Lage Raho Munna Bhai
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Lage Raho Munna Bhai | |
|---|---|
 Movie poster for Lago Raho Munna Bhai' |
|
| Directed by | Rajkumar Hirani |
| Produced by | Vidhu Vinod Chopra |
| Written by | Rajkumar Hirani (screenplay) Abhijat Joshi (screenplay) Vidhu Vinod Chopra (screenplay associate) |
| Starring | Sanjay Dutt Arshad Warsi Vidya Balan Dia Mirza Boman Irani Dilip Prabhavalkar Kulbhushan Kharbanda |
| Music by | Shantanu Moitra |
| Cinematography | C.K. Muralidharan |
| Editing by | Rajkumar Hirani |
| Distributed by | Vinod Chopra Productions |
| Release date(s) | September 1, 2006 |
| Running time | 130 minutes |
| Language | Hindi |
| Preceded by | Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. (2003) |
| IMDb profile | |
Lage Raho Munna Bhai (Carry on Munna Bhai) is a 2006 Bollywood comedy directed by Rajkumar Hirani and produced by Vinod Chopra Productions. It is the second film of the Munna Bhai series, preceded by Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.. However, apart from having the same main characters, the film bears little relation to the previous edition and does not continue the plot in a sequel format. It stars Sanjay Dutt, Arshad Warsi, Vidya Balan, Boman Irani, Dilip Prabhavalkar, and Dia Mirza.
In this film, Munna Bhai, a bhai or a Tapori (a leader in the Mumbai underworld who speaks in Bambaiya Hindi) and his close friend Circuit are involved in promoting Gandhism which Munna Bhai calls "Gandhigiri". This particular use of an underlying moral is a tradmark of Vidhu Vinod Chopra and has distinguished it from other Bollywood films.[1]
The movie was a major hit within India and was ranked #1 on the box office for eight weeks after its release. [2]
Contents |
[edit] Synopsis
The main plot revolves around the continuing adventures of the protagonist, Munna Bhai (Sanjay Dutt) and his sidekick (who provides the comic relief of the series), Circuit (Arshad Warsi).
Munna is in love (via the radio) with the voice of Jhanvi (Vidya Balan), a radio disc jockey and devises a plan to meet her when she announces a contest on the life and beliefs of Mahatma Gandhi set for October 2. As Munna does not know what the significance of October 2 is he asks Circuit, who tells him that it is "Dry Day" (since alcoholic drinks are not sold on this day). Upon further investigation, Circuit discovers that "Dry Day" is Gandhi Jayanti, a national holiday which celebrates the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi (or "Bapu," as he is referred to in the film).
Circuit helps Munna to win the contest by kidnapping and then bribing a group of professors of history to provide Munna with the answers. Munna wins the quiz and is invited to be a guest on Jhanvi's radio show. During his visit, Munna tells her that he is a professor of history and an expert on Gandhi. Jhanvi subsequently asks him to present a lecture on Gandhi to a community of senior citizens who live in her home, called the Second Innings House. As Munna does not know anything about the life of Gandhi, Circuit convinces him that the only solution is to put himself through an intensive period of study in a library devoted to the life and works of Gandhi.
It is during this period that the image of Mahatma Gandhi begins to appear before Munna Bhai in the library. After this initial meeting, Gandhi appears before Munna and offers advice whenever Munna sings Raghupathi Raghava Rajaram, (one of Gandhi's favorite songs, often sung in his memory). [3] Munna uses this advice and the principles of Gandhigiri to give his lecture and answer the questions asked by his audience.
In one of the many subplots of the film, Lucky Singh (Boman Irani), an unscrupulous businessman who employs Circuit and Munna Bhai to conduct "underground" activities, is negotiating his daughter Simran's (Dia Mirza) marriage to the son of a very wealthy man. Simran, however, is a "manglik", a fact which Lucky attempts to conceal from her future father-in-law, Kkhurana (Kulbhushan Kharbanda). Kkhurana is also a businessman who bases his life on the predictions and superstitions of his astrologer Batuk Maharaj (Saurabh Shukla).
Lucky wishes to present the Second Innings House as a wedding present to Kkhurana. Thus, he sends Munna, Jhanvi, and the elder residents of the house holiday in Goa and orders Circuit to seize the house. When Munna returns he is livid with Lucky and threatens to reseize the house. However, Lucky ensures Munna's silence when he threatens to reveal Munna's true occupation to Jhanvi.
