|
|
Cinema
Gandhigiri Works!
Lage Raho Munna Bhai
by Ragini Puri
 Dadagiri
nahi karne ka, Gandhigiri karne ka…. Yes, after the all-encompassing
jadoo ki jhappi, ghandigiri is the new mantra endorsed by Murli Prasad
Sharma, aka Munna bhai. In the film Lage Raho Munnabhai, he is a
convert – from goondagiri to gandhigiri.
Though in this heart-warming movie, initially he is the same street smart,
good-humored goon, as that of the prequel Munnabhai MBBS. Even his best
friend and assistant Circuit is the same. He’s still Munna’s trusted one-man
army and his loyalty towards Munnabhai stands unquestioned. It’s just that
in this movie, Munnabhai’s successful dadagiri methods are tested when love
takes him for an unexpected historical tour.
Munnabhai (Sanjay Dutt) falls in love with RJ Jhanvi (Vidya Balan), and her
signature call Goooood Morniiiig Mumbai. So much so, that in order to meet
her he even participates in a Mahatma Gandhi Trivia Quiz. Of course, he wins
the quiz, with the help of his ever-dependable aide Circuit’s light hearted
terrorizing schemes. But in doing so, Munna leads Jhanvi to believe that
he’s a History professor and an ardent follower of Mahatma Gandhi. Impressed
and taken in by Professor Munna’s down to earth charms, Jahnvi asks him to
deliver a lecture on Gandhi to a group of abandoned senior citizens she
takes care of at her huge bungalow, called Second Innings.
And here’s when the twist takes place. In his bid to impress Jahnvi and her
elderly wards, Munna hits a nearby Gandhi library to take in every bit about
the Mahatma. He works so hard that after a three-day non-stop marathon
reading session, he starts seeing the image of Mahatma Gandhi. Mahatma
Gandhi not only visits him on request, but also guides him about the ways of
the world. Of course, an eminent psychiatrist explains that Gandhi’s regular
visit are nothing but chemical imbalance in Munna’s mind…in Munna’s own
word…. chemical locha…causing him to hallucinate about Gandhi.
Casting the doctor’s explanations aside, Munna comes to term with the
visions he has. He starts believing in gandhigiri, and with Gandhi on his
side, not only wins Jahnvi, but also resolves the problems of the world, of
course, using Gandhi’s much forgotten principles.
It’s his gandhigiri that helps Munna take on the flamboyant land grabber
Lucky Singh (Boman Irani). No nonsense Dr. J. C. Asthana of Munnabhai MBBS
is back as the loud Punjabi character. Lucky’s priority in life is family
and money, but he’s harmless. In his spare time, he gets his photographs
forged...so we see him brushing shoulders with George Bush, Bill Clinton,
Queen Elizabeth and Aishwariya Rai…all at one go, on the same wall. Now as
Lucky Singh forcefully takes over RJ Jahnvi’s huge bungalow, our newly
reformed Gandhi expert Munnabhai takes upon himself (of course with the able
and experienced guidance of Gandhiji), the responsibility of declaring a
non-violent satyagrah against Lucky, the usurper.
This non-violent battle between Lucky Singh and his nemesis Munna, has all
the ingredients of a laughathon. But with all his goodness, there are
situations when Munna is scorned by people and labeled mentally disturbed.
But armed with Gandhiji’s ideology, he triumphs in the end. So all in all, ‘Lage
Raho Munnabhai’ is a film that keeps you riveted to the screen from the
very opening reels to its conclusion. The most exceptional thing about the
film is the way it blends comedy with emotional moments. ‘Lage Raho
Munnabhai’ makes you laugh, makes you cry and, parallel to all the
entertainment, it gives a message that sticks in the mind. To say it in
Munnabhai’s lingo – it creates “chemical locha” in the brain.
September 24, 2006
Top |
Cinema
The Week of September 24, 2006
Is Osama Dead? Never Mind, Terrorism is Still
Alive! by Rajinder Puri
Mahatma Gandhi: Lost and Forgotten in India
by Dr. Subhash Kapila
Confluence of Poetry, Evolution, Economics and
Terrorism by Gaurang Bhatt, MD
India-Pakistan "Bhai-Bhai" by Col.
Rahul K. Bhonsle
Does Human Culture Matter in the Modern World?
by TA Ramesh
Moral Policing by the State by Bijoyeta Das
Wailing Womb, Weeping Heart by Satya Chaitanya
Mahalaya: Invoking the Mother Goddess by
Aparna Chatterjee
The Desecration of Temples and Other Acts by CR
Gopalakrishna
Heaven on Earth Ravaged by VK Joshi
Chemistry of Tulasi by Dr. V. Sankaran Nair
How to make Your Signature Lucky? by Pt.
Aaadietya Pandey
Dr. Varghese Kurien: Idol for Indian Youth by
Bijoyeta Das
From Drums of Phantom to SMS by VK Joshi
Gandhigiri Works! Lage Raho Munna Bhai by Ragini
Puri
Remembering Hrishikesh Mukherjee by Yamini
Ayyagari
Normal Childhood Behavior Misconstrued by
Gary Direnfeld
HIV /AIDS - Prevention and Creating Awareness -
Role of Media by Jyoti Singh
Seeking a Say in Sex by Lubana Yasmin Palia
The New Womanomics by Sreedevi Jacob
Grannies Get Together by Elayne Clift
Women's March to Freedom by Mehru Jaffer
Breaking Tradition's Clay Feet by Surekha
Kadapa-Bose
Yohhh! Boloji by Dr. Amitabh Mitra
God's Grace by Arya Bhushan
Affirming Diversity, Resisting Decisiveness
by Julia Dutta
Why I am Missing my Roots? by Anisa Chaudhary
|
|
