Chandra's world

Lucky Mumbai pals!

Sometimes, I do envy my pals in Mumbai. No, not for that fantastic network of local trains that come on time and transport them across the city at rock bottom fares…not for those disciplined auto drivers who will drive them to any part of the city at any point of the day/night and yet faithfully stick to the rate card when it comes to payment of fares. Can go on about the virtues of living in Mumbai, but that’s not the intent of this post. I envy them because they are the first among Indian cinegoers to get to see fabulous movies like ‘Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi’ in a theater.

'Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi' is one of those rare movies in Hindi cinema. A good political film! Isn’t it surprising? Considering that politics, movies and cricket are the three predominant passions of any Indian (me sure that a snap poll will rein in at least two of the above in the ‘I love’ category), the lack of good mainstream political films that have come out of Bollywood is baffling. In fact the Bengali and Malayalam film industries can claim to be far more prolific when it comes to dishing out serious, good political movies. And here, I dare to ask a controversial question: is this trend a sweeping comment on the relative maturity levels of the respective audiences?

Anyways, leaving aside this post mortem, this remarkable movie ( apart from the numerous awards it has bagged at various festivals, has also been the subject of a flattering article in Frontline, that itself is a significant standalone achievement) directed by the talented Sudhir Mishra has hit the silver screen around 10 days back. And its being currently screened in all its glory for the Mumbai citizens, while I wait in the land of biryani and desperately pray for its early release here. If not an early release, at least a release! My fears are not unfounded for the simple reason that a good movie like ‘Haasil’ (watch this movie starring Jimmy Shergill, Hrishitaa Bhatt and Irrfan and allow yourself to be staggered by Irrfan’s terrific performance and to get an insightful peek at Uttar Pradesh’s campus/caste politics) was not even released here!

Till then….I will keep envying my Mumbai pals!