In turning to Gandhi for help, Munna learns about satyagraha (non-violence) which he then uses with the residents of Second Innings in an attempt to regain their home. Part of this campaign is a new radio show he creates with Jhanvi which utilizes Gandhigiri as a means of resolving ordinary conflicts and problems. He also suggests that people send "Get well soon" cards and flowers to Lucky Singh (as Lucky has the "disease" of dishonesty). Lucky becomes overwhelmed by the patronising cards and flowers frequently sent to him.
Eventually, Lucky again threatens to tell Jhanvi the truth and once again Munna turns to Gandhi for advice. Gandhi believes Munna must tell Jhanvi himself, which he eventually does though at the loss of Jhanvi. Munna is now alone in his struggle against Lucky.
Munna eventually divulges to Lucky that he can see and talk to Mahatma Gandhi. Lucky uses this confession to his advantage and announces it to the media during a press conference. A psychiatrist then gives a quiz to Munna and uses its outcome to justify his theory that Munna is suffering from hallucinations. In despair, Munna returns to the radio station to contact Jhanvi. Unexpectedly, Victor D'Souza (Jimmy Shergill), a man he had helped earlier, calls and reports that Simran has run away after discovering that her father had lied to her future in-laws. Munna, in the spirit of Gandhism, advises her to go back and tell her father-in-law that she is a "manglik."
When Simran returns, she is rejected by her father-in-law to-be because she is a manglik, despite the fact that Munna proves that the astrologer cannot predict his own future. Kkhurana's son (Abhishek Bachchan) makes an appearance and defies tradition by stating that he will marry her. Lucky, grateful that Munna managed to allow his daughter's marriage to go through, returns Second Innings. Munna presents it back to Jhanvi and is forgiven.
As Gandhi guides Munna Bhai to cultivate a new life based upon Gandhism, particularly non-violence and truth (which Munna Bhai calls Gandhigiri), all of the characters in the film are eventually influenced by this new perspective.
[edit] Characters (cast)
- Murli Prasad Sharma aka Munna Bhai (Sanjay Dutt). A bhai or a Tapori - a leader in the Mumbai underworld who speaks in Bambaiya Hindi - the colloquial Hindi language of Mumbai. He becomes a disciple of Mahatma Gandhi and begins to follow Gandhism which he calls Gandhigiri. The word bhai can also mean "brother."
- Sarkeshwar aka Circuit (Arshad Warsi). Munna's sidekick and best friend or consigliere.
- Jhanvi (Vidya Balan). A Mumbai disc jockey who is Munna's love interest. She takes care of senior citizens in a house run by her grandfather called Second Innings.
- Mahatma Gandhi (Dilip Prabhavalkar) . The mentor of Munna who appears to him after a period of hard study in the Mahatma Gandhi Library.
- Victor D'Souza (Jimmy Shergill). A young man who lost his father's savings in the stock market and who turns to Munna Bhai for help.
- Lucky Singh (Boman Irani). A businessman who engages in unscrupulous activities and utilizes the "services" of Munna and Circuit. He is the father of Simran.
- Simran Singh (Dia Mirza). The daughter of Lucky Singh. Her father is negotiating her marriage in this film, which is complicated by the fact that she is a "manglik" or someone born under an unlucky astrological horoscope.
- Kkhurana (Kulbhushan Kharbanda). The father-in-law to-be of Simran. He is a businessman whose interest in numerology and astrology controls all aspects of his life.
- Batuk Maharaj (Saurabh Shukla). An astrologer who makes all of Kkhurana's business and personal decisions for him (including adding an extra K to his name).
