Cast: Shabana Azmi, Prakash Rao, Perizaad Zorabian,
Lillette Dubey
Director: Mahesh Dattani

The movie is set in South India and revolves around three main characters with one thing in common, a passion for music. Swarnalatha (Shabana Azmi) is a classical singer who dreams of performing live on stage. Finally one day, she gets a letter asking her to perform in the city. Together with her friend and both of their sons, they take a bus into the city. While the bus is crossing a bridge, an uncontrollable car crashes into the bus. Many of the passengers are killed including Swarnalatha ’s young son and her best friend. Swarnalatha blames herself for the deaths and believes that if she crosses that bridge again, another catastrophe will occur.

Years later, in the city, Abhinay (Prakash Rao) a jingle writer, decide to quit his job and form a music group. He heads back to his village and informs his father of his plan to start a band. Not pleased with his sons’ decision, Abhinay’s father wants him to settle in the village and take care of the family estate. Abhinay sees Swarnalatha and wants to talk to her but she walks away, he then follows her. As he is following her, a car almost hits him and this incident brings back tragic memories to Swarnalatha. The incident happens on the same bridge that took the lives of Swarnalatha’s son and friend.

The driver of the car, Pinky (Perizaad Zorabian) steps out and is almost mobbed by the crowd as they are also reminded of the tragedy. Abhinay rescues her from the mob but she has car trouble and ends up staying the night at his house. He tells her of his plans to start a band and she mentions that her mother has connections and can help him. Pinky also mentions that she sings and together they go looking for other musicians to form
the band.

Abhinay and Pinky seek the help of Swarnalatha to teach them her style of singing. At first, Swarnalatha is reluctant but eventually gives in to them. They both try to persuade Swarnalatha to join them in the band, but due to her fear of the bridge, Swarnalatha refuses. During the movie you learn how the three characters are linked by the bus tragedy. Abhinay’s mother was Swarnalatha’s friend who died in the bus accident and Pinky’s father was the one driving the car that crashed into the bus. How will this affect Pinky’s relationships with Abhinay? Will Abhinay’s dream come true? Will Swarnalatha be able to overcome her fear and realize her dream of singing on stage?

This movie was featured in the Reel World Film Festival recently and is one more feather for Shabana Azmi to add in her already full hat. To be honest, when I saw the previews for this movie, it did not interest me at all but I know that Shabana Azmi is a wonderful performer and this is the only reason I saw the film.