the impact of the 7/11 blasts on the lives of five people — Suresh (Kay Kay Menon), a xenophobic and frustrated unemployed youth; Tukaram Patil (Paresh Rawal), a retiring cop’s rapport with a rookie cop (Vijay Maurya); Thomas (Irrfan Khan), a south Indian coffee vendor who is struggling to fit into society; Rupali (Soha Ali Khan), a broadcast journalist who finds herself sucked into the emotionless world of the Fourth Estate and Nikhil (Madhavan), a patriotic executive who is deeply affected by the blasts.
Stories with morals
Among the stories, the one involving Rawal and Maurya is the best, with some great lines spoken by these talented actors.
Some of the scenes make you empathise with the helpless, principled cops, who find it difficult to be part of the corrupt system.
Menon’s story has an important social message for the terrorists. Soha Ali Khan’s story depicts how low the media can stoop to grab its share of eyeballs.
Irrfan and Madhavan’s stories delve more into the psychological aspects, though Madhavan’s episode is the weakest link.
The film is brilliantly scripted by Yogesh Vinayak Joshi and Upendra Sidhaye.
The narration is enhanced by Kamat’s deft direction. The film has some of the wittiest lines heard in a long time, with quite a few thought-provoking dialogues having the potential to shake your notions.
The film has a fitting finale but it could have done with some sharp editing.
An actor’s mettle
Rawal proves what a great talent he is with this film and shouldn’t waste his time doing mindless comic roles.
Irrfan shines in his role and steals the show merely with his body language.
Soha Ali pitches in with her career-best performance. Menon is terrific as a terrorist while Madhavan is effective in his role.
Maurya comes with a career-defining performance and is a talent to watch.
All-round support
Technically, the film is first-rate, with fantastic camerawork by Sanjay Gadhav.
Hats off to UTV Spotboy for backing this wonderful project after their sensitive and superb Aamir earlier this year.
Kamat should be embraced as a director with a purpose.
Take a break from all the cacophony churned out by Bollywood regularly and watch this brilliant piece of cinema.
|
