Hyderabad has always been in some news. Good
or bad it really does not matter. Itta fizul time nai hai aapne
pass. Recently we saw two back to back big banner Bollywood films central
around Hyderabad as the base. The main leading character were based here. Its culture, including the slang which also known as ''deccani urdu' was once again in the limelight. Kya to bhi hai ki.
Talking about the slang, I completely
understand that for a person living in Nagpur or Jammu it would be
too difficult to follow and understand it. Thats why there is little twisting and turning to make it sound more acceptable. No hard feelings
here.
It is also noteworthy that every-time
we talk about Hyderabad one has to display few rolls of Charminar
or Biryani and thats it. Haule logan hai. Darling the city has more than you can imagine.
In the past we did had throughly
distinctive films where Hyderabad was shown as a whole and not just for
those two world famous things everyone boast of.
Lets look at that list.
MANDI:
Rumored to be based around the sex
worker region in Hyderabad's old city called Mehendi (its shut now) this marvellous classic gem by Shyam Benegal starring Shabana-Smita-Naseer
in pivotal roles was an unabridged entertainer from the word go. A
dozen of outstanding actors added essential masala of
incidents occurring inside a typical brothel house, situated in the
heart of the city, an area that some local politicians want for its
prime locality.
Shabana as Rukmini bai, was at her
actor-par-excellence as an overprotective mother to Zeenat
(Smita) and a no nonsense madam to others. The mannerism,
clothes, jewelry, accent, drama, a bit of local culture was well
captured by the ace director who apparently hails from Andhra Pradesh
himself.
While the first half is mostly shot
indoors, its in the second half in which we get to wander around the
tranquil Moula Ali on the outskirts of Hyderabad.
Soni Razadan, Ila Arun, Neena Gupta,
Satish Kaushik, Kulbhushan, Om Puri added the much needed chutzpah to
the story.
Look out: The climax which was
extensively shot in unbelievably uncluttered, and not a single man in
the sight, area of Banjara and Jubilee Hills is worth watching and
look forward to.
Usage of Hyderabadi Slang: 10/10
Usage of Hyderabad city: 8/10
BAZAAR:
Another 1982 release, directed by Sagar
Sarhadi and starring Smita Patil, Naseeruddin Shah, Farooq Shaikh and
Supriya Pathak (debut) was set in typical Hyderabad highlighting the issue of
bride buying in India. The film revolves around a young girl played
by Supriya being sold by needy parents to an affluent shaikh of Gulf.
This film display the rehen sehen
of a classic Hyderabadi's style of living of those days. Palatial
haveli's, sweetness of people, tameez and
tehzeeb in abundance. Noteworthy are the performances
from almost all the cast and a must watch.
Look out: The song Dikhayee
diye yun. It used to be a common practice during evenings at most
of the Hyderabadi houses, including mine, during summers. White sheets aka sojni
and shatranjee with gautakiyas accompanied by lot to
eat and gossip. Uff those days....
Usage of Hyderabadi Slang: 9/10
Usage of Hyderabad city: 4/10
NIKAAH:
Lacked majorly in the accent
department, this BR Chopra directed Muslim social drama was a rage
when released in 1982. Nikaah marked a well planned debut of
pakistani sensation Salma Agha in the world of Bollywood. The
film revolves around Nilofer (played by Ms Agha) and her love
interest Wasim (Deepak Parasher) and college mate Haider (Raj
Babbar).
The film showed the cultural side of
Hyderabad in the most poetic way possible. Culture and
language dominated this film which talked about Islamic law of
marriage and divorce in a subtle yet strong way.
Shot appropriately around the city
especially Charminar, Nampally and Hussain Sagar were well captured.
Look out: The song Chupke
Chupke raat din pictured appealingly on Salma Agha and Deepak
Parasher romancing standing on the terrace of Nizamia Unani Hospital
overlooking the magnificent Charminar in the background.
