The Real Picture

YMI: If you keep chanting it,you’ll realise why N Chandra had such a pun intended abbreviation to his latest film,Yeh Mera India. YMI: Why Am I? “Isn’t that what all Indians are struggling with,” questions Chandra toying with this little rubik cube of confusion. And it’s this state of anarchy thay forms the base and crux of YMI. Written and directed by Chandra,more than a commerical flick,we’d like to slot this one in the docu-rama department,along with the hard facts and X-files for the film brings hard-hitting page one news alive on the celluloid. “We Indians love to carry a baggage of bias with us,be it caste,region,status,sex or education. It forms the root of violence and atrocities,and this is what runs throughout the film,” tells Chandra,adding how YMI is an attempt to explore the real stories behind the headlines that flash day and night on TV channels. The film is based on a story of one day in the life of 12 people from different stratas of Mumbai; how they go about their lives,only to realise that they are all interwoven,part of the same thread. Kinda reminds us of the Oscar winning Crash…moving at the speed of light,we are bound to collide with each other…

“We all know the issues,but are clueless about the answers. With YMI,I’m trying to deliver some solutions,and it will have a positive outcome,” Chandra assures us of a hopeful end to his ‘reality show’. Rewind to the revolutionary days of Ankush,Pratighat and Tezaab,and Chandra feels YMI will surpass all this. “It’s by far my best,” he feels,the memories of a real cinema still alive. “There was a time when we had films like Ankush,when we addressed issues….now we’ve started brushing it under the carpet,and living with it. All Muslims are not terrorists….girls who work outside are not for sale….these are some of the current issues I’ve focused on,” says the filmmaker,writer and editor,who is trying to give his audience something to go home with. “Experimentative cinema is there,but it’s full of eye candy,love stories,urban cities and comedies…the villages,the small town,the common man ceases to exist for the new director. And you can’t blame him,for he thinks and acts in English,trappings of a cityscape,” but Chandra has always stayed away from the usual. And that’s the reason,he stumped everyone with his mad films Style and Xcuse Me. “It was a way of saying that I too know your language,and am young at heart,” he laughs,finding the whole process of signing up producers and stars an increasingly painful act. “It’s getting difficult for they have so many options now!”

It’s sad that we all live dual lives,behave diplomatically and take the easy way out. “YMI exposes this dogala-pan,” Chandra feels that the cinematic sensibilties are getting bigger,not in size but thought. And with a young,fearless generation taking on the reigns of power,things are looking up,says this close observor of politics,people and world affairs. Quiz him what’s next,and he says another intense love-action thriller like Tezaab and a fantastic urban sex comedy,the battle of the sexes where one is from upper class and the other from the streets. We’ll be on the lookout.