#Movie_Uunchai
Bollywood has always made me go bonkers (in a good sense)! Even when I watched a simple film like #MainePyarKiya by Sooraj Barjatya back in the school days on a Diwali night. While others often commented on why Barjatya films were different without much style and aplomb, I often found Barjatya's films not just a family entertainment but also sending out a lesson or a teaching to mull over.
This Barjatya film I was refusing to go for initially (as 'movies' stopped ringing a bell for a long time since 2008) was indeed a family entertainer which goes on to depict- where there's a will, there's a way. Lot of firsts- I got to know that another Tara has a birthdate of May 10 (other than my childhood friend Tara Roy). Tarachand Barjatya, the late grandfather of Sooraj Barjatya was born on May 10, 1914. Dates have ALWAYS been important to me.
While movies in the past under the same banner (Mahaveer Jain Films) have usually depicted Marwari or Rajasthani families and cultures, this one took me very close to my own culture as it celebrated the UP-ism of Kanpur and Gorakhpur. In some ways it even made me like and fall back in love with my own native being, my hometown Kanpur and in general the multiple hues of being a UP-ite. From Banaras ka pan popularised by Amitabh Bachchanji in the song 'Khaike Paan Banaraswala', there's a dialogue about Kanpur paan when caring Amitabhji (as depicted by his character) chooses to buy a paan for everybody else as they are travelling by car from Kanpur to Lucknow.
The most interesting part was that Danny Denzongpa, who usually plays the 'bad guy' and has played a 'good character' only in five films (Baby, Boss, China Gate, Khuda Gawah and Asoka) is seen again in a special appearance as one of the four friends who can't live without each other. The movie is essentially about friendships and how four male friends never give up on each other, even encouraging Amitabh to complete the trek to the Everest base camp as he struggles with his health issues on the way.
As the movie begins with a group of people heading out for a trek to the base camp, along with actress Parineeti Chopra leading the way, Amitabh goes into a flashback mode reminiscing the events that propelled them all to take up this journey- in remembrance of their deceased friend, Danny. How other characters- Boman Irani, his 'jealous wife' (jealous at Sarika travelling along with the men on this trek), Anupam Kher, Nina Gupta's daughter and son-in-law- make up the whole plot and keep us glued to our seats is worth a mention.
Last film I saw by the same director was 'Prem Ratan Dhan Payo' which was also a family entertainer and was full of the rich cultural heritage Barjatya often visualizes. While I thought that the film 'Uunchai' would be metaphorical (in terms of showcasing success and power) it was about nature and Mount Everest standing tall at such high altitudes to attract awe and commanding us to 'never give up'. It reminded me of a song from my school song book 'Surdhanu' which I still have (I strangely enough have lot of possessions from my high school)- 'Khada Himalaya Bata Raha Hai Daro Na Aandhi Paani Mein, Khade Raho Apne Path Par Sab Kathinai Toofani Mein'.
हिमालय की ऊँचाई से सीखना है
रुक रुक कर उठना है
झुक झुक कर खड़े होना है
विनम्र रहकर आगे बढ़ना है
देख इस पर्वत को हम
खो जाते हैं कहीं गुम
वाह आकार ! वाह नम !
हैं नहीं हम किसी से कम।