- Abhishek Bachchan in a surprise cameo appearance
[edit] Background and research
Sanjay Dutt did not prepare for the role by reading Gandhi's My Experiments with Truth. Rather he states in an interview with The Times of India that both his father, Sunil Dutt (who portrays Munna Bhai's father in the first film, Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.) and his mother (the late actress Nargis) were his role models as they "were basically Gandhians. We were brought up with those values".[4] Boman Irani (who has also portrayed Gandhi in the Feroz Khan play, Mahatma Vs Gandhi [5]) prepared for the role of Lucky Singh by spending time in auto spare parts shops. [6]
[edit] Cultural allusions
Cinematic works by Vidhu Vinod Chopra (such as Parineeta) often contain allusions to other important films and works of literature. In Lage Raho Munna Bhai, Jhanvi's opening line for her radio show, "Gooooooood Moooooooorninnnng Mumbai!", is reminiscent of Robin Williams' opening for his radio show in the 1987 film, Good Morning, Vietnam.[7], [8]
[edit] Reaction
[edit] Tax free
The film was made tax-free in Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Mumbai and Uttar Pradesh as it promotes Gandhian ideals of truth and non-violence.[9][10][11][12]
[edit] Box office and critics
The film was ranked #1 in the box office during its first eight weeks. It is now currently in the #4 spot.[2] It has also been financially successful overseas[13] and has received high praise from critics.[14] According to box office analysts, the film crossed the Rs 69 crore nett gross in its tenth week and is a "Super Duper Hit".[2]
[edit] Honors and awards
In 2006, the Broadcast India 2006 Awards for Excellence in Film & Television (part of the Broadcast India 2006 Exhibition & Symposium) awarded Best Director to Rajkumar Hirani for Lage Raho Munna Bhai. [15] Producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra will submit Lage Raho Munna Bhai as an independent entry to the 79th Academy Awards, which will be held in 2007.[16],[17]
[edit] Screenings
After a personal screening of the film, the Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh stated, "It captures Bapu's message about the power of truth and humanism." [18] In a press release dated 17 November 2006, Singh discusses a new Public Services Bill which is being introduced to combat corruption and cites Lage Raho Munna Bhai as one of its influences. [19]
Lage Raho Munna Bhai was also screened in the United Nations auditorium on 10 November 2006, making it the first Hindi film to be shown there. The film was introduced by Shashi Tharoor, United Nations Under-Secretary General for Communications and Public Information and Rajkumar Hirani, Abhijat Joshi and "Lucky Singh" actor Boman Irani entertained questions afterwards. Lage Raho Munna Bhai was well received by the audience of diplomats and journalists as it was "an evening that had started with massive security arrangements in the sombre UN setting, [and] concluded in a festive atmosphere in the lounge of the UN with diplomats from other tables joining in raising a toast for the film." [20]
It also opened the film festival Melodramas Of Change: USC's First Indian Film Festival, University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts, on 27 October 2006 (organized by Priya Jaikumar, professor of critical studies). Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Rajkumar Hirani, and Abhijat Joshi entertained questions from the audience after the screening. Filmmaker Gurinder Chadha also attended and spoke at the conclusion of the question and answer session. [21] [22]
[edit] Social and cultural impact
According to a 07 November 2006 article in The Charlotte Observer (reprinted from the Chicago Tribune), Lage Raho Munna Bhai has "made Gandhi suddenly hip. Inspired by the hit movie, Indians are increasingly embracing his philosophy, staging nonviolent protests, starting Web sites, handing out roses to enemies and putting on peaked white caps from the Gandhi era."[23]A 02 October 2006 article in The Washington Post, supports this contention stating that Lage Raho Munna Bhai has turned Gandhi into a "new pop icon" in India.[24] This new interest has led, according to a 22 September 2006 article in The Telegraph (Kolkata), to an increased interest in books by and about Gandhi. [25] Indeed, The Hindu reported that after receiving a request for a copy of Gandhi's autobiography, My Experiments with Truth from an inmate at the Arthur Road Prison, the Mumbai Sarvodaya Mandal announced a plan to distribute the text for free and to screen the film in jails throughout the country. [26]
