Since then I have been waiting eagerly for its second episode. So much so that I wanted to catch it at the opening night at any cost. And finally managed to do so by watching it at the premiere. Many like me knew that Munnabhai was going to meet Mahatma Gandhi this time. But how and why? That was the big question. Can Mahatma Gandhi be ever entertaining? Will the movie get into controversy for getting Bapu into it? Gandhi followers may not like it and ask for a ban (every film is into some kind of controversy these days). Will "jadoo ki jhappi" work again? Thoughts of a diehard Munnabhai fan were flying in all directions.
As I came out after watching the film, remembered what the lyricist of the film Swanand Kirkire had told me just a day back....Yakeen maniye agar aapko ye film pasand na aaye to aap mujhe chaar joote mariyega. A film like this can easily give anyone so much confidence.
Few days back a senior journalist told me that he thinks something is wrong with his likings....movies that he doesn't like or doesn't want to watch, all are becoming superhits. I told him it's exactly the same with me. Fanaa, KANK, Krrish....the list is long. RDB was the only exception that proved the rule. But thank God, here comes one more movie that I simply loved and have no doubts that it's going to be superhit also. We still do have some filmmakers who dare to tell an original story. No remakes, no inspirations and no dvds to copy from. And what a way to make Gandhi "cool" for our generation.
During my college and hostel days in Calcutta, over endless cups of tea, coffee and smoke rings, me and my friends used to have long discussions on Gandhi Vs Netaji/Bhagat Singh. In Calcutta, everyone is very passionate about these kind of discussions. So, it would go on and on without any conclusion...their life, their principles, which was better, which was not, what worked, what didn't and why? And have always realized that people from my generation never wanted to romanticize Mahatma Gandhi. Bhagat Singh and Netaji were preferred more....its more 'cooler'.
During school days I also used to think so. But my views changed slowly after reading Bapu's autobiography and many other books written by people closed to him. You need to know the man to understand what he said and in which context. Otherwise violence is always an easy way out. Something that I could never make my friends understand. But RajKumar Hirani has done it.
Few days back while searching for a story of mine, realized that an organization promoting Gandhian thoughts and philosophy have put one of my Munnabhai story on their webpage. Because the story touched upon the Mahatma Gandhi angle. Am sure after watching the film, they will make it must-see for everyone to promote Gandhigiri. (It's the Munnabhai effect)
And the Chopras and the Johars surely need to learn few lessons here. As Munnabhai said "thoda daring karne ka". Knowing that audience will always come to watch their films because of their banner,they should also try to tell some new stories. They have the money, the marketing skills, the stars...if they don't do then who? Enough of loving your family and leaving your husband. Enough of mindless Salaam Namaste to Bunty Bublis and Neal Nikkis. Or as filmmaker Sudhir Mishra recently said on our channel while discussing Hrishikesh Mukherjee's films...why the slice of life, middle class cinema has vanished from bollywood ? Because the new kids are born and brought up in Juhu and they go to US/UK for holidays. How and why they will understand that life is much more that that. For them life is simply Manish Malhotra costume drama.
And for all those fighting over vande mataram these days, if you cant find a solution just play "bande me tha dum, vande mataram". It will also serve the same purpose.
Movies should not be entertaining only but they should be engaging also. Something that can make you laugh, make you cry and make you think also. Isn't it? So, if RajKumar Hirani keeps on teaching few lessons about life this way, then LONG LIVE Munnabhai and Circuit.About the AuthorSomen Mishra Somen Mishra is Senior Entertainment Correspondent in the Mumbai Bureau of CNN IBN. Starting with Zee Network, he has been chasing the stars, crunchin...Read Morefirst published:September 03, 2006, 03:45 ISTlast updated:September 03, 2006, 03:45 IST
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When Munnabhai MBBS released in 2003, I had no interest to watch it. Nothing to do with the film but only because I thought it would be one more mindless hindi comedy. That was the trend that time and sadly, its still is. I always find very hard to relate to these mindless movies. Either I skip them or end up getting bored. So, I saw Munnabhai MBBS almost three weeks after its release. And that too when I was dragged to the theatre by one of my friend. What a surprise! I was proved wrong. And I was happy, very happy.
Since then I have been waiting eagerly for its second episode. So much so that I wanted to catch it at the opening night at any cost. And finally managed to do so by watching it at the premiere. Many like me knew that Munnabhai was going to meet Mahatma Gandhi this time. But how and why? That was the big question. Can Mahatma Gandhi be ever entertaining? Will the movie get into controversy for getting Bapu into it? Gandhi followers may not like it and ask for a ban (every film is into some kind of controversy these days). Will "jadoo ki jhappi" work again? Thoughts of a diehard Munnabhai fan were flying in all directions.
As I came out after watching the film, remembered what the lyricist of the film Swanand Kirkire had told me just a day back....Yakeen maniye agar aapko ye film pasand na aaye to aap mujhe chaar joote mariyega. A film like this can easily give anyone so much confidence.
Few days back a senior journalist told me that he thinks something is wrong with his likings....movies that he doesn't like or doesn't want to watch, all are becoming superhits. I told him it's exactly the same with me. Fanaa, KANK, Krrish....the list is long. RDB was the only exception that proved the rule. But thank God, here comes one more movie that I simply loved and have no doubts that it's going to be superhit also. We still do have some filmmakers who dare to tell an original story. No remakes, no inspirations and no dvds to copy from. And what a way to make Gandhi "cool" for our generation.
During my college and hostel days in Calcutta, over endless cups of tea, coffee and smoke rings, me and my friends used to have long discussions on Gandhi Vs Netaji/Bhagat Singh. In Calcutta, everyone is very passionate about these kind of discussions. So, it would go on and on without any conclusion...their life, their principles, which was better, which was not, what worked, what didn't and why? And have always realized that people from my generation never wanted to romanticize Mahatma Gandhi. Bhagat Singh and Netaji were preferred more....its more 'cooler'.
During school days I also used to think so. But my views changed slowly after reading Bapu's autobiography and many other books written by people closed to him. You need to know the man to understand what he said and in which context. Otherwise violence is always an easy way out. Something that I could never make my friends understand. But RajKumar Hirani has done it.
Few days back while searching for a story of mine, realized that an organization promoting Gandhian thoughts and philosophy have put one of my Munnabhai story on their webpage. Because the story touched upon the Mahatma Gandhi angle. Am sure after watching the film, they will make it must-see for everyone to promote Gandhigiri. (It's the Munnabhai effect)
And the Chopras and the Johars surely need to learn few lessons here. As Munnabhai said "thoda daring karne ka". Knowing that audience will always come to watch their films because of their banner,they should also try to tell some new stories. They have the money, the marketing skills, the stars...if they don't do then who? Enough of loving your family and leaving your husband. Enough of mindless Salaam Namaste to Bunty Bublis and Neal Nikkis. Or as filmmaker Sudhir Mishra recently said on our channel while discussing Hrishikesh Mukherjee's films...why the slice of life, middle class cinema has vanished from bollywood ? Because the new kids are born and brought up in Juhu and they go to US/UK for holidays. How and why they will understand that life is much more that that. For them life is simply Manish Malhotra costume drama.
And for all those fighting over vande mataram these days, if you cant find a solution just play "bande me tha dum, vande mataram". It will also serve the same purpose.
Movies should not be entertaining only but they should be engaging also. Something that can make you laugh, make you cry and make you think also. Isn't it? So, if RajKumar Hirani keeps on teaching few lessons about life this way, then LONG LIVE Munnabhai and Circuit.
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