Mohalla Assi (मोहल्ला अस्सी)

"Mohalla Assi (मोहल्ला अस्सी)"

Watched Hindi movie "Mohalla Assi (मोहल्ला अस्सी)", directed by Chandraprakash Dwivedi and Produced by Vijay Tiwari. It stars Sunny Deol, Ravi Kishan, Sourabh Shukla, Sakshi Tanwar, Nilesh To earn, Narendra Gupta, Mithilesh Chaturvedi. The movie is about 2 hours long. 

Sunny (Pandit Pandey) is a staunch supporter of of Hindu traditions and self proclaimed protector of values and traditions and an influential figure in Mohalla Assi which overlooks the famous Assi Ghat. With a lout of foreign tourists and ample weed in circulation, things are changing. 

Director has used Pappu's shop as a melting pot of personalities and point of views. There's a doctor, a lawyer, a right winger, a communist, a socialist and a Muslim. They chat every evening and it is through these chats that we understand the changes happening in India. From VP Singh becoming PM to Mandal commission and protests to Ram Mandir and demolition of disputed structure etc. Director uses these chats to carry the story forward. It's interesting. To some, it may even be boring but I liked the idea. 

Basically this movie tells the story of Sunny who finds himself becoming redundant in changing times. He has no means to fight money and globalization and decides to make deal with the devil to remain relevant. Will he succumb?

It was a bold step to cast Sunny in very unglamorous and non macho role. However, Sunny does well. He portrays the character responsibly. Sakshi is the best performer in thus movie. She looks good and conveys her anger initially, angst later and love throughout powerfully. The characters at the shop are played by able and well known actors and one can't find a fault with any of them. 

Bhosadike, a curse word, is used in Benaras regular in daily parlance, even by the learned. This movie uses the word more than 100 times.

Mohalla Assi looks authentic. I don't know how the real one looks. Otherwise audience is treated to the sites and sounds of Benaras and rustic lifestyle. Cinematography is good, though most of the shooting is indoors and there are no breathtakingly beautiful locations. 

This movie is very much off the beaten track. Without Sunny and Sakshi it would have appeared to be an art film. Were they casted precisely for that? The message is subtle but impactful.

Watch of you like the genre.