We haven’t made many truthful films in India on those crucial years of late 70s when the youths of the country were wandering in a visibly indecisive mode, confronting both with themselves as well as with the government in search of a secured future. The drastic consequences of Emergency declared by Mrs. Indira Gandhi at that time has very rarely been depicted on the screen with a realistic vision. And that’s what makes HAZAARON KHWAISHEN AISI, a significant film of the new millennium with an important message for the young disclosing few hidden chapters of the past in a bold manner.
Talking about those hard times, director Sudhir Mishra builds a very descriptive, fast paced and tense scenario with his three main characters forming a love triangle having their own idealism and set of goals to achieve. Where Sidhharth follows the confused path of revolution right from his college days, Vikram has a business bent of mind ignoring any moral responsibilities of his towards the country or its people and Geeta is an emotional girl struggling with her own social values, eternal love, a rich husband and an one sided admirer helping her out in every tough situation without asking for any returns. The story follows the three protagonists from their college days to the later years when their individual goals go through a major transformation phase and they all find a new path as decided by their cruel destiny. The major victims of this unexpected turn of life remain Vikram and Geeta which certainly comes as a disturbing surprise for the viewers with a shocking yet thought provoking twist sending shivers down the spine in the films last few minutes.
To praise the effort rightly, HAZAARON KHWAISHEN AISE is indeed a new age classic from a visionary director Sudhir Mishra (now somehow lost in the commercial world) with perfect characterizations, apt casting and an intelligent execution illustrating the diverse nature of India superbly. Where the fine camerawork makes you witness the extreme lifestyle differences of cities and rural regions though some revealing sequences along with a crisp editing, there the background score (having some heart piercing alaaps) shakes you well just before a painful sequence unfolds on the screen. The political and social unrest of the 70s is authentically portrayed by the director, especially towards the climax with very minute detailing and exemplary use of songs enhancing its overall impact on the viewer. Hence here the 3 tracks, “Mann Yeh Bawra”, “Hazaaron Khwaishen Aisi” and “Bawara Mann” surely deserve a loving mention making a useful contribution in an otherwise off beat film as they call it.
Performance wise, Chitrangada Singh simply excels in her very first film and she does remind you of the unforgettable Smita Patil in few scenes, especially when dressed in a sari roaming in the village. Kay Kay justifies his mean and highly idealistic character perfectly but its Shiny Ahuja who truly shines in his innocent portrayal of a one side lover becoming the ultimate victim. The well-chosen supporting cast takes forwards the difficult theme of the script just perfectly. However the extensive use of English in its dialogues in a repeated mode might prove as an obstacle for many Indian viewers in particular.
In few words, HAZAARON KHWAISHEN AISI needs to be seen as a rare eye-opener for the young ones who otherwise are not going to read or research about that tense decade of 70s leaving a demoralizing kind of impact on the entire nation. The film unarguably is among the best works of Sudhir Mishra and a thinking mind simply cannot afford to go on missing it for long.
Directed By Sudhir Mishra
Music by Shantanu Moitra
Starring : Kay Kay, Chitrangada Singh, Shiny Ahuja, Saurabh Shukla, Yashpal Sharma, Ram Kapoor and more.
(Note : Please don't make any assumptions about the film looking at its official poster as that is simply not related with the film in any manner and is strangely designed very absurdly.)
Tags :
Hazaaron Khwaishen Aisi (2003), Movies To See Before You Die Drama, Sudhir Mishra New Age Classic, Must Watch Films List by Bobby Sing, Not to Be Missed Films List at bobbytalkscinema.com, Hindi Films made on the theme of Emergency of the 70s, Worth Watching Indian Gems
