As part of my ongoing series on Bombay in movies, here's my take on "Satya". Just a recap - this series is a free-wheeling mix of Bombay in movies and about what the author (self and a couple of guest writers) felt when he/she saw it. Life, alive in the movies and in Bombay.
Satya (1998): From his first shot coming out of (where else?) VT Station to his dead body being turned by Inspector Khandilkar’s foot, Satya’s story was born amidst the dance bars, tabelas and jails of Bombay. And died a miserable death in a dingy house. The dark underbelly of Bombay and the politician-gunda nexus has rarely been shown as starkly in Hindi cinema as it has in Satya. Other than those oft-heard phrases, the word “raw” typically goes into any review of Satya.
Some scenes that I can never forget - Bhikhu Mhatre shouting out “Mumbai ka raja kaun? Bhikhu Mhatre!” on the rocks of Band Stand. Or Bhikhu pumping bullets into friend-turned-foe Guru, saying in anguish to Satya – “saala, dono ne same item ko bajaya tha”. And of course, the brilliant climax sequence shot amidst thousands of people at Chowpatty during Ganpati visarjan.
I saw Satya with my friends on a rain-soaked evening at Eros near Churchgate. We came in half drenched and reached home almost fully wet. We saw it a time when all of us were at an uncertain stage in our careers. Not that we fancied ourselves as goons. Not that we didn’t know crime didn’t pay. We saw on screen what we used to see in the papers. And sometimes had seen in real life. But most of all, we loved the crazy bunch in Bhikhu’s gang. The cigarettes, the booze, the drunkenness and the attitude.
In the years that followed, we danced to “Goli maar bheje main” when we were single, and “Sapne mein milti hai” when one of us got married. And on sobering down we talked about the times in our lives when we saw “Satya”. Even if the movie’s forgotten, the friendship isn’t.
This was Part 1: Filmiholic's take on Salaam Bombay.
4 comments:
Good series, especially the reminiscing about the songs from the movie and life. "Satya", along with "Company", I think are THE defining movies in Hindi cinema about the underworld-metropolis connection. And hey, thanks for commenting on thine's blog!
Hey, BA, talk about syncronicity... I was just reading Pinki Virani's "Once was Bombay" on the train to work, and in one chapter, she writes about a gunda type guy she meets at VT, Pakya. In that piece, he refers to Bhikhu Mhatre several times, and that, as if he's a real person!
On another note, "Company" is one of the other flics I rented the other day. Want to see it again.
Hi,
Good post, though there were many fims made on the underworld before, Satya actually gave a "emotional" face to the protagonist..he has not just a Bhai but could be anyone amongst the masses.The movie,IMO worked because of the rawness it potrayed which touched the heart..it was Mumbai everyday..not the page 3 couture.
Satya was almost semicult in Mumbai..I think it cemented the base that crime isnt heartless or mindless all the time.RGV used the city as a character more than as a background.And thats where it scored a brownie point..nonetheless all performances were superlative.And the climax as you rightly said was brilliant.
After Rangeela , tapori language agin became a rage here.
@ Purush - thanks. Well, Satya was cult and Company was excellent. And that's why Satya remains etched somewhere in my head and Company doesnt. And blog, mere sher, blog !!
@ Filmi - That was weird.
I hope you've seen Sarkar ? That - wtih Satya and Company - is pretty much Ramu's own trilogy. His other "proteges" have done stuff like "Ab tak chhapan" and "D", but they totally pale in front of the man himself.
@ Malinee - hey, you've got some really nice poems on your blog.
I couldn't have put it better. And "RGV used the city as a character more than as a background." - absolutely 100% agree ! In fact that's what this series is about Bombay as a character. Thanks for the comment !
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