CHANDNI BAR: A WONDERFULL HINDI MOVIE

Chandni Bar is one of the best films made by Madhur Bhandarkar. I would say it was his   best. This film earned Madhur his name in the film industry. Well, it is a realistic film, based on the lives of bar dancers in Mumbai, the financial capital of India. This film certainly has brought the life of bar dancers to the notice of an ordinary man. This film also handles the life of underworld gangsters, the nexus between police and underworld and also how and what influences youngsters to enter the world of crime.

This film is the story of an innocent girl Mumtaz who is forced to come to Mumbai with her Mamu (uncle), after the death of her parents in a communal violence that took place in her village. Here, she is forced to take up the profession of a bar dancer. She also loose her virginity to her uncle, who rapes her.
In the bar she meets a gang leader Potya Bhai, who marries her after he falls in love with her. They have children, but the gangster is killed by police in a fake encounter.

Mumtaz is again forced to join the bar, as bar dancer. But, she has high hopes for her children. She wants them to be educated and have a decent living. But her hopes are shattered in the reality of life.

Madhur Bhandarkar has been successful in portraying the life of bar girls. Tabu has done a tremendous job, as  Mumtaz. I think, this film made Atul kulkarni famous, who played the role of Potya Sawant.

The most horrifying and violent scene, according to me was when Potya, cuts the throat of a builder.

The disturbing scenes which  also shows the talent of Madhur as a director are:
* Sexual attack on Tabu by Mamu
* Stabbing of Mamu by Potya, when he discovers what he had done to Mumtaz.
* Sexual attack on Mumtaz’s son Abhay in the juvenile home.

I liked the way interior of the bar was shot. It definitely conveys the mood. These shots are dimly lit. You can barely see the faces of the customers sitting in the bar. Well, certainly people sitting in the bar, won’t want their faces to be revealed.  The camera by Rajeev Ravi is commendable. The choice of using hand held camera, during the entry scene of Potya was good. It made the scene more dramatic.

The change in the time is also shown by the change in the song played in the bar.

Madhur Bhandarkar chose a path between, art and commercial cinema. This film narration is in such a way that an ordinary film viewer can also understand and enjoy the film.

Chandni bar is one of those Hindi movies which you would not miss to watch.

REVIEW OF HINDI MOVIE: 3 IDIOTS