MUMBAI MERI JAAN
SHAKEN AND STIRRED
by Vishal Verma

Banner: UTV Motion Pictures
Genre: Drama
Target Audience: Mass and Class both
Producer: Ronnie Screwvala
Co-Producers: Zarina Mehta, Deven Khote, Alpana Mishra.
Director: Nishikant Kamat
Star Cast: Kay Kay Menon, Irrfan Khan, Soha Ali Khan, Madhavan, Paresh Rawal, Vijay Maurya.
D.O.P. Sanjay Jadhav
Story Dialogues & Lyirics: Yogesh Vinayak Joshi
Screenplay: Yogesh Vinayak Joshi, Upendra Sidhaya
Editor: Amit Pawar
Production Design: Mahesh Salgaonkar, Dhananjoy Mondal, Parimal Das Poddar.
Sound Design: Sanjay Maurya, Allwyn Rego.
Music: Sameer Phaterpekar
Media Promotion: Image Smiths

Technical Analysis
Three cheers! First one to UTV for coming with a niche and nice piece of cinematic brilliance after ‘Aamir’ that underlines the true spirit of Mumbai.

Second is shared between the helmer Nishikant Kamat who after the impressive debut with ‘Dombivli Fast’, offers tribute to the ‘never say die’ attitude of the most crowded and the most beloved cosmopolitan city of India, with the writers Yogesh Vinayak Joshi, & Upendra Sidhaya who with there simple & yet realistic pen work make the right punches at the right time which shakes the audience violently but in the effort stirs the soul of the true mumbaikar, who every time and again had kept the torch of humanity and unity alive with their profound enthusiasm and vigor. One of the prime reasons that we love this island city.

And the last but not the least cheer scream goes to the gifted actors in this maverick piece of art on the marquee.

Each and every actor - Kay Kay Menon, Irrfan Khan, Soha Ali Khan, Madhavan, Vijay Maurya, get the required space to display their brilliance and it becomes extremely difficult to single out one.

But Paresh Rawal – The veteran actor manages to score some extra points with his remarkable skill.
Paresh also gets some good support from the pen of Yogesh who reserves best punch line to Paresh. The best according to me was at the time when Vijay Maurya - a new entrant to the police force is upset when Paresh - a senior on the verge of retirement accepts bribe and allows the bar to run on the night of 7/11 (serial local train blast in Mumbai), Paresh with his remarkable ease says “ Agar Bar bandh ho jayga toh Mumbai ki ‘spirit’ ka kya hoga’.

There are many moments in the film like Soha Ali Khan (a TV journalist) gets the taste of her own medicine when she is asked to give bytes on her missing fiancée who is the blast victim.

Nishikant Kamat succeeds in giving a fresh approach which does not deter the essence and vigor of art –house cinema to this tale filled with pain, sad decisions and ugly consequences. Though Nishikant Kamat film rewinds the memory of the 7/11 blast, but ultimately this bravely unembellished drama is more apparent than real, the fact is, it’s a study in contrasts and a story of survival. 

The crowning achievements of ‘MUMBAI MERI JAAN’ is its ability to make us consider the ‘spirit’ of togetherness with the not giving up attitude that makes you fall in love with the city again. There are some flaws but that are minimal like the editor Amit Pawar could have been provided with an extra pair of scissors especially during the climax.

Otherwise, it’s a perfect explanation to anybody why ‘Mumabi’ never dies. Want to know why this city never dies and sleeps then watch ‘Mumbai Meri Jaan’.

The Story
A study in contrasts and a story of survival. On July 11, 2006 the local train service, known as Mumbai's lifeline, was struck by a series of bomb blasts. Bombay Meri Jaan explores the impact of this devastating incident on the lives of the people of Mumbai. From a brilliant broadcast journalist (Soha Ali Khan) to a patriotic corporate man (Madhavan); from a retiring policeman (Paresh Rawal) at the twilight of his life to a rookie cop (Vijay Maurya) at the dawn of his career; from an angry and xenophobic unemployed young man (K K Menon) to a coffee-vendor struggling to survive and belong (Irfan Khan).

Mumbai Meri Jaan follows 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.

Promotion
Shows, shows and shows the movie is relying heavily on word of mouth. By the time of writing this write up about half a dozen shows had been organized for the industry and media.  Now, that spells confidence.

Media awareness by Image Smiths had been reasonable. If the movie had made some rounds in the festival circuit then the brochure could have been more interesting.

Business Analysis
It’s pitted against a comedy (one of the current flavors of the season), a horror and a family entertainer which is part 2 of last years most widely watched movie in TV and a reasonable grosser at multiplexes last year.

This being stark and a realistic eye-opener with known faces should find its audience in multiplex and metros.

Serious efforts should be made to make it ‘Tax Free’ especially in Maharashtra.

UTV deserves an extra pat on their back for their concern of quality cinema. More pls. 

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