I shall start by saying we all know by now how controversial Mira Nair’s films can be.
Since the film is not current ;circa 1988, I will discuss the details that still to this day, haunt me....
Ms.Nairs films all seem to do so well commercially in United States! Like MISSISSIPPI MASALA-MONSOON WEDDING-KAMA SUTRA . Sometimes I wonder are VIEWERS really seeing the true depth of her films??
This review is strictly from memory but I m trying to follow the sequence of the film...forgive me if I am inconsistent....
Remember, I am a westerner that saw this video {yes, video}on the ’’foreign films’’shelf. Labeled as an’’ award winning film’’...so I picked it up.
The sadness of the young boy Krishna/Chaipau {SHAFIQ SAYED}when his mother told him not to come home until he had money to pay for a bike was so unbelievable to me...I remember the emptiness of the land as he set out on his journey.
Remember the first view of the street children KRISHNA saw when he got off the train?? He had no idea THAT was about to become his life....
Ms.Nair has the ’’greatest gift’’ of choosing non-actors to star in her films. This young man portraying KRISHNA was NOT a professional. Nor, were the other children in the film. Then we see the most hottest actor at the time come onto the screen RAGHUBIR YADAV as CHILLUM. His portrayal & part in the film was of course brilliant as a drug addicted ’’user’’ of sorts. But the young S. Syed was able to match R. Yadavs abilities on the screen word for word. The two were excellent in the film together.
Then, Ms.Nairs ability to get the’’ tip top best’’ of Hindi cinema to play in her films
like: ??-----?? as the evil betel leaf chewing madame. {sorry, I do not know her name but she plays the same type of evil Auntie/Madame roles in most of her fims}
Then NANA PATEKA as BABA was perfect!! He was sexy, controlling, reserved, & calculating. I wish he was in the fim even more!!
Actually if you watch closely, Ms. Nair seems to always have a core group of the finest actors that appear in each of her films either in major parts or teeny, tiny roles that you don’t even realize ...was that THE GREAT ?? No, it could NOT have been him/her but it WAS!! View a few of her films again...you’ll see what I mean!!! :) See what renowned actor you will see!! She also continues to use the ’’child actors’’ into their adulthood. We watch them ’’grow up ’’ through her different films.See Kama Sutra to Monsoon Wedding!! Recognize anyone??
Anyway, the drug abuse scenes, the way the children take so much in their wretched lives. The things they have to do to make money!! How so very hard they work!! The fact that they can not attend school. It’s too much to bear at times!!
Let’s not forget the sweet Manju who seems to have ’’little’’ more, but does she really?? How she wants to be a part of her beautiful mothers life in any way possible!! Scratching on the window screen like a ’’cat’’ her mother says..who wouldn’t in the middle of the cold night! Accompanying her mother when she has to visit customers homes etc... It seems REKHA, played by the most beautiful ANEETA KANWAAR was not able to display her deeply felt love for her daughter until she was abruptly removed from her life.... those scenes when REKHA realizes how her inability to display her motherly love to her daughter has forever damaged young Manju is life changing for all that view this scene.
This same effect is a ’’thread’’ in this film...you will see it in BABA’S relation to REKHA . CHILLUMS relation to KRISHNA. MANJU’S relation/adoration of KRISHNA. And ultimately in the very end KRISHNA to SOLASAAL.
Next is Ms. Nairs ’’eye’’ for beauty man or woman. In all of Ms.Nairs films she has chosen the most absolute uniquely beautiful people. KRISHNA.REKHA, SOLASAAL are some of the most stunning people you will ever see!!
Did you catch the dynamic of REKHA-BABA-MANJU-THE MADAME OF THE BROTHEL-SOLASAAL-and KRISHNA?? My take is: Rekha adores Baba, so does the Madame. Solasaal is the next in line and so is Manju...will Krishna be able to save them from Babas clutches??
What about Krishna’s friends on the street. The one that loved to stand up for himself & ready to fight with anyone who tried to control his ’’wild’’ ways. How much fun they had in the movie theater. The reality of the indulgences of the rich children and their own wretched hungry lives.They are not even allowed to take leftovers!!
Then, when they are taken away to the orphanage/detention center ;how it really wasn’t a ’’haven’’ for them. Tragedy still happens no matter where you are. No matter how much people want to ’’protect’’ you.
Let’s not forget KRISHNA’S unrequited love for SOLASAAL. Believe it ladies! This tells how most men fall in love with our beauty as we pass by. How they get in their minds ’’I will conquer the world first, then come back and make her mine!!’’ all the while we are so unaware of the love you have for us...we often are seduced away into the arms of those that only want to ’’crush’’ our hearts, minds, and bodies. Think about it...isn’t this really what BABA was doing for REKHA???? Doing all he could to show her how much he truly loved HER only?? This is love right??
The very end of the movie I will not tell you. It is not really a cliffhanger or even a climax but I am ever so thankful that Ms. Nair included it as it could have easily been edited out....
After seeing the scene between KRISHNA & SOLASAAL I have many times borrowed his actions in my own relations... I have asked the questions to someone I have adored immensely....and most often the answer was the same that SOLASAAL gave. And so, we feel at times after all I have been through this is what I get?? This is all I have??? KRISHNA’S reaction will also remind you ..hey he NEVER did this in the film......I think that’s what Ms.Nair was trying to say..but then again it’s just SHAYLAS OPINION!!:)
Another reviewer wrote that this film should be watched alone...and for some reason, I agree. So raw this film is...you just don’t want anyone to see the effects it will have on you I guess.