Sudhir Mishra has been the cult figure of parallel cinema in recent years. This time he comes out with critically acclaimed 'Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi' (HKA). Mishra' s directorial journey began with heroine-oriented film 'Main Zinda Hoon' to yet another heroine oriented 'Chameli'. 'HKA' strikes some resemblance with his own 'Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin', a perplexed thriller. 'HKA' is heavily fed on contents of political upheaval in late 60's and mid 70's in India. Mishra's most ambitious venture 'HKA' has got critical acclaim from leading film festivals. Berlin and Los Angeles Film Festivals appreciated this flick for its contents and cinematic quality. Mishra's tryst with political system has shown his characters in gray shades as they confront against all odds. The film has the coagulation of English dialogues with Hindi that clearly shows that the target audiences are mainly classes and overseas centers.
In terms of treatment, the film has a striking resemblance with Mani Shanker's 'Tango Charlie'. Both these films have been reality shows as they portray realism with an attitude of optimism. The film is a journey of events that took place in Kolkata, Delhi and Bhojpur (Bihar) from 1969 to 1975. Mishra has been bold enough to present the scenario of mid 70's when an infamous Emergency was imposed in India. Unfortunately entertainment contents are neglected in essaying realistic concepts like this. 'HKA' is high on cinematic quality and low on entertainment contents. Viewers will be disappointed as this neither falls in the cadre of mushy love stories nor in spine chilling thrillers. Director Sudhir Mishra should be complimented in conceiving an unconventional script coupled with path- breaking performances from new faces.
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'HKA' has three main characters -- Siddarth Tyabji (Kay Kay Menon), Geeta Rao (Chitragandha Singh) and Vikram Malhotra (Shiney Ahuja). In terms of performances they have been brilliant with some well-hatched emotional scenes. Kay Kay's first screen presence was in 'Chhal' that had similar shades with the character of a protagonist he plays in 'HKA'. He might not be having conventional looks or masculine body to entice female audiences, but he has the intensity to grip the audiences. Kay Kay might fit into the shoes of contemporary method actors like Om Puri and Naseerudin Shah. Chitraganda Singh makes her screen debut in a sensitive and selective role. She has a striking facial resemblance with Smita Patil, a versatile actress and eminent figure in parallel cinema. Chitraganda surprises all with her confidant performance and innovative acting skill as she might find place in nomination for Best Female Debutante. Like her predecessor Smita Patil she plays deglamorized character with a lot of substance. In real life she is happily married to ace golfer Jyoti Randhwa. Shiney Ahuja, a model-turned-actor, makes his second screen presence as his first offering 'Sins' sank without a trace. Shiney played lecherous priest in 'Sins' as he returned there with the performance of an obsessed lover. Shiney shows lots of improvement over his last performance as he delivers some Punjabi dialogues in the film.
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'HKA' is autobiographical journey of Siddharth (Kay Kay) from Marxist idiolect to Naxalite rebellion. It starts off from late 60's when Siddharth along with his friends raised a Marxism voice. Geeta (Chitragandha Singh) is madly in love with Siddharth, but the latter chooses politics as his first love. Vikram (Shiney Ahuja) is a silent admirer of Geeta and nurses ambition to marry her. Geeta plans for higher studies and migrates to England. Siddharth works on his ideology and prefers to join Naxalite movement in Bihar. During that period Vikram matures into a prominent business personality. In due course Geeta marries Arun (Ram Kapoor), an alcoholic IAS officer. Geeta leads an undesired married life, and tension mounts as she carries her relationship with Siddharth. Geeta joins Siddharth in his Naxalite movement in Bihar. Communal violence aggravates claiming lives of innocents following bloodbath. Geeta tries to remove illiteracy by educating them, and Siddharth forms a strong force to fight evil forces. In 1975, Emergency is declared and Siddharth along with Geeta lands up in trouble. Vikram is influential and has connections with high government authorities. Vikram is still in love despite the fact that he is happily married. He uses his power to save Geeta, and gets her back to Delhi. In a hot pursuit to confront Siddharth he lands up in trouble. He is brutally beaten up by the police and loses his senses and becomes vegetable. Siddharth drops his passion for politics and decides to study medicine in England. Geeta refuses to accompany him and plans to care for Vikram for the rest of her life.
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Sudhir Mishra flares up against the social order that is based on the brutal oppression of the socially challenged. He coagulates human sacrificial nature with his never-ending passion for his idealism. Mishra along his Shiv Kumar Subramaniyam and Narain plans a socio-relevant script that forays into a writer's tryst with the political system. It will find critical acclamation, but few takers among ordinary viewers. Shantanu Moitra's music has been in the background with loads of traditional classical Indian music. The film works on the famous poetic lines "Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi Ho Ki Har Khwaish Pe Dum Nikle". It essays an inspirational journey of a poet during his struggle for a happy life. It has been Pritish Nandy Communications' film with Rangita Pritish Nandy being its producer. The last amalgamation of this production house with Sudhir Mishra's directoral treat fetched 'Chameli'.
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'HKA' will find place among the audiences who are heavily fed on quality cinematic concepts. The film is thought provoking and can be termed as a "reality show" made in the name of cinema. The audiences and distributors have had a sigh of relief after the release of 'Lucky'. Audiences, who crave for teenage romance, melodramatic sagas or sexually enriched murder mysteries, will be disappointed. 'HKA' has made it to all major film festivals in recent times as one wonder why it had a low promotion all over India. On box office it will have tough times, as it is pitted against commercially oriented 'Mumbai Xpress', Kuchh Meetha Ho Jaaye' and 'Khamosh'. In short, the film can be termed as high on narrative quality and low on entertainment contents.
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