Usage of Hyderabadi Slang: 5/10
Usage of Hyderabad city: 6/10
HYDERABAD BLUES:
A 1998 released was about an NRI
vacationing back home in Hyderabad and finding himself a foreigner in
his own land with things happening beyond his imagination. The film
is Nagesh Kukunoor's first as a director.
Shot in flat 17 days the film is a
romantic comedy revolving Varun (NK) coming down from USA after 12
years and finding himself in cultural shock at every step. The film
had dialogues in English, Telugu and Hyderabadi slangish urdu.
I remember going to Sangeet cinema in Secunderabad to
catch the only show of this film as it was not finding a distributor
to releases it. And once it got released, man it went onto become a
cult film of all time.
And yes I have a small memory from the
film. The ticket. One of the nicest and biggest ticket I ever saw and
saved it. Small memories. Unfortunately Hyderabad Blues 2 could
not gain the same popularity.
Look out: The laid back attitude
of the nawabi city which is pleanty.
Usage of Hyderabadi Slang: 10/10
Usage of Hyderabad city: 8/10
HERO HIRALAL:
Sanjana Kapoor (Roopa) an upcoming
actress, while shooting in Hyderabad's Golconda fort area bump into our Hero Hiralal a typical Hyderabadi autowala ( and also an
over obsessive bollywood fan), who becomes her tour guide accidentally
(I don't know how it happened. Guess back in 1989 Autowalas
were really sweet. Hmmmm) so moving on our Hero takes madam around the city treating
her with the best Irani Chai and ever famous Osmania biscuit at Sayeed Jaffery
(as Aziz Bhai. brilliant) owned Farasha Cafe near Charminar and no
sooner falls in love with her.
Pack up in Hyderabad, work takes Roopa
back in Mumbai but not before our Hero follows her all the way to
Mumbai in order to confide his love for her. What happens next about
their love drama makes for the remaining story.
Look out: The 'roaming around'
of Roopa and Hero in his auto to Golconda Fort, boating in Hussain
Sagar, sipping the ever famous Irani chai appropriately shot at
Farasha cafe, and please to note 'no traffic in sight' near Charminar.
Haye kon sa tobhi zamana tha yeh? Sayeed Jaffery's flawless
Hyderabadi accent.
Usage of Hyderabadi Slang: 6/10
Usage of Hyderabad city: 8/10
BOBBY JASOOS:
Vidya Balan as Bilkis Ahmed aka Bobby
who aspires to be a detective despite facing many obstacles is your
no nonsense Hyderabadi girl.
Hailing from Mughalpura, Bobby is
solving her neighbors petty issues till she gets something big and
mysterious and bang she gets on to her foot to solve it. The mystery leads her to lots of ups and downs including chasing the victim in lanes and by lanes of Hyderabad. Very well captured.
Look out: Hyderabad never shot so beautifully as
in this film. The timing was just perfect, during the holy month of
Ramzaan when the city comes alive till wee hours of mornings and lit
up as a newly espoused. I personally feel the film got some fine
frameworks to boost about. Full of life. Full of energy.
Usage of Hyderabadi Slang: 6/10
Usage of Hyderabad city: 9/10
DAWAT E ISHQ:
The age old burning issue of our
country. Dowry. Nevertheless how good the girl is, her parents have
to shell out few lakhs if not crores to get her married. Swirling in
the circle is Gulrez (Pariniti Vhopra) and her Booji (Anupam Kher)
who hails from Hyderabad's purana-shehr. Rejected by dozens and fed
up with the unchangeable system, Gulrez aka Gullu take things and her
father, in her hand and travel to Lucknow to marry the greediest guy
and leave him the next day not before filing a case of harassment and
dowry under section 98A. Thats her sort of revenge.
What happens next makes the film
engaging and watchable.
I must add that the
treatment to the film was not done properly. Could have been quick and fast paced. Also not
much was focused on Hyderabad, which is equally world famous for food. But again why always talk about food, right?
I enjoyed the ride from Charminar to Tank bund and back to High Court
where Booji works as an Asst Lawyer.
