HARD-HITTING. Review on Hazaron Khwahishen Aisi

'At the stroke of midnight, when the whole world has slept, we wake up into prosperity and freedom.' Nehru has made a mistake in his sentence, because at midnight in India, people in New York are wide awake.

This film emphasizes on the mindset of young people who want independent India to be a better place than it really is.

In the 70's, Revolution is what resulted from the rage of the fresh young blood. The social workers who sacrificed their life for the betterment of their country were brutally termed as: Naxalites. And their thousands of dreams and aspirations have gone unnoticed by the brutal force of the country's ugly politics. Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi.

HAZAARON KHWAISHEIN AISI

Sidharth, the product of a Muslim father and a Hindu Bengoli mother, repents that he can neither talk well in Urdu nor speak good Bengoli. He feels the system needs to be changed. He feels that young people should not blindly follow the easy path laid down by their well-settled parents. Life is not just about studying well, earning well and loving one's parents. Life is much more; like, trying to make a difference. He aggressively moves along the path of revolution. On the way, he gathers as many supporters as he could. And along the journey, the police are behind him. Most of the supporters either drop by themselves in between or are dropped by the police's bullet piercing through their chests. Sidharth shares his feelings and perceptions to his beloved, Geeta.

Geeta is educated in London. Almost every man felt possessive of her; she was that good. But like a bubble in clear waters, she madly loved Sidharth. When he wanted her to support his idea of living in villages, her consciousness makes her marry off a well-settled man. But when she is reminded of Sidharth, she cannot stop herself from meeting him. She leaves everything and lives with him in Bhojpur, a village where the vulgarity of oppression is at its best.

Vikram is the fun-loving guy who wanted to be out of his middle-class family limitations. Revolution is not his cup of tea. But he supported Sidharth because his beloved loves Sidharth. Vikram is ready to do anything that pleases his beloved. Though unaccepted, he knows that she respects his love for her. He knows that she wanted him to be with her in any situation. And in the course, when he tried to save his beloved's lover (Sidharth), he is beaten to an extent where he loses his memory. The only thing that he remembers (or that he could not forget) in his mindless state is his love for his beloved and that her name is: Geeta.

This film shows Sidharth running along the thorny path of revolution. Geeta follows him. Vikram helps Geeta whenever she stumbles. But does Sidharth reach his destiny? If not, when will he?

MY REVIEW

The film leaves the audience with lots of insight and the concerned questions about the existing society or the society that has drowsily existed for the last fifty years of independence. It takes the audience through the silly and ugly shape of Indian politics, designed by the self-serving leaders and celebrities. Now let me tell why I would recommend this film to you.

Kay Kay Menon as Sidharth was as usual brilliant in his histrionics. The intensity in his eyes was great. His voice was softer than necessary, but that could hardly spoil his performance.

Chitrangada Singh reminded me of Smita Patel and Nandita Das. She gave a very good performance and she was alluringly apt for her role of Geeta: a woman on whom almost every man feels possessive.

After watching his pathetic performance in 'Sins', I hardly expected anything from Shiney Ahuja in this film. But he turned out to be the best part of the film. He was charming and sincere as a lover-boy; he was awesome as a responsible man; he was acceptably pitiable as a man who loses everything for his beloved.

The technical aspects of the film are good; esp. the cinematography was brilliant. The dialogues (90% is in English) are captivating. The screenplay was terrific.

'Chemeli' left me with a not-so-good opinion about Sudhir Mishra. But Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi is one of the best films in Indian cinema. Hats off, to Sudhir for his sincere effort.

The only negative point of this film is its story structure which is very much bookish (like a novel). Film dynamics are absent, which makes it difficult for normal audience to pay interest to the story.

HAZAARON THO NAHIN, PAR MERI EK SHIKAAYAT HAI

Throughout the film, I had one irritating problem. Some idiots sitting in the back row were laughing loudly when some serious situations were happening on the screen. This film being a tribute to all those young men and women, who have sacrificed their futures for the future of our country, I request all the audience to think twice before playing jokes on serious issues.

Taking part in revolutions is a bit far from our scope of lifestyle, but the minimum we can do is to respect those who have taken the bold step.