In addition to this, a 09 September 2006 article in The Times of India stated that Lage Raho Munna Bhai popularised Gandhism under the new term, Gandhigiri. [27] Some, according to The Washington Post, have suggested that this phenomenon could be attributed to the film simplifying Gandhi's "lofty ideals" and conveying them "in contemporary, colloquial language.[24] Others, according to The Christian Science Monitor, have noted that the appeal of the film lies in the fact that "Gandhi gets his hands dirty. He appears as an apparition only visible to the wayward gangster, counselling him on how to help others deal with everyday problems." [28] An 13 October 2006 article in The Boston Globe, states that this reawakening of an interest in Gandhi through the concept of Gandhigiri has had a positive impact in India and suggests, "What America needs is a film that encourages people to take up Gandhigiri, Kinggiri, or Kennedygiri. If it worked for Bollywood, it could work for Hollywood." [29]
The film inspired farmers to stage a protest with flowers in the Vidarbha region.[30] Other examples of "Gandhigiri" protests have also been reported. People who organized a protest in Lucknow claimed to have been inspired by Lage Raho Munna Bhai to use roses to convey their message.[31] Medical students in Lucknow claimed to have been inspired by Lage Raho Munna Bhai to do volunteer work, planting trees "to conserve nature which is bound to benefit public health." [32]. Mafia don Babloo Srivastava claimed to have been inspired by Lago Raho Munna Bhai to distribute roses as a "message of love and peace".[33]
[edit] Soundtrack
The CD was released in July 2006. "Aane char aane" was sung by Indian Idol (Season 2) runnerup, NC Karunya.[34]. Shantanu Moitra is the musical composer and Swanand Kirkire the lyricist. [35]
- "Lage Raho Munnabhai" - Vinod Rathod
- "Samjho Hi Ho Gaya" -Sanjay Dutt , Arshad Warsi , Vinod Rathod
- "Aane Char Aane" - NC Karunya
- "Pal Pal...Har Pal" - Sonu Nigam and Shreya Ghosal
- "Bande Mein Tha Dum Vande Mataram" - Sonu Nigam, Shreya Ghosal, Pranab Biswas
- "Bande Mein Tha Dum Vande Mataram" (instrumental)
- "Aane Char Aane" (remix)
- "Lage Raho Munnabhai" (remix)
[edit] DVD
The DVD of Lage Raho Munna Bhai is available from Eros Entertainment. The package also contains a bonus DVD, which includes a review of Lage Raho ... predecessor Munna Bhai M.B.B.S., a making-of, making of music, a comparison between the two Munnabhai movies and a special feature, Munna meets Bapu. [36]
[edit] The Munna Bhai series and remakes
[edit] Series
The other film in the series is the 2003 film Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. Each installment features the central characters (Munna Bhai and Circuit) in a story which is comprehensive unto itself and is not continued or referred to in another film in the series.
The series has been likened to Laurel and Hardy films by some. [37] Others have negated this comparison, stating that the series is more akin to the Road to... "buddy films" of Bob Hope and Bing Crosby. [38]
[edit] Recurring cast members
Boman Irani appears in both films as the antagonist and Jimmy Shergill as a secondary character who is rescued by Munna Bhai. In addition, several actors from Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. have minor roles in Lage Raho Munna Bhai, such as Kurush Deboo who portrayed Dr. Rustam Pavri in the first film.
[edit] Remakes
The film will be remade in Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada. [39] Rajinikanth has been approached to star in the Tamil version while Chiranjeevi who was the lead in Shankar Dada MBBS, the remake of Munnabhai M.B.B.S, is reportedly interested in reprising the role for the Telegu remake[40] (Munna Bhai M.B.B.S is also being remade as Gangsta M.D. with Chris Tucker in talks for the lead).
[edit] See also
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ "Meri News Review: Lage Raho Munna Bhai", www.merinews.com. Retrieved on 2006-11-16.
- ^ a b c "Box Office India", boxofficeindia.com. Retrieved on 2006-09-29.
- ^ "Several programmes mark Gandhi Jayanti celebrations in Mysore", hindu.com. Retrieved on 2006-11-16.
- ^ Nair, Nandini. "'My father was modern day Gandhi'", indiatimes.com, 2006-10-01. Retrieved on 2006-10-01.
- ^ "Mahatma v. Gandhi", ferozkhan.com. Retrieved on 2006-11-17.
- ^ "A tortoise who won", thehindu.com, 2006-10-13. Retrieved on 2006-11-17.
- ^ "Lage Raho Munnabhai", dnaindia.com, 2006-09-02. Retrieved on 2006-11-17.
- ^ "Lage Raho Munnabhai", ultrabrown.com. Retrieved on 2006-11-17.
- ^ "Munnabhai goes tax-free in Delhi", ibnlive.com, 2006-09-12. Retrieved on 2006-09-29.
- ^ "Lage Raho Munnabhai' made tax-free in Chhattisgarh", hindu.com, 2006-09-27. Retrieved on 2006-09-29.
- ^ "Lage Raho Munnabhai tax free in Mumbai", businessofcinema.com, 2006-09-29. Retrieved on 2006-09-29.
- ^ "Uttar Pradesh exempts 'Lage Raho Munna bhai' from tax", dailyindia.com, 2006-10-11. Retrieved on 2006-10-11.
- ^ Pais, Arthur. "Sanjay Dutt's biggest hit abroad", rediff.com, 2006-09-7. Retrieved on 2006-09-29.
- ^ "Lage Raho will make you laugh with moist eyes", rediff.com, 2006-09-4. Retrieved on 2006-09-29.
- ^ "This ones’ bigger than FIFA’s", screenindia.com, 2006-11-10. Retrieved on 2006-11-10.
