Filmistaan

There is a scene towards the end of Filmistaan in which Sunny (Sharib Hashmi) tells Aftaab (Innamulhaq) about a dream that even I have had on many an occasion.  What if partition had never occured. “Sachin Tendulkar, M S Dhoni, Inzaman Ul Haq aur Shahid Afridi sab ek team mein. Mehndi Hassan, Ghulam Ali, Abida Parveen, Nusrat Saab – sab ek hi mitti ke toh bane hain”.

That small segment was the one that stood out amongst so many endearing and several hilarious moments through this movie.  Filmistaan’s story is based around the dream that that many of us (who haven’t seen the worst period in our history) have.  A dream that may never see the light of day.  A dream that is made of world where people do not kill each other in the name of religion or god or for any such insignificant reasons.

After all, have been, are and will be as Sunny says – sons of the same soil.  Thank you very much Nitin Kakkar for having picked up this dream that so many of us have and recreating it on the silver screen.  It is good to know that there are others who share the same thought.

Sunny (Sharib Hashmi) is a struggling, aspiring actor in Bollywood.  He is broke and when left with no choice, decides to accompany a bunch of US citizens who are in India to shoot a film about infiltration across the border in Rajasthan.  Armed with a Central Government approval and Sunny as the Assistant Director, they are shooting the film when the local police start harassing them.  Sunny saves the day with his wit.

On the way back after a long shoot, the good natured Sunny is kidnapped by a bunch of Mujahids (I can only assume) and taken to a village somewhere close to the Pakistan border.  What follows is the story of how Sunny quickly wins over the village folk with his antics and unsurpassable knowledge of Bollywood and a friendship that develops between Sunny and Aftaab.

Nitin Kakkar’s attention to detail makes me say that he is one guy we should watch out for.  If there were errors, I could not find any – and I am usually on a witch hunt for mistakes.  It was either because Kakkar was perfect (which may not be the case) or he is extremely skillful enough to distract you from those mistakes and keep the audience in line with the story – good job done there.

The dialogue is extremely funny – and consistently at that.  The performances are superb.  Watch out for the ever reliable Kumud Mishra as the Mujahid – Mohammed who is left behind to ensure Sunny is kept in line.  Sharib Hashmi & Innamulhaq of course steal the show, making Filmistaan a must watch for this weekend.  Don’t miss it.  7 on 10.

Watch the trailer on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-0LWnz8Ut0