I have always wondered why we do not have ‘national integration’ films anymore. The last one was a flop sequel to Mile Sur Mera Tumhara, called Phir Mile Sur Mera Tumhara, in 2010, by Zoom TV, 20+ years after the original Mile Sur Mera Tumhara, made in 1988, directed by Kailash Surendranath, with lyrics by Piyush Pandey, song was composed by Ashok Patki and arranged by Louis Banks.
We used to have a lot more such films. The 1974 film, Ek Anek Aur Ekta (also known as Ek Chidiya, Anek Chidiyan) was my favorite.
And the light of freedom film that featured a lot of sportspersons, made by Kailash Surendranath in 1984, as a precursor to the first Mile Sur!
And finally, the Tree of Unity film made by Films Division in 1972.
So why not more such films, to reiterate national integration? If the last one was in 2010, does it mean we are all adequately integrated after that period in time and there’s no need anymore?
I found my answer today! 2 answers: there was no compelling need and we were all distracted in our own worlds.
This coronavirus pandemic has got our attention collectively, and there now is a very compelling need to bring us all together for a reason – into our own homes!
This film, virtually directed by Prasoon Pandey, is no less a national integration film.
I LOVED the way multiple languages were meshed together seamlessly and conversationally. Except for Ranbir, no one else seemed to be noticing it at all.
And the tactic of going black and white was a masterstroke. It removes continuity mismatch with the backdrop and lighting given that every person was being shot from their own homes, using phone cameras, most probably. The backdrop, props (furniture) and lighting would vary wildly from home to home. Going black and white evens out those differences in one sweeping move!
The best was the simple script that is less about hammering the stay-at-home message and more about involving and hooking the audience. The narrative device of everyone trying to find an object at the start of the film… till it ends in a cohesive, ironic way, only to make a simple plea after having sat through the film. The stars that twinkle here and there as we identify each one is a nice bonus!
Imagine how they would have put this all together! First, a storyline – what should the central conflict be about? In this case, it is a search – an innocuous, insignificant search for a pair of sunglasses. A family patriarch (though one who has been spreading atrocious canards on Twitter and reveling in it!) is seeking his sunglasses for some reason and the family members try to help him get it.
Then, giving each actor a script meant only for them. What should they say, do and how should they say it, looking at whom in front of them! This is similar to acting with a green-screen backdrop – the actors need to imagine the larger plot and act it out.
Finally, stitching it all together, editing it to make it seamlessly tell one story!
Outstanding creativity… done remotely at that, under huge constraints!
PS: The , as narrated by Prasoon Pandey himself.