WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
First, the Recap:
That which we are surrounded with, accustomed to, familiar with, and perhaps even indebted to are the facets of life where we exist, impacting our daily routines, interactions, goals, and dreams. Yet amidst what we hope is the steady constant of our regimen and habits, there can suddenly arise that one element which shakes it all up and guides us into an entirely different realm that can be either beneficial, detrimental, or maybe even both. For a simple, beautiful, hard-working girl named Kamala (voiced by Cyli Khare), the bustle of Bombay brings into her circle a handsome street vendor named Salim (voiced by Amit Deondi) and the ensuing quest for love amongst friends, foes, and the weight of the city itself as everyone attempts to find their role in its urban chaos and often unforgiving streets that can play home to both refreshed beginnings or tragic ends.
Next, my Mind:
In a myriad of ways, there may not have been a more fitting venue to display this gorgeously creative, artistically impressive, and wholly unambiguous ode to the big city, its atmosphere, and its ability to establish hope or crush it with unreserved vigor than via a New York Premier and being the Centerpiece Programming offering at the inaugural 2019 New York City South Asian Film Festival sponsored by Toyota. Encompassing a wealth of thematic explorations that span across cultural, religious, emotional, communal, and political lines, the film by writer/director/editor Gitanjali Rao, dialogue writer Asad Hussain, producers Rohit Khattar and Anand Mahindra, plus co-producers Serge Lalou and Charlotte Uzu carries itself with the magnitude of a Bollywood effort yet maintains the far more grounded mentality of the independent film it is through story and character development that is relatable and engaging while providing a visual lushness (ALL frames hand painted by Rao! Truly amazing!) that elevates the grander scope of the narrative to beautifully effective highs.
I especially appreciated that sheer fact that there is no holding back here in its depiction of Bombay, meaning there are indeed the exciting aspects found through the metropolis’ ardent adoration for its film stars, here illustrated by a character named Raja Khan (an equivalent of, let’s say, SRK and voiced by uber writer/director/producer Anurag Kashyap), the diversity of its vendors that pack the streets with their wares, and just the general notion of the anxious but hopeful nature of so many of its residents that have come in from small towns to try and see their aspirations manifest. Yet, there are the seedy goings on here as well, from the harshness of child labor and some people’s haunted pasts to the thugs running schemes behind the scenes and ruling through fear, all of which them makes the primary tale of Salim and Kamala’s journey in love more palpable and tangibly emotive as they each face their own inward hurts and imperfections while striving to connect their hearts, souls, and spirits with something genuine and that might actually last. With a finale that will assuredly pull the heartstrings, it’s such an unflinching portrait of Bombay through the eyes of a superbly skilled artisan.
As has already been mentioned but honestly needs to be brought out again, it is the absolutely stunning animation work here that grants the story so much unique vibrancy and affecting fulfillment for the viewer. It was stimulating and inventive to witness, in a day and age of CGI and photo-realism being the new standard for almost all animated films, one that utilized this “old-style” form, where it’s so overtly evident the images were hand-painted but with such perfectly apropos details and expressiveness that you get lost in the wonder of it just as you are likewise swept up in the romance being portrayed. It’s imaginative, original, and ode in itself to what has become a lost art in the digital age, also holding tightly to showcasing elements of Bombay that are both classic and contemporary, which is reflected in the characters as well. Frankly, there are components and sequences that have a documentary tone and manner to them as well, which only adds to the effort’s distinctiveness.
Given the animated nature of the film, it’s voice acting that gets center stage and I will say that it was quite a masterful group of talent brought on for this, including Khare as Kamala, a woman fielding a deft combination of independent fire with a acute vulnerability, Deondi as Salim, the street-wise, cavalier rogue who becomes enthralled with Kamala and pursues her affections, Kashyap as Bollywood superstar Raja Khan, whose good looks and cockiness woo the crowds in true Bollywood fashion, Amardeep Jha as Ms. D’Souza, an English teacher and friend to Kamala’s younger sister, who despite her advancing years, catches the eye of store owner Anthony, voiced by Shishir Sharma, who like Salim & Kamala, innocently but doggedly pursues her, Makrand Deshpande as the thug Mike, who rules the Bombay streets with fear and intimidation while also having an eye for Kamala, Virendra Saxena as Kamala’s grandfather who runs the store she works beside and assist with, Gargi Shitole as Kamala’s sister Tara, whose carefree ways can be both advantageous or potentially troublesome to all around her, Rajeev Raj as Mr. Mishra, a store owner Salim works for, and Geetanjali Kulkarni as a local flower seller.
In total, “Bombay Rose” is both a trip to yesteryear and an illustration of modern society as seen through the varying eyes of those who know the city best–the people who reside, work, play, and struggle to make their way in a place that carries both splendid, though often fleeting allure and cold, uncompromising realities affecting everyone and everything while in the middle of it all, love can still find a way to thrive and bloom. Will it last? Only the city knows.
As always, this is for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
