Source: IMDb
The story is set in a contemporary world where the main protagonist Mr Krishnakant Jhunjhunwala, an ill and hopeless old man who has given up on life decides to visit Varanasi to peacefully accept his fate but he is unaware of what Kashi holds for him.
Short film Name - Mumbai Varanasi Express
Director’s Name - Aarti Chabria
Genre - Slice of life, Drama
Language - Hindi
Run time - 30 minutes
Synopsis – Spoiler Alert!
Death is inevitable. Reaction to morality differs from person to person. Mumbai Varanasi Express is the story of Krishnakant Jhunjhunwala played by Darshan Jariwala, a middle-aged business tycoon who comes to terms with his approaching death due to the last stage of colon cancer, news divulged by his doctor friend. With the realization that he has spent his entire life in the acquisition of material wealth, he is left all alone with a heavy regret of not spending his life to the fullest.
Leaving behind all his worldly possessions Krishnakant sets out for his last journey to Kashi, the city of light to live in Mukti Dham as according to Hinduism, those who die in the holy city of Kashi, attain moksha or salvation, how his stay in Mukti Dham takes an upside turn forms the rest of the story.
In this new city, he finds comfort in Rafique who is a Muslim rickshaw puller The innocence and rawness of Rafique Ansari, played by Vivek Singh add freshness to the protagonist’s life as well as the story.
About the Director
Aarti Chabria is an Indian actor turned director. She was crowned Miss India Worldwide 2000. Aarti also studied filmmaking in New York at the New York Film Academy in 2012 and came up with her directorial debut “Mumbai Varanasi Express” in 2016.
Director Aarti Chabria, beautifully compiles the human weaknesses stuck in cultural philosophies, questions the life we live, and sets up the supremacy of destiny in a circular shape and on the grounds of Kashi itself, but did not try to take a holy dip in Ganga.
About the Movie
"Mumbai Varanasi Express” is a short film that accelerates with a simple narrative and reaches an eye-opening resolution. The establishment of Krishnakant Jhunjunwala's life, his journey, his pain, his insecurities, and his materialistically drenched mind are captured with utmost honesty.
The narrative is fluid and in the end, the film successfully develops the emotional thread between the viewer and the protagonist. The film majorly focuses on the transition of Krishnakant. Alteration of the city leads to his transformation, from materialism to spirituality.
The movie keeps you engrossed in every scene and each scene has tiny details like the parallels between the plant and the protagonist, in the beginning, both are on the verge of their end but when the protagonist waters the plant each day it gets better, and so does the protagonist as the city and its people ‘water’ him.
Accomplished thespian Darshan Jariwala and Veteran Comedian Shekhar Shukla have played their parts to excellence. The movie also portrays the industry of the deaths in Varanasi, the contamination of the Ganga and even takes a dig at the 'Ache din' slogan.
Personal Verdict
The mise en scène is meticulous with some scenes being marvelously depicted, such as those in the Ghats and Railway Stations. The costume that the actors are wearing enhances the tone of the film via the contrasting colors that they depict.
The cinematography is commendable with the hues of the cities themselves being captured in the frames.
Highlights
The only song of the film “Mere Baba Ji Nihare” voiced by the melodious singer Kailash Kher is well-written and picturized and serves as the soul of this 30-minute-long short film. This song is truly a highlight as it lends some semblance of deep reflection.
Famous Dialogues (mention 2-5 quotes from the movie/show..etc)
The locations, mostly Ghats of Banaras, where you can see lines like -
"Tan ka kya abhiman karna babre. Kab nikal jaye tere pran re.
Panch tatvo se bana yeh tan tera, hoga nishchay yeh yaha nishpran re" and "Nange tan paida hue the khaali hath, karm rehta hai sada manav ke sath"
written on the walls depicts what the city and movie are all about.
Trivia
The original title was kept as “Surat nu jaman and Kashi nu Maran” an old saying meaning eat in surat and die in Kashi, which was later renamed by the director Aarti Chabria as “Mumbai Varanasi Express”.
The Bottom Line
Mumbai Varanasi Express is a thought-provoking, well-researched one-time-watch film. The film smoothly depicts the transition a man undergoes on his journey from Mumbai to Varanasi.
There is continuous emotional turmoil followed by a heart-wrenching ending. The ending stands out with a couplet by Kabir which Krishnakant was writing in a scene, it goes like "Maya Mari Na Man Mara, Mar Mar Gaye Shareer Asha Trishna Na Mari, Keh Gaye Das Kabir” and it leaves you with a question, do we understand life at all?
My rating for the movie is 4.5 on 5
You may watch the movie on YouTube
Written By – Riya Dabas
Edited by - Kritika Sharma
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