Feb 12, 2008 10:53 AM
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Aaja Nachle stars Madhuri Dixit in her first film after six years, alongside Akshaye Khanna, Konkona Sen Sharma, and Kunal Kapoor in pivotal roles.But nobody has brought out the flavour in the movie. Konkona Sen Sharma and Kunal Kapoor was little bit effective.
Dia(Madhuri Dixit) grew up in the town of Shamli where she learned to dance from Makarand(Darshan Zariwala). During her learning she met an American, Steve, whom she falls in love with. Her parents find out and arrange her marriage, but instead Dia elopes with Steve. After nearly a decade, an unexpected phone call shakes Dia(Madhuri Dixit) out of her dance rehearsal in New York. Makarand(Darshan Zariwala), her teacher, is dying and she must return to Shamli town. During the phone call she reveals that she also had a child, who is now eight years old, with Steve. Dia arrives too late and her guru passes on to the town where she grew up, the town where she learnt to live, to dance, Also the town she left on an impulse, severing ties with her parents and her people.
It is a poignant and troubled return; not only has her guru passed away but the institution that he so lovingly nurtured is in decay and under threat of demolition. Ajanta theatre, the once vibrant hub of the community, the place where Dia’s fondest memories are embedded must now be brought down because the local political authorities feel it a waste of prime real estate. With the help of Doctor(Raghubir Yadav), the caretaker of Ajanta, Dia sets out on a mission to prevent the destruction and resurrect the spirit of Ajanta. In an atmosphere of mistrust, ridicule and active hostility, Dia picks up the gauntlet and agrees to achieve the near impossible task of putting together a theatrical production. She must also ensure that every member of the production is from Shamli town. She has only two months to prove her point or the bulldozers will be waiting.
In this context begins her tumultuous journey of dealing with small town prejudices, encountering the resentment of the powerful contractor, the cynicism of the local political powers, resolve the delicate tensions of inter personal relationships and rally her motley team of non starters - a low level muscle Imran(Kunal Kapoor), the local tomboy Anokhi(Konkona Sen Sharma), local ex-MLA Chaudhary Om Singh(Akhilendra Mishra), a vulnerable tea stall owner Mohan Sharma(Ranvir Shorey), a responsible government official Mr. Chojar(Vinay Pathak), a struggling insurance agent Sanjeev Mehta(Jugal Hansraj), the town vagabond Dhankuber(Nowaz) and a host of others. She must create in this chaos in order to save Ajanta… in order to preserve what her guru so lovingly nurtured. She must create art in order to preserve what she believes is the soul of society. The stage is finally set… Will it work? Won’t it?
The movie was banned in Uttar Pradesh on 30 November 2007, the day of release of the film, over alleged casteist remarks. Dia, the character played by Madhuri Dixit, sings the lines Mohalle mein kaisi maara-mar hai; bole mochi bhi khud ko sunar hai( translated "There is chaos in the neighborhood, even the Mochi(Cobbler) calls himself a Sunar(Goldsmith)") with the alleged implied meaning that Mochis(cobblers, the Jatav caste - a caste of cobblers) were inferior to Sunars(goldsmiths, name of a caste of goldsmiths), offending to ascending Dalit community.
Punjab and Haryana followed suit, banning the film the next day. However the ban was later lifted in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana, after a written apology from the producers and the removal of the disputed lyrics(bole mochi bhi khud ko sunar hai) in the title song of film. However, a ban was imposed on film in the city of Patna on 2 December, 2007. The issue was also raised in the Indian Parliament(Lok Sabha) by RPI member Ramdas Athawale seeking a ban by the government for hurting Dalit sentiments, but Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi said that it was state government's decision to take any such action.
Dont waste your money to buy CD's of the movies, go and watch Taare Zameen Par which is a Best film ever made in Industry.
