Bombay

BOMBAY

Bombay is a 1995 Indian film directed by Mani Ratnam. The film takes place in different Indian villages and cities, but the main focus is around Bombay and the religious controversies there.

India as a whole is a place is dealing with a constant religious tension between Hindus and Muslims. Shekhar, the son of a traditional Hindu father, is student studying in Bombay. Shekhar visits home to see his family, and while there he spots a beautiful girl. She is a young Muslim girl named Shaila Bano. Shekhar becomes heavily infatuated with Shaila and decides to pursue her. At first Shaila is timid and fights Shekhar’s many attempts to gain her attention. However, eventually Shekhar gains her affection, and they fall in love. A love that will be seen as taboo, especially by their fathers, due to the religious differences between the two.

Due to the persecution by their families; Shekhar and Shaila flee to Bombay. The two get married and begin a new life in Bombay. They start a family and give birth to twins. They live and grow as a family for some years practicing both of the religions. In the meantime they have worked on and settled the tension between themselves and their families.

However, meanwhile in Bombay all is not well. Religious extremists cause a huge wave of riots and religious attacks that leave hundreds dead. Shaila and Shekhar worry increasingly over the safety of their children, whom they raised with both Hindu and Islamic traditions. They are constantly under threat and fear for their family and the life they have built.

All together the film focuses on one thing, religion. The theme of the film is religious tolerance and overall acceptance and understanding for all people regardless of their beliefs.

Personally, I did not enjoy this film. The use of song and dance is not entertaining to me. I understand that these “bollywood” films are heavily known for this type of thing, but even if I looked past it I found the film to be dull. The film is too long (213min) and does a poor job of grasping full attention. I don’t recommend this movie.