- ^ "Munnabhai joins the Oscar race", ibnlive.com, 2006-09-30. Retrieved on 2006-10-01.
- ^ "Munnabhai eyes Oscar", telegraphindia.com, 2006-09-30. Retrieved on 2006-10-06.
- ^ "Gandhigiri fever caught Manmohan as PM watches Lage Raho Munna Bhai", newasiatimes.com, 2006-10-26. Retrieved on 2006-10-26.
- ^ "PM’S KEY NOTE ADDRESS TO CONFERENCE OF CBI & STATE ANTI-CORRUPTION BUREAUS: GOVERNMENT TO BRING FORWARD PUBLIC SERVICES BILL: PM", pib.nic.in, 2006-11-17. Retrieved on 2006-11-17.
- ^ "UN members laughed and applauded at 'Lage Raho...", glamsham.com, 2006-11-14. Retrieved on 2006-11-14.
- ^ Adarsh, Taran. "Munna's tryst with Oscars begins", indiafm.com, 2006-11-01. Retrieved on 2006-11-01.
- ^ "Melodramas of Change - Visions and Voices: The USC Arts & Humanities Initiative", usc.edu. Retrieved on 2006-10-31.
- ^ Barker, Kim. "Bollywood film is a hit - and so, again, is Gandhi", charlotte.com (Chicago Tribune), 2006-10-02. Retrieved on 2006-10-02.
- ^ a b Rajesh, Y.P.. "Bollywood gangster comedy makes Gandhi new pop icon", washingtonpost.com, 2006-10-02. Retrieved on 2006-10-02.
- ^ "Groove to Gandhi, get it? - Books on Bapu fly off shelves, schools block bulk tickets", telegraphindia.com, 2006-9-22. Retrieved on 2006-10-13.
- ^ "Gandhigiri in prison, inmate pleads for Mahatma's autobiography", hindu.com, 2006-10-08. Retrieved on 2006-10-08.
- ^ CHUNDURI, MRIDULA. "Gandhigiri, a cool way to live", timesofindia.com, 2006-09-29. Retrieved on 2006-09-29.
- ^ Sappenfield, Mark. "It took a comedy to revive Gandhi's ideals in India", csmonitor.com, 2006-10-03 edition. Retrieved on 2006-10-02.
- ^ Sharma, Swati Gauri. "How Gandhi got his mojo back", boston.com, 2006-10-13. Retrieved on 2006-10-13.
- ^ Ahmed, Zubair. "Gandhi-style protest by farmers", bbc.com, 2006-10-12. Retrieved on 2006-10-12.
- ^ "Lucknow residents play Munnabhais", dailyindia.com, 2006-09-20. Retrieved on 2006-09-29.
- ^ "Bollywood's Lage Raho Munna Bhai inspires Lucknow's medical students", sawf.org, 2006-09-27. Retrieved on 2006-09-29.
- ^ "Munnabhai effect: Guns to roses", expressindia.com, 2006-09-29. Retrieved on 2006-09-29.
- ^ "Music Review", planetbollywood.com. Retrieved on 2006-10-05.
- ^ "Smashits - Lage Raho Munna Bhai Music Review", smashits.com. Retrieved on 2006-11-18.
- ^ "Lage Raho Munna Bhai DVD", erosentertainment.com. Retrieved on 2006-11-03.
- ^ "Our answer to Laurel and Hardy?", hinduonnet.com. Retrieved on 2006-10-06.
- ^ Wadia, Piroj. "Carry on with Munnabhai", screenindia.com. Retrieved on 2006-10-06.
- ^ "Lage Raho Munnabhai remake rights sold", businessofcinema.com, 2006-10-23. Retrieved on 2006-10-26.
- ^ "Rajini shows interest in Munnabhai sequel in Tamil", nowrunning.com, 2006-10-06. Retrieved on 2006-11-16.
[edit] External links
General:
Reviews:
| Vidhu Vinod Chopra | |
|---|---|
| Films | Eklavya: The Royal Guard | Mission Kashmir | Kareeb | 1942: A Love Story|Parinda | Khamosh | Sazaye Maut | An Encounter with Faces |
| Vinod Chopra Productions | Eklavya: The Royal Guard |Lage Raho Munna Bhai |Parineeta |Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. |Mission Kashmir | Kareeb | 1942: A Love Story|Parinda | Khamosh | Sazaye Maut | An Encounter with Faces |
