While surfing channels the other day, I came across the trailer of Kya Dilli Kya Lahore. [You can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oy96lq-Nhx4].
My first reaction was that it will be another movie on the India-Pakistan partition saga. The partition which took place in 1947 left behind a lot of unpleasant memories on both sides of the border. Till date, families of those affected by the partition are said to be suffering. Almost overnight, people had to leave their homes & their entire belongings and escape so that they could continue living. Needless to say, any movie based on this event will evoke either sadness or strong feelings of nationalism and patriotism.
Kya Dilli Kya Lahore, however, promises to be a different movie. Caught in a border cross-fire in 1948, only two soldiers remain alive. As luck would have it, one is an Indian soldier of Pakistani origin while the other is a Pakistani soldier of Indian origin. The film is about their interactions and their attempt at trying to remain alive. It also seeks to emphasize how a single day suddenly made sworn enemies of people who were, till then, leaving peacefully with each other. It stars Vijay Raaz, Manu Rishi & Raj Zutshi.
What specifically caught my eye was the fact that Gulzar had composed lyrics for the movie and was also presenting it. Readers of this blog are well acquainted with my admiration & adoration for Gulzar Saab. Go read my posts http://pallosworld.blogspot.in/2013/08/happy-birthday-gulzar-saab.html & http://pallosworld.blogspot.in/2013/08/book-review-in-company-of-poet-gulzar.html.
Bollywood fans are well aware of how often Gulzar writes about partition and how passionate he is about it. One of the shayaris from the film heard in the trailer is:
Lakeerein hain to rehne do, kisi ne rooth kar gusse main shayad kheech di thi.
Unhi ko ab banao paala aur aao kabaddi khelte hain, lakeerein hain to rehne do.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtcHuGezr5Y - Sung by Papon (one of my favourite singers) & composed by Sandesh Shandilya
I am looking forward to catch this movie as it releases this weekend. Await my review of it soon.
