Manjhi, Masaan, and
New Cinema Stories
“Manjhi -The Mountain
Man” is a good film as far as its story is concerned. But it has its flaws a
film. Many of these flaws are technical, and some are related to storytelling.
But Nawazuddin Siddiqui single handedly saves the film by his excellent performance
and dialogue delivery (which used to be feted at one point of time). He (alone)
makes the film worth watching. Moreover, I always firmly believed and reiterate
here that India and its interiors have some amazing stories waiting to be told –
and filmmakers will have go inside into the “non-glamorous” parts of India to
get some stories worth telling. That’s where “Masaan” came from, “Tanu Weds
Manu” and “Dum Laga Ke Haisha” came, and now “Manjhi” has come. These are just
a few recent examples. I am sure many more are being discovered and will be
filmed.
The story of “Manjhi”
is of a poor, illiterate man (Dashrath Das Manjhi) who single handedly carved out
a roadway through the mountain in his village using only a hammer and chisel,
reducing the distance to nearby town from about 70 kms to just 5 km (different figures
are reported here). All this for the love of his life – his wife Phalguni Devi
(Phagunia for him). This story is
from a non-descript village, Gehlore, in Gaya district of Bihar.
Bihar has its own Bhojpuri
film industry which produces its own “kind of” cinema. But they didn’t think
this story was worth telling on the big screen (or maybe didn’t have the infrastructure
and resources to make such a film). And this story had been in the news after the
advent Indian TV news, and years after he completed the roadway in 80s. He died
in 2007, but ABP news (formerly Star News) has a video interview of Manjhi
which they have begun playing again. As per Wikipedia
page on Manjhi[1],
Films Division had produced a documentary film on him “The man who moved the
mountain” in 2012. Later, Ketan Mehta took note of this story of exceptional feat,
and finally made this film, which officially released on 21st
August, 2015.
The problem with this
film is not of “intent” but perhaps of its “ambition”. The over commercialization
of “Manjhi” is very evident. Yes, Manjhi did what he did for love. But I am
sure the romance in 50s and 60s would have been much subtle and not as filmy as
shown in the film? They way the film glamourises the romance in the film, it looks
a little unconvincing after a point. I am sorry for I shouldn’t compare, but I
just loved “Masaan”, for its story, but more for its consistent authenticity
and grit to remain honest to the story and its plot. It’s disturbing but it
stays that way, and thus touches hearts. There were parts in “Masaan”’s the
first half where I felt the movie had slowed down, but it picked up soon and
carried forward very convincingly. It stayed with me for days after watching.
However, “Manjhi”’s ambition to be a film “entertaining” enough to make money
at the Box-Office is perhaps what defeats it.
The film should have
remained ground to its story, plot and place it’s based – and then it would
have been more successful. Here, you see Dashrath-Phagunia romance in “special
effects”; there is a repeat of Nawaz’s “antics” from “Gangs of Wasseypur-II”
(with colourful clothes and shades!), Delhi Police inspector in the 80s talks as
they do in present times; and a lot of actors don’t get the local dialect
correct (mind you – it’s a stellar star cast to support Nawaz here: Radhika
Apte – one of the finest actress on the horizon with a range of roles in her portfolio:
“Badlapur”, “Hunter”, “Ahalya”, “Shor in the City”; and Tigmanshu Dhulia – a fine
actor-director, and others). Moreover, there is no effort made to show the
progress of Manjhi’s hard work over two decades. A lot of times he is shown going
to and breaking the mountain which appears to be at the same spot where he
started. There is no progression shown. Towards the end, you suddenly see the
roadway ready (only after Manjhi and few villagers clear a huge stone from the
way!)
But these are small irritants.
If you can ignore these, the film is definitely worth a watch. Also, the film must
be applauded for highlighting social evils of that time (and still prevalent in
many parts of the country) like untouchability, casteism, poverty, corruption, lack
of basic amenities like drinking water, hospital, roads, etc. For Nawaz’s
brilliant performance of Manjhi, for his amazing dialogue delivery. His dialogues
stay with you; they have an impact – “Jab
Tab Todenge Nahi, Chhodeinge Nahi; Bahute Lamba Dangle Chalega Re Hamaar Tor”.
To say in his own
dialogues from the film, Nawaz is “Shandaar. Zabardast. Jindabaad!!” Unfortunately
for the film’s producers and team, “Manjhi”’s ‘preview copy’ got leaked about
10 days before the film’s release. But as a friend of mine said post this leak:
“I will still watch it on big screen. We need to see such films in cinema halls”.
I second him. We need to support such efforts of making good cinema.
© Shambhu Sahu, 2015
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