Bombay (film)

"This article is about the film. See Bombay (disambiguation) for other uses."Infobox Film
name = Bombay


image_size =
caption =
director = Mani Ratnam
producer = Mani Ratnam
S. Sriram
writer = Mani Ratnam
Umesh Sharma
narrator =
starring = Arvind Swamy
Manisha Koirala
Tinnu Anand
Nasser
Sonali Bendre
Prakash Raj
music = A. R. Rahman
cinematography = Rajiv Menon
editing = Suresh Urs
distributor = Aalayam
released = April 7 1995
runtime = 141 mins
country = flag|India
location =
language = Tamil
budget =
gross =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website =
amg_id =
imdb_id = 0112553

"Bombay" (1995) is an award-winning Tamil feature film drama directed by Mani Ratnam, starring Arvind Swamy and Manisha Koirala, with music composed by A. R. Rahman. The film met with a strong reception upon release.

The film is centred on events, particularly during the period of December 1992 to January 1993 in India, and the controversy surrounding the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya. Increased religious tensions in the city of Bombay (now Mumbai) led to riots. Shekhar (Arvind Swamy) is the son of traditional Hindu parents. He is studying journalism in Bombay and returns to his village where he comes across Shaila Bano, (Manisha Koirala), a Muslim schoolgirl. The story revolves around their relationship in the midst of religious tension.

The film caused huge controversy upon release in India and abroad, for its depiction of inter-religious relations. Well received critically and commercially, it was screened at many international film festivals including the Philadelphia Film Festival in 1996 where it was an audience favourite.

The film was banned in Singapore, Pakistan and Malaysia upon release.

In July 2005, a book on the film was published by BFI Modern Classics, looking at the film's production, the several issues it covered, and its impact upon release in India and abroad.cite web | title= BFI Books: Bombay: The film | work= BFI.org.uk | url= http://www.bfi.org.uk/booksvideo/books/catalogue/details.php?bookid=397 | date= July 2005 | |accessmonthday=1 February | accessyear=2007] cite web | title= Bombay (film): BFI Modern Classics | work= University of California Press | url= http://www.ucpress.edu/books/bfi/pages/PROD0397.html | date= July 2005 | accessmonthday=1 February | accessyear=2007]

It was subsequently dubbed in Hindi and Telugu.

Plot

), a Muslim girl in the village. Initially shy, Shaila seeks to distance herself from Shekhar, but after frequent run-ins, and days of pursuit, Shaila begins to like Shekhar. Eventually, they both fall in love.

A marriage proposal is vehemently opposed by the lovers' fathers. Shekar's father refuses to accept Shaila as his daughter-in-law, telling Shekhar to find another partner, whilst Shaila's father announces the need for an immediate marriage between his daughter and a Muslim man. Shekhar's father says if the two ever get married, he will cease talking to his son. Shekhar reacts angrily to his father's refusal to accept Shaila, and so leaves, back to Bombay. Shaila, under increasing pressure from her father, escapes from the village and joins Shekhar. At first, Shaila is overwhelmed by the city, having relocated for the first time from rural surroundings to a city life. However, with time she adapts to her new lifestyle. The two get married. The newlyweds move into a new apartment.

A few months later, Shaila becomes pregnant and gives birth to twins, Kabir Narayan and Kamal Basheer. The twins are raised in both religions. Shekar continues to work as a journalist, whilst Shaila works at home, looking after the children. For six years, the family live in Bombay, settling in well, and begin the process of repairing relations with their respective families. The relatives visit the family in the city for the first time in over half a decade, and are overjoyed to see their two grandchildren.

Meanwhile, in India, religious extremism launches each community against the other, causing a wave of Hindu/Muslim riots that leave hundreds dead in Bombay. Targets of violence from both sides, Shaila and Shekhar worry increasingly over the safety of their children, who do not have a fixed religion. They are constantly under threat. The growing tension threatens to bring tragedy to the family and during this tensed situation, they lose their children in the city and the parents of Shekhar and Shaila get burnt in their house.

But at the end of the movie, the riots come to an end when both Hindus and Muslims join hands together as one nation. Moreover, Shekhar and Shaila get their children back.

Awards

The film has won the following awards since its release:

1996 Political Film Society (USA)
* Won - Special Award - Bombay - Mani Ratnam

1996 National Film Awards (India)
* Won - Best Editing - Suresh Urs

"'1996 Filmfare Awards South
* Won - Filmfare Best Music Director Award (Tamil) - A. R. Rahman
* Won - Best Film (Critics) - Bombay - Mani Ratnam
* Won - Best Performer (Critics) - Manisha Koirala

Music

Album infobox
Name = Bombay:
The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Type = Soundtrack
Artist = A. R. Rahman


Background = Gainsboro
Released = April 7, 1995
Genre = Soundtrack
Length = 34:51
Label = Universal Music
Producer = A. R. Rahman
Reviews =
Last album =
This album = "Bombay: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack"
(1995)
Next album =

"Bombay: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack"

The original soundtrack features score and 6 songs composed by A. R. Rahman, with lyrics in the Tamil language by Vairamuthu.

Track listing:
#"Antha Arabi" (5:16) – A. R. Rahman, Remo Fernandes
#"Poovukku Enna" (5:51) – Noel, Anupama,
#"Uyire Uyire" (7:22) – Hariharan, K. S. Chitra
#"Kuchi Kuchi" (5:09) – Hariharan, Swarnalatha, Shweta Mohan
#"Kannalanae" (5:57) – K. S. Chithra
#"Bombay Theme" (5:16) – A. R. Rahman

The track "Bombay Theme" from the soundtrack is an instrumental orchestral piece composed, arranged and conducted by A. R. Rahman. It was recently featured in the soundtrack and score of the Nicolas Cage film "Lord of War", released in 2005. It has appeared on several compillation CDs since the film's release including on Volume 5 of the chill-out compilation "Café del Mar", released in 1998. It also appeared on a French TV commercial for Volvic starring Zinedine Zidane in 2000. The soundtrack also found success in its dubbed versions.

Trivia

The role of the Hindu father was played by Nassar, a Muslim by birth, while the role of the Muslim father was played by a Hindu by birth.

References

External links

*imdb title|id=0112553|title=Bombay
* [http://www.reelviews.net/movies/b/bombay.html "Bombay" film review by James Berardinelli (1996)]
* [http://www.arrahman.net/bombay-1995 Bombay Lyrics & Notations]

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title=Filmfare Critics Award for Best Movie
years=1996
before="Bandit Queen"
after= ""