Bajrangi Bhaijaan (BB)

I have seen Salman (one of the 4 Khans) in many movies. And Nawazuddin Siddiqui in a couple of movies earlier (Talaash and Lunch Box). I wasn't impressed by either of the actors. 

But today, while watching Bajrangi Bhaijaan (BB), I saw another Salman. And a completely different Nawazuddin. 

The story of BB is surprisingly similar to another real story of an Indian girl stranded in Pakistan and raised by a Muslim family in Karachi (1, 2). It seems that BB was made prior to the real life story being known at large. 

There also seems to be a mistake in the movie BB which is pointed out here. Even if this is a mistake, it doesn't detract from the quality of the movie. 

The story seems rather similar to Veer Zara (VZ). BB is much more subtle than VZ - the love story in BB is about a man and a child. Kareena has a deservedly limited role in BB as do the child's parents or Kareena's parents. The film revolves around Salman, Nawazuddin and the child. An interesting article here: https://newsstand.google.com/articles/CAIiELGmCmvx7d32UUxV5AC-xz0qGQgEKhAIACoHCAowx-LdCjDLu9QBMPa7kQI and another nice review here: https://rajasen.com/2015/07/17/review-kabir-khans-bajrangi-bhaijaan/

What I liked about the movie was the way the characters of Salman, Nawazuddin and the maulvi (Om Puri) and those of few others have been defined. This movie is one of those offbeat ones where the hero and heroine don't sing and dance, nor is it about Hindu Muslim antagonism. It is a movie where the characters were largely apathetic to Hindu - Muslim divide.

The movie is about small people and their character. The way the Pakistan border policeman chooses to let Salman get into Pakistan, or the way Nawazuddin, at a lot of risk to himself, chooses to help Salman or Om Puri chooses to help Salman from being caught by police or in the end how a policeman defies authority to help Salman or how Pakistani soldiers allow Salman to get back to India - it shows a beauty of the heart that causes goose pimples. Not the least was Salman who risked everything to get the little girl back to her family.

Memorable dialogs (not exactly verbatim):

• "Unhe har haal mein Pawan ka confession chahiye. Meine apni saari zindagi is mulk ke hifaazat aur shaan ke liye kaam kiya hai. Agar is aadmi ko jail mein daal diya gaya tho yeh Pakistan ka shaan ke khilaaf goga. Yeh hum hone nahi denge" - by the policeman played by Rajesh Sharma
• "Bas ab is nafrat ko bandh kar de"
• "Yeh allah ka ghar hai. Humesha khula rehta hai" and "Khuda ke ghar mein ajnabi nahi hote" by Om Puri.
• "Humaare dil ke andar bhi Ram baste hain" - Salman Khan
• "Hum Bajrang ke bhakt hain. Koi kaam chori chhupe nahi karte hain".  
• "Humein tho ek nahi sambhalti aur moulana saab do do le kar :)" 
• "Virendar Sehwag? Shikar Dhawan? Yeh tho cricket ke baare mein kuch nahi jaanti hai" - the little boy (Kareena's brother)
• "Har ladki apne hone waali pati mein apni baap ki parchhai dekhti hai" 

Incidentally the storyline of BB seemed a little similar to that of a 1970's movie Shankar Hussain - just a little. And I have seen a Crime Patrol episode which was similar.

The lovely photography only adds to the magic of BB. Both the movies (BB, VZ) make one become more positive about life. Hindus or Muslims, Indians or Pakistanis... there is still hope for humanity. If you want the meanings of some Urdu words look here: https://vbala99.blogspot.com/2017/10/roman-urdu-english-dictionary.html

On Nawazuddin Siddiqui:

http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/nawazuddin-siddiqui-5-films-where-you-didn-t-spot-him/story-yIRQMRqQ7KmYXAkjulF76I.html

and http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/Nawazuddin-Siddiqui-Interesting-facts/photostory/48500310.cms

Shooting locations: http://www.nativeplanet.com/travel-guide/bajrangi-bhaijaan-shooting-locations-visual-treat-001624.html

Apparently the Chaar Nawaab interview at the station was inspired by an original version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_fx433T_iU&app=desktop

Movie's response in Pak:

• http://movies.ndtv.com/bollywood/salmans-bajrangi-bhaijaan-leaves-pakistan-in-tears-even-a-week-later-1201747
• http://movies.ndtv.com/bollywood/bajrangi-bhaijaan-conquers-box-office-in-pakistan-actors-honoured-salmans-film-released-with-theirs-1200431
• http://www.dailyo.in/arts/bajrangi-bhaijaan-pakistan-eid-salman-khan-raees-srk-mahira-fawad-khan-bin-roye-mns-maharashtra-ban/story/1/5204.html - Girl in the picture is the actress in the serial Humsafar.
• http://www.deccanherald.com/content/490022/mandawa-pakistani-town-bajrangi-shot.html

An interesting thought arose in my mind. Why did I like BB so much? Was it because of Salman Khan and the little girl Harshali and Nawazuddin? A friend suggested that when actors plays a role that is similar to their real nature then the movie comes out great. Does that mean two movies with the same lead actor with very different kind of characters played by him can not be great hits? I was hesitant to agree with this view. 

Just like I feel a song becomes great primarily because of the music and less because of the singers and hardly depends on the lyrics - I hardly understand or focus on lyrics - I thought perhaps a movie becomes great because the story and direction were very touching. Perhaps the actor has little part to play - so long as he doesn't mess it up. 

Maybe if instead of Salman it was Aamir or SRK or Akshay Kumar or Shahid Kapoor would the movie have been any less? I don't seem to think so. Read about Vijayendra Prasad, the person who wrote the story of BB here: https://www.dailyo.in/lite/arts/bajrangi-bhaijaan-baahubali-vijayendra-prasad-100-crore/story/1/5107.html

Veer Zaara was similar, it showed people with great inner strength.

Additional reading:

• Another movie that touched my heart: Airlift.
• BB review by Baradwaj Rangan: https://baradwajrangan.wordpress.com/2015/07/19/bajrangi-bhaijaan-a-surprisingly-effective-return-to-masala-roots/
• Sultan review by Baradwaj Rangan: https://baradwajrangan.wordpress.com/2016/07/08/sultan-a-well-made-enjoyable-sports-drama/