DELHI MAGIC WOOS BOLLYWOOD!
In recent years, the Bollywood bigwigs as well small time producers are making films based in the capital city of Delhi. The number of such films have increased from 2006, especially post-Rang De Basanti, which was also based in New Delhi. Each city has its own flavour and charm and Delhi’s charm seemed to have worked big time or rather charmed the audiences a lot!
Before Rang De Basanti (RDB), Delhi was rarely explored by the filmmakers. Pre-RDB, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham showed the vibrant side of Delhi with the bubbly character of Kajol, which was enjoyed a lot by the audience, even outside Delhi. However, it was RDB which wonderfully threw a light on this wonderful city inhabited by dildar people! The city itself was picturised wonderfully in this film. Who can over forget the brilliant scene where the protagonists are marching with hordes of people with candles towards India Gate? The next Delhi film was Fanaa, which like RDB also had Aamir Khan. Delhi was shown only in the 1st half. Most notable scene is where Aamir takes the blind Kajol to a tour of Purani Dilli, including its ruins!
Khosla Ka Ghosla (KKG) went ahead of RDB in giving a perfect portrayal of Delhi. The accent, the life of the people, the problems, the corruption-everything was portrayed perfectly. In fact, I became fond of Delhi after watching KKG!
2007 too gave few Delhi centric films. Delhii Heights, released in the beginning of the year, aroused some curiosity especially in the NCR but the film failed miserably at the BO. The unusual flick, Cheeni Kum, had Amitabh Bachchan landing in the capital city to ask Paresh Rawal for his daughter Tabu’s hand. Delhi flavour worked very well in SRK’s Chak De! India. The entire first half of the film was based in Delhi which was as enjoyable and interesting as its 2nd half. Delhi campus became the backdrop of college politics in Dil Dosti Etc. The film wasn’t loved in other parts of the country but ask any Dilliwala and they feel that Dil Dosti Etc gave a true picture of Delhi college politics.
In 2008, three films succeeded in capturing beautifully the essence of Delhi. The first, Sunday, had a fabulous cinematography (by Aseem Bajaj) due to which Delhi looked amazing in the film. The film was disappointing but watching the beautiful Delhi locales was enjoyable! Second is Subash Ghai’s film on terrorism, Black & White. Set in the bylanes of old Delhi, the film wonderfully showed the city’s spirit. Ghai rightly said, “The city has a character of its own and a history of 150 years. Yet it hasn’t lost its colour and seems cocooned in a time warp. Its diversities and contrasts are interesting to capture on screen. It’s stimulating for any creative mind”. And thirdly, ‘Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!’, directed by KKG’s director Dibakar Banerjee (he can be named ‘The Delhi King’!). Watching Delhi in this dark comic flick was a treat!
The tryst with Delhi continues this year too. In fact three important films of the year have Delhi or its locality featured in their titles! These films are Delhi Belly (produced by Aamir Khan and starring Imran Khan), Rakeysh Mehra’s Delhi-6 *ing Abhishek and Sonam Kapoor and Akshay Kumar’s Chandni Chowk To China which is all set to hit theatres next week.
Delhi is criticized by many for being unsafe, corrupt, and extremely foggy during winters etc. But its history, flavour, charm and beauty makes Delhi one of the finest cities of India! Not to forget, many celebs of Bollywood, including Shahrukh Khan, was born and brought up here! Delhiwalas seem to born with amazing talents. No wonder, many popular writers on MS are from Delhi-Sweety (sweets_desire), Nidhi (nidhi1), Shalu (S_Dhyani), Swati (swan), Sujata (afrank), Alok (alk_ranjan), Ateesh (hakoonamatata) etc! Cheers to Delhi and to Dilliwalas!