'Mumbai Meri Jaan' deserves applaud for all that a movie needs to contain like screenplay, direction and characterization. While Nishikant Kamat has sensibly directed it though it's his first Hindi movie, Yogesh Vinayak Joshi and Upendra Sidhaye have provided it an immaculate and emotionally binding screenplay. The film doesn't deviate from the core issue. Besides, every protagonist has his or her well-defined role.
Well, the credit will ultimately go to the director who has provided every single ingredient of a good movie and all that without song numbers, comedy tracks or romance angles. In the absence of these commercial aspects, the movie will prove a meaningful one but with lesser prospects from amongst the masses. Such type of a movie is rare that's perfect in all of its technical, emotional aspects. Though it has a meaning, the movie doesn't preach so.
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The story is based on the unfortunate incident of July 11, 2006, when the local train service, known as Mumbai's lifeline, was struck by a series of bomb blasts. 'Mumbai Meri Jaan' explores the impact of this devastating incident on the lives of people of Mumbai. In the movie, Suresh played by Kay Kay Menon is a Hindu fundamentalist vis-à-vis the minority community while Nikhil played by R Madhavan is a corporate guy and a patriot inasmuch as he opposes plastic bags and endorses public transport.
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Soha Ali Khan who plays Rupali is a broadcast journalist. She sensationalizes news to make it saleable and does so in the name of freedom of expression. Paresh Rawal plays Tukaram Patil, a constable due to retire soon. Paresh is accompanied by his junior Sunil Kadam (Vijay Maurya) on patrolling duty, but the latter is agitated because of the prevailing injustice and corruption. The story will be incomplete without Thomas played by Irrfan Khan who plays a nomadic coffee vendor. Though each character plays a different role, they are all connected with the Mumbai train blast. However, Rupali played by Soha Ali Khan suffers individually. While Nikhil develops a train phobia, Suresh turns a pessimist vis-à-vis the Muslims. Thomas, of course, uses the terror threat to his advantage.
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The movie reminds us of Naseeruddin Shah's 'Yun Hota To Kya Hota' where multiple stories ran in parallel episodes and converged at the 9/11 terrorist attack on the Twin Towers. Here, Nishikant Kamat's 'Mumbai Meri Jaan' turns an emotional journey of five varied stories unveiling into one in the movie's duration of two and half hours. One wonders why it is so titled. The director explains that this is more of a tribute to the never-dying spirit of this dynamic city called Mumbai.
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The movie centers around the lives of people from all strata of Mumbai's bustling society as they tackle the aftermath of a fatal incident that brings out the best and sometimes the worst in them: from a brilliant broadcast journalist to a patriotic corporate guy; from a retiring policeman to a rookie cop; from an angry and unemployed young man to a coffee-vendor struggling to survive.
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Amongst the five stories, the ones that leave a stronger impact are Paresh Rawal-Vijay Maurya, Irrfan Khan and Kay Kay Menon. Soha's story may not touch your heart as much since it tends to go overboard, while Madhavan's has its moments, though not like those of Paresh, Irrfan and K.K. Hence, Paresh is on the top followed by Irrfan and Kay Kay. The actor makes his part appear so real. Madhavan and Vijay Maurya aren't far behind. Soha has been performing better and better in each of her movie.
We can recommend it to each and every serious movie watcher.
