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By Praveen Lance Fernandes, May 29, 2007 - 15:50 IST
(In our constant endeavor to highlight lesser known or completely forgotten films, this week IndiaFM brings to you an offbeat and very unconventional film from the parallel cinema movement of the 80s - 'Salim Langde Pe Mat Ro' released exactly 18 years from today on 29 May 1989)
Date of release: 29 May 1989
Directed by Saeed Akhtar Mirza, this film is about the various Salim Langdas that came and went in the Muslim dominated alleys of Mumbai. The film moves through the eyes of Salim Langda (Pavan Malhotra) as he narrates to us his life, the circumstances he was brought up in and the mindset of the people around him. It's about his search for identity- on who he really is and what he would want to become. His quest to distinguish himself is shown in the very first reel where he narrates to us that the Langda in his name because of the fact that there are numerous Salims already around him and the 'Langda' (limp) tag distinguishes him from the rest. So born is our main protagonist Salim Langda.
Salim Langda is a local thug who makes a living taking hafta from local shopkeepers and also robbing go-downs with the help of his two comrades Peera (Makrand Deshpande) and Abdul (Ashutosh Gowarikar). His father (Vikram Gokhale) is an out of work factory laborer while his mother (Surekha Sikri) makes a living by stitching clothes. He has a younger sister (Nishigandha Wad) who is of marriageable age and his girlfriend Mumtaz (Neelima Azim) is a courtesan.
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Looking back at Salim Langda…
Salim is shown as open-minded. He learns from his dead brother's friend Aslam (Rajendra Gupta), that it is not religion that can bind people together but humanity. He questions his line of work and decides to quit. He succeeds in doing so only to be dragged in it once again.
Produced by the NFDC the film brings to light many issues including Hindu-Muslim riots (note that this film was made prior to the 93 Mumbai bomb-blasts), the fundamentalist thinking of uneducated Muslims and a whole lot more. The transformation of Salim is convincingly portrayed in the screenplay. For instance, when a rotten dead body is found inside a manhole after some communal rifts, the ruthless Salim is moved. Or the time when a young filmmaker showcases his documentary on the plight of people in Bhiwandi that influences Salim's mind. Or the time when one of his friends is gunned down by henchmen and the police just list it as another criminal gone less in India.
The way in which the police treat Salim and his final fate which are connected, bring to you the question - What is the value of life? Thus the title Salim Langde Pe Mat Ro (Don't cry over Salim Langda).
Pawan Malhotra, a television star of the 80s makes a huge impression in his first major role on the big screen. The author-backed title role gives him ample scope to express his splendid acting prowess. He was a contender for the National Awards that year but lost out to Mammokka.
He gets great support from his cronies. Ashutosh Gowarikar and Makrand Deshpande are complete naturals in their own right. Makrand in his unkempt look (even worse than what he sports today) undoubtedly fits into his character like a tailor-made suit. Everybody else in the supporting cast lend adequate support.
If you thought that Hindi films from the 80s were typical Bollywood masala full of song and dance drama then guess again. Salim Langde Pe Mat Ro is devoid of any songs though some old songs are used to establish settings like in a bar. A very significant original music piece is visualized on in the scene where the three friends decide to do something in life honestly.
Many people still remember this classic film which came out of nowhere and got people thinking. Do watch Salim Langde Pe Mat Ro on a weekend to catch up on some of the better parallel films to come out in the 80s.
Trivia:
- Naseeruddin Shah was the original choice for the role of Salim Langda but the makers then decided to cast someone younger.
- Pawan Malhotra was a popular television actor in the TV series Nukkad before this film. Post this film, Pawan worked in National Award winning films like Bagh Bahadur and The Fakir. Unfortunately the parallel cinema movement died at the start of 90s and the brilliance of Pawan was forgotten.
- Saeed Akhtar Mirza is the son of screenwriter Akhtar Mirza who had written films like Naya Daur and Waqt. His younger brother Aziz Mirza is a popular filmmaker of films like Chalte Chalte, Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani and Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman.
- Langda means limp in Hindi. Though the character of Salim didn’t limp in the movie he was called so because he walked a bit crookedly. He was called Langda for the peculiar style of walking.
- The main lead Pawan Malhotra was paid Rs 10000 as fee for this moderately budget film produced by NFDC
- Ashutosh Gowariker who is now known as one of the most popular filmmakers in Bollywood after the Oscar nominated Lagaan might remember this as one of his better films as an actor.
- Pavan Malhotra and Makrand Deshpande used to hang out at Chor Bazaar in Mumbai to understand their characters more properly.
- The film is dedicated to Safdar Hashmi. Hashmi was an actor who along with his troupe 'Jana Natya Manch' was performing outside Delhi where a political procession came along. When Hashmi requested the party to go on another route, he was beaten to death.
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Credits
Cast: Pavan Malhotra, Ashutosh Gowarikar, Makrand Deshpande, Neelima Azim, Vikram Gokhale, Surekha Sikri, Tom Alter, Nishigandha Wad, Sudhir Pandey, Rajendra Gupta, Mushtaq Khan
Director: Saeed Akhtar Mirza
Story: Saeed Akhtar Mirza
Screenplay: Saeed Akhtar Mirza
Dialogue: Hriday Lani
Music: Sharang Dev
Cinematographer: Virendra Saini
Editor: Javed Sayyed
Art Director: Gautam Sen
 
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