Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi (2003)

Set in the backdrop of Indian Emergency 1975, the story revolves around 3 friends whose lives changes drastically after the turn of events.

Director:

Sudhir Mishra

Writers:

Sudhir Mishra (original story & screenplay), Shivkumar Subramaniam (original story & screenplay) (as Shiv Subramanyum)

Stars:

Kay Kay Menon, Shiney Ahuja, Chitrangda Singh

2 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kay Kay Menon	...	Siddharth Tyabji
Shiney Ahuja	...	Vikram Malhotra
Chitrangda Singh	...	Geeta Rao
Ram Kapoor	...	Arun Mehta
Saurabh Shukla	...	Senior Bihari constable
Yashpal Sharma	...	Randhir Singh
Jasbir Malik	...	Mehmood Tyabji
Sohrab Ardeshir	...	The maharaja
Aditya Bhattacharya	...	Politician Sadiq
Arif Zakaria	...	Daryll
Anupam Shyam	...	SHO Jhanda Singh
Sandeep Kulkarni	...	Comrade Probir
Akhil Mishra	...	Vikram's father
Yusuf Hussain	...	Senior politician
Manohar Khushlani	...	Hotelier Wadhwani

Storyline

Geeta Rao has two admirers - one is Siddharth Tyabji and the other is Vikram Malhotra circa 1969 West Bengal that is witnessing it's struggle against the ruling Congress party, joining forces with left-wing Marxist and Communist parties. While Siddharth is directly involved in this struggle, Geeta and Vikram are romantically involved. When Vikram does not make any move toward marriage, despite of being introduced to Geeta's Madras-based family, she decides to give up on him, and he starts his romance with another young woman. While students continue to voice their disapproval of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, the Allahabad High Court gives a judgment indicting her for several offenses under the Representation of People Act. Mrs. Gandhi then uses her powers to clamp Emergency, taking away all powers of the judiciary, giving police virtually unlimited powers to the Police to detain anyone under the National Security Act, imprisoning leaders of all political parties, empowering her son, ...

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Taglines:

A clash between idealism and realism

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

India France

Language:

Hindi Punjabi English

Release Date:

15 April 2005 (India)

Also Known As:

A Thousand Desires Like These

Filming Locations:

India

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

INR 1,988,000 (India), 22 April 2005

Company Credits

Production Co:

Artcam International, Foundation Montecinema Verità, National Center of Cinematography Fonds Sud

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Shiney Ahuja won the Filmfare Best Debut Award for his performance.

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Connections

References Georgy Girl (1966)

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Soundtracks

Na Aaye Piya
Written by Swanand Kirkire
Composed by Shantanu Moitra
Performed by Shubha Joshi
Courtesy of Virgin Records India

User Reviews

A Thousand Desires Such That...

If you thought that the 60's and the 70's was just about Rock and Roll, drugs, and retro clothes, think again? The 3-R's - Revolution, Rebellion, and Rock n' Roll - dominated most young minds. Rural India was subjugated. Independence was a mere farce (It's a different issue that it still is). Amidst all this chaos, the youth of India were driven towards various Ideologies. But how many of them were serious about the paths they chose? It was a fad during the 60-70's to indulge in drugs, rock n roll and college morchas. Most students entered college politics and turned into rebels, who were against the capitalist values of the society and the government in general. But not everyone was serious. Once their "wonder years" were through, these so-called socialist preachers, born with a silver spoon, backed away in testing times. But, then there were those who took this path seriously to a different level. Those who gave up luxury, and dreams of a "settled" life with wife and kids for the benefit of those Indians who suffered due to the Government's apathy.

Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi (HKA) is the story of such turbulent times during the India of the 60's and the 70's. The Emergency, the Naxalite movement, the domination of government in every decision Indians made. It is the story of three people who lead contrasting lives, with contrasting ideologies, and how their lives are intertwined.

If Siddharth (Kay Kay Menon) gives up his luxurious ways to reside in the villages of Bihar and start the Naxalite movement, Geeta (Chitrangada Singh) decides to pursue studies, only to eventually unite with Siddharth and support him in his mission. On the other hand, Vikram (Shiney Ahuja) chooses to be a middleman, or broker, of sorts, fixing dubious deals for the government and the capitalists.

This is a movie about ambitions, of desire, of love, and politics. If Siddharth continues his undying mission to form a strong Naxalite movement; Geeta, in spite of being married to Arun (Arif Zakaria), supports Siddharth from the outside as her lover, and confidante. It is as much about Geeta's own struggle of making the right choice: marriage, ideology, love, and as much about Vikram who, in spite of being a womanizer, continues to love Geeta and willing to go to any extent only to be in Geeta's good books.

HKA is a reminder to the youth of today that there were times when young blood was idealistic and not idle-istic. It is a dark reality, and a bitter truth of the struggle, which many went through during those turbulent times. Maybe the youth should wake up to such calls, and not just work in call-centers, lest we downgrade to a society where we might again be dominated and Independence becomes a facade.