Movie ‘Road to Sangam’ reaffirms relevance of Gandhi’s teachings in modern times.

‘Road to Sangam’ reaffirms relevance of Gandhi’s teachings in modern times.

The recently released movie ‘Road to Sangam’ by it’s debutant director and script writer Amit Rai, and produced by Amit Chheda; has already garnered rave reviews and several prestigious Awards including at MAMI Film Festival, three Awards at L A Reel Film Festival-Best Foreign Film; Best Foreign Film (Original Score) and Best Foreign Film (Production Design), and at Film Festivals in Hamburg, and South Africa, and standing ovation at CANNES.

Incidentally, Amit Rai is a theatre professional who was associate director of the internationally-acclaimed Marathi film “Tingya”. “Road to Sangam” is his first film as an independent director.

It is a simple story told in a simple way. Tushar Gandhi, grand-son of Mahatma Gandhi, in a cameo role, collects a box of Mahatma Gandhi’s ashes from a bank vault to transport it for immersion into the triveni sangam of holy rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati at Allahabad. The movie’s title is aptly chosen because it signifies not only the confluence of the holy rivers but also the confluence of the heart, mind and soul of the nation. The old V8 Ford engine

of the car which was used previously to transport the ashes for immersion needs repairs. Hashmat Ullah (Paresh Rawal) is a devout Muslim mechanic who is entrusted with the repairs of the engine. He accepts the assignment unaware of its historic significance as this engine which had previously been used to carry the ashes of Mahatma Gandhi for immersion in the holy river 'Sangam', was to be used again for one more ceremony .He is given only a few days to repair the engine. In the meantime, a bomb goes off and the Police rounds up some suspected members of the Muslim community. The enraged radical, community leaders Mohammad Ali Kasuri (Om Puri), who has personal differences with Hashmat Ullah, (General Secretary) and Maulvi Maulana Quereshi fan the hatred and exhort the members to protest against Police action by observing a total boycott till justice is meted out to them.Hashmat Ullah initially supports the leaders but his conscious is torn when through a TV reporter he learns the historic import of the assignment he has undertaken. He believes in ‘My word is my bond. Mein mahan kam nahin, ek mahan aatma ka kam kar rahan hoon’ he says, and continues with the engine repairs. He faces not only the fury of the community leaders but also few obstacles from his community members. But one of his steadfast friends, Dr. Banerjee (Javed Sheilh), is supportive to the very end. Gradually Hashmat Ullah,through his gentle persuasion and Gandhigiri persuades his community members to help him finish the job. He also wins over Kasuri with his reasoned plea for peaceful co-existence. The engine is mounted and all is set for the procession to the Sangam .Hashmat and Dr.Banerjee request the authorities to demonstrate communal solidarity by taking the procession through Muslim area as well. Much to everyone’s relief and joy, the Muslim community accords full honors and respects to the majestic, dignified and colorful procession in a tricolor and floral bedecked car to the Sangam

The veteran actor Paresh Rawal, who has previously acted as Sardar Patel, acts with aplomb in a meaty role of a pacifist devout Muslim mechanic who firmly believes in communal harmony. Like Gandhi, he follows his inner voice and does his duty. The scene where he enters the Gandhi museum, and is overcome by reverence for the Mahatma will linger in the minds of the viewers for a long time. Om Puri,Pavan Malhotra,Javed Sheikh,Swati Chitnis(as Paresh’s wife) have all given very convincing performances.

Cinematographer Dharam Gulati has offered a visual feast of colors, hustle and bustle in the lanes and by-lanes of Allahabad and magical shots of the awe-inspiring immersion ceremony.

The background score and music by Sandesh Shandilya,Vijay Mishra,and Nitin-Prem embellishes the spiritually elevating lyrics of songs like ‘lab pe aati hai dua’;’Re mere Maula’;’Allah Ishwar naam Tero’;and ‘Vaishanav Jana to’by lyricists Sudhir Nema,late Allama Iqbal’and Gujarat’s legendary poet Narsinh Mehta.

Debutant director Amit Rai has scored big with this thought provoking, and perceptive movie with a heart warming tale, which moves at a leisurely pace, with a gentle plea for communal harmony and patriotism. This movie is bound to pull you in from the start and stay in your mind for a long time. This is a ‘Must See’ movie. If not in a cinema, watch the DVD, available with English sub-titles.