I distinctly remember the slums close to where I grew up in Mumbai, which was next to Film City.
MUMBAI CHA RAJA MOVIE MOVIE
“Some of the events you see in my movie have been taken from my own childhood, the pranks we used to play with friends. ”I have been inspired by life around me”, he says, the note of conviction unmistakable in his gentle voice. And when Rahul’s kid stepbrother is found missing, the crisis the family faces serves as a reminder that tragedy unites men, whatever be the animosity among them.Īlthough Mumbai Cha Raja does appear to have been inspired by films like City of God and Slumdog Millionaire, Singh disagrees during a freewheeling chat at Abu Dhabi’s magnificent Emirates Palace Hotel, whose miles of marble mesmerise the visitor. There is a wonderful camaraderie among the people, whose poverty and misery seldom stop them from caring and sharing.
Singh does uncover the fascinating life beyond this dark existence. Rahul and balloon-seller Arbaz help Singh explore this grimy underbelly during one rain-soaked Ganesh festival. Often battered by his father, though loved and cared by his stepmother, Rahul roams the streets of Mumbai, where money is the mantra and crime a way of life, particularly in the city’s slums. He drops out of school, befriends a younger boy who sells balloons, and together they set out to a lead a life of pranks, deriving from these what can be seen as harmless fun. Singh’s hero is Rahul, a teen whose drunken father and long suffering mother could hardly be expected to make a happy home for the boy. Singh’s work is by no means for children alone. But of course.Īt the Abu Dhabi Film Festival’s sixth edition, now on, Manjeet Singh’s Mumbai Cha Raja (Mumbai’s King) lends itself to the debate on whether child actors playing title or important roles will at once give the movie a children’s cinema tag. This fallacy has remained and refused to go away, despite some brilliant fare by masters like Satyajit Ray in which young boys and girls may have held the centre screen, but their dramatics have been savoured and sought after by adults as they have by children. Produced by Purple Pebble Pictures, presented by Zee Studio and directed by Rajesh Mapuskar, the release date of ‘Ventilator’ will be revealed by the makers soon.Often there is a misconception in India that child protagonists in a film means that the movie concerned is children’s cinema. I’m thankful to Anil Kapoor to grace the event with his presence and wishing good luck to the entire team of ‘Ventilator’.” I’m grateful to Anilji for taking out time from his busy schedule to unveil the music of our film.”ĭirector Rajesh adds, “Priyanka and her family has an emotional connect with Andheri Cha Raja, so the entire team of ‘Ventilator’ came together to get blessings and celebrate the music of the film. Producer Madhu Chopra says, “Andheri Cha Raja has showered his blessings on our family and we are here to seek his blessings for ‘Ventilator’. With live performances by music composer-singers Rohan Gokhale and Rohan Pradhan along with dhol-taasha players, the makers along with the Guest of Honour Anil Kapoor launched the high-energy dance numbers ‘Ya Re Ya Saare Ya’ and ‘Jai Deva’ celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi festival.
Continuing the tradition, the global superstar joined the team of ‘Ventilator’ through a video message wishing the team of Purple Pebble Pictures, Rajesh Mapuskar and Ganesha devotes happy Ganesh Chaturthi. Having been an ardent devotee of the famous Andheri Cha Raja, Priyanka Chopra and her mother, Madhu Chopra have been a regular at visiting the Ganpati pandal every year. Presented by Zee Studio and directed by Rajesh Mapuskar, ‘Ventilator’ is a family entertainer featuring a sterling ensemble cast that includes veteran Marathi film and theatre actors. MUMBAI: Superstar Anil Kapoor ensured that the music launch of Purple Pebble Pictures’ ‘Ventilator’ was one to remember, as he graced the event with his presence, wishing good luck to the team of the family entertainer produced by Madhu Chopra.