Overview
Bombay is a 1995 Indian Tamil-language romantic drama film written and directed by Mani Ratnam. The film stars Arvind Swamy and Manisha Koirala in the lead roles, with Nassar, Kitty, Tinnu Anand and Prakash Raj in supporting parts. Set against the backdrop of the communal tensions following the demolition of the Babri Masjid in December 1992 and the subsequent riots in Bombay (now Mumbai) in 1992–93, the film follows a Hindu man and a Muslim woman from a coastal Tamil Nadu village whose inter-faith marriage is tested when they relocate to Bombay and are caught up in the violence.
The film was simultaneously released in Tamil and dubbed into Telugu, and later dubbed into Hindi by Jhamu Sughand and released in 1995. It is the second instalment in Mani Ratnam's unofficial trilogy on terrorism and communal politics in India, preceded by Roja (1992) and followed by Dil Se.. (1998).
Key facts
| Title | Bombay |
|---|---|
| Director | Mani Ratnam |
| Writer | Mani Ratnam |
| Producers | Mani Ratnam, S. Sriram, Jhamu Sughand |
| Production companies | Aalayam Productions, Madras Talkies, Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Ltd. (ABCL) |
| Lead cast | Arvind Swamy, Manisha Koirala |
| Music | A. R. Rahman |
| Cinematography | Rajiv Menon |
| Editing | Suresh Urs |
| Languages | Tamil (original); dubbed in Telugu and Hindi |
| Release year | 1995 |
| Genre | Romantic drama |
Plot background
The narrative centres on Shekhar Mishra, a Tamil Brahmin journalism student, and Shaila Banu, a Tamil Muslim woman, both from a village in coastal Tamil Nadu. Despite opposition from their conservative fathers, the couple elope to Bombay, marry, and have twin sons. Their settled life in the city is disrupted by the riots that erupted in Bombay in December 1992 and January 1993 in the wake of the Babri Masjid demolition in Ayodhya. The film depicts the family's struggle for survival amid the violence and the communal hatred of strangers and neighbours.
Production
Mani Ratnam wrote the screenplay shortly after the 1992–93 Bombay riots, intending to address inter-religious marriage and communal harmony through a personal family story. Cinematography was handled by Rajiv Menon, in one of his early major feature credits. The riot sequences were staged on large outdoor sets and street locations to recreate the look of Bombay neighbourhoods during the disturbances.
Music
The soundtrack was composed by A. R. Rahman, with Tamil lyrics by Vairamuthu and Hindi lyrics by Mehboob for the dubbed version. The album includes the songs "Kannalanae" ("Kehna Hi Kya" in Hindi), "Uyire Uyire" ("Tu Hi Re"), "Halla Gulla", "Idhu Annai Bhoomi" ("Humma Humma" in the Hindi version) and "Antha Arabi Kadaloram". The instrumental piece commonly known as the "Bombay Theme" became widely recognised internationally and has been used in several other films and productions. The soundtrack is regarded as one of Rahman's landmark works of the 1990s.
Release and reception
The Tamil and Telugu versions were released in early 1995, and the Hindi-dubbed version was released later the same year after some delay related to certification. The Central Board of Film Certification required certain modifications, and the film was also reviewed by political and religious figures, including Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray, before its Maharashtra release. The film became a major commercial success across South India and performed strongly in the Hindi-dubbed market as well.
Critically, Bombay was widely praised for its technical craft, performances, music and ambition in tackling a politically sensitive subject through a love story. It also drew criticism from some commentators who argued that the film softened or simplified the political realities of the riots, and from sections of both Hindu and Muslim opinion who objected to specific portrayals.
Awards and recognition
- National Film Awards (1995): Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration; Best Audiography; Best Editing.
- Filmfare Awards South: Recognition in Tamil categories including direction.
- The film was screened at several international film festivals and contributed to Mani Ratnam's and A. R. Rahman's wider international profile.
- The "Bombay Theme" has been featured in international compilations and other films, including Spike Lee's Inside Man (2006).
Significance
Bombay is considered a significant film in 1990s Indian cinema for several reasons. It brought a major communal event of recent Indian history into mainstream popular cinema while retaining a melodramatic romantic structure. It marked a high point in the collaboration between Mani Ratnam, A. R. Rahman, Vairamuthu and Rajiv Menon. The film also helped establish Manisha Koirala as a leading actress in South Indian cinema and consolidated Arvind Swamy's stature following Roja. Together with Roja and Dil Se.., it is often discussed as part of a thematic trilogy on the intersection of personal life and political violence in contemporary India.
Related topics
- Mani Ratnam
- A. R. Rahman
- Arvind Swamy
- Manisha Koirala
- Roja (film)
- Dil Se..
- 1992–93 Bombay riots
- Babri Masjid demolition
- Tamil cinema
- Rajiv Menon
- Vairamuthu
References
- National Film Awards, 43rd edition, citations for Bombay.
- Central Board of Film Certification records relating to the film's certification in 1995.
- Published interviews with Mani Ratnam and A. R. Rahman discussing the production and music of Bombay.