Bombay, Chris Norrod

Chris Norrod

HIND 2441

3/17/10

Bombay Review

Bombay (Mani Ratman) is foremost film about Indian nationalism and patriotism.  Its patriotism is heavily exaggerated.  It does not, however, cross into any kind of hostility, which can often be the case with patriotic or heavily nationalistic films.

Bombay tells the story of two lovers who defy traditional notions to be with each other.  Shekhar (Arvind Swamy) is a Hindu journalism student studying in Bombay.  He falls in love with a Muslim named Shaila Bano (Manisha Koirala).  Set in the early 1990’s, this is a time of particular tension between Hindus and Muslims throughout the nation.  This tension is reflected on the two families, as both fathers reject the marriage proposal.  Steadfast to marry, the two lovers flee to Bombay, were they are able to raise a family away from the Hindu/Muslim tension in their families.  This is the central conflict in the film: the tension between Hindu and Muslim groups, be them from the couple’s families or in the streets of Bombay, impedes the family making process for Shekhar and Shaila.

Some time after the birth of Shekhar and Shaila’s children, Kabir Narayan and Kamal Basheer, the Hindu family and the Muslim family come together.  During a trip to Bombay, the differences between the two are settled, and they learn to embrace the newer generation that Kabir and Kamal represent.  Kabir and Kamal represent the Indian metropolitan life, were differences are more tolerated than in the rural areas.  They are physically the union between Hindu and Muslim identities, and are something entirely different themselves.  This is most apparent when lost among the riots, one of the children asks a hijra what Hindus and Muslims are.

There is a general call for peace throughout the film.  Towards the end of the film, there is a scene were a Hindu community leader, a Muslim community leader, and Shekhar are all exclaiming how pointless all the violence is.  Shekhar pleads with a hostile group to stop the violence, saying that they are being forced to throw away their lives so that a politician might enjoy more influence.  This is another reflection of the period, where much of the violence in Bombay was instigated by political factions such as Shiv Sena.