Hyderabadi accent was bang on. Thank
you Elahe for the deccani lessons. Of course I accept that few words are
very difficult to understand but the cast really managed well. The
sketching of characters were done aesthetically. Special mention to
Anupam Kher.
Look out: All the Kababs, Murgh,
Biryani and Firni served yummily during Lucknow scenes. Please go to
a theatre which is close to a Mughlai restaurant for sure you are
gonna come out hungry and tempting and desiring to eat Biryani right
then!
Usage of Hyderabadi Slang: 8/10
Usage of Hyderabad city: 5/10
MEENAXI:
The story is based in three cities. One
being our very own Hyderabad as the main character Nawab (Raguvir
Yadav) a popular Hyderabadi novelist suffering from a classic case of
writer's block. Years have passed, and stories os substance seem to
have dried up. One day mysteriously he comes across Meenaxi, a heavy
Hyderabadi accented woman, enigmatic and individualist. There she
becomes his muse. She is a mysterious perfume trader of Hyderabad to
exotic desert bloom in Jaisalmer to and orphaned of Prague, she
almost rule the novelist. Soon after, Meenaxi taunts Nawab about the
'boring' story and, finally, burns the manuscript in disgust.
Her support, inspiration and criticism
follows the entire story line directed by renowned artist M F Hussain
saab.
Look out: Tabu in her almost
perfect Hyderabadi accent act. Apt casting.
Usage of Hyderabadi Slang: 4/10
Usage of Hyderabad city: 3/10
WELL DONE ABBA:
Another one from Shyam Benegal released
in 2009 received mixed feedback due to non heavy star cast.
Boman Irani (in a double role) works as a
chauffeur and an ageing father to Minisha Lamba (Muskaan) fighting for
the rising drought problem in his village near Hyderabad. Also he is
bothered about not able to find a suitable groom for her daughter
makes the story honestly alluring.
Minisha tried her best to deliver the
Hyderabadi slang and managed upto some extent. The rest could not
even try. Not even Boman.
Nothing much to write about this.
Look out: Ila Arun's performance
and getup.
Usage of Hyderabadi Slang: 4/10
Usage of Hyderabad city: 2/10
THE ANGREZ:
Is a 2005 Indian comedy movie directed by Kuntaa Nikkil. In this
movie, the word "Angrez" refers to English people and
non-resident Indians.
The
movie was a trend-setter in that, it was one of the first to
effectively and humorously, often resorting to the slapstick kind,
portray the dialect of the Old City, Hyderabad and the Hyderabadi
tongue. The film also portrays the fascination for American
materialism, the hype around the IT industry and the lifestyle and
culture it has spawned.
The
movie revolves around three sets of people.
The
Angrez - Two guys who come from the US to serve in an IT company.
Ismail
bhai & Gang - A bunch of locals from the Old City Area
Mama
a.k.a Annaa & gang - Local gangsters.
Now
you go and figure it out at your own risk.
Look out: pheku
Saleem and Ismail Bhai.
Usage of Hyderabadi Slang: 10/10
Usage
of Hyderabad City: 9/10
PS: Besides these films there were many
other Bollywood films wherein the main character was Hyderabadi
despite the story based in other city.
Sridevi as Rozy in Gurudev, Mehmood
as Butler in Gumnaam, Shakti Kapoor as Babu Hyderabadi in
Mahasangram, Aruna Irani as Panna in Prem, Farha Naaz as Ramtaki in
Rakhwala.
Few eminent film
personalities from Hyderabad:
Shaukat Azmi, Shabana Azmi, Dia
Mirza, Aditi Rao Hydari, Diana Hayden, Farha Naaz, Tabu, Eijaz Khan
and Sushmita Sen (she was born
there) to name a few.
Excuse me but I am in no mood to talk about those half a dozen senseless movies came out from Hyderabad by Hyderabad and for Hyderabad. Upto some degree ANGREZ was manageable.
