Remember your origins, says Seema Kapoor’s directorial debut
The movie Mr Kabaddi, is special for several reasons. It is the last one, where late veteran actor Om Puri acted. And it also happens to be the first to be directed by Seema Kapoor, his first wife. The movie marked the conclusion of the eighth Jagran Film Festival. Vinay Pathak, Sarika and Seema Kapoor were present at the screening to pay homage to the actor.
Kapoor described the movie in the context of the present present social scenario. She said, “It’s satirical comedy set in Uttar Pradesh and the story depicts today’s reality. the story is unusual. More than 80 per cent of people live below the poverty line. But as often happens, once a person gets money, they forget their origin. The film says that one should never run away from accepting the class one has come up from.”
The film is based on a play by Molière where Annu Kapoor plays the lead and Puri is the sutradhar (narrator). It’s a rags-to-riches story, of how class divides us and how some of us are uncomfortable about our own social standing. The opening scene of the film has some rag pickers and the first song Zindagi ko ek phone laga portrays their desires, needs and dreams. Within the first few scenes it becomes clear that no matter how much one tries to erase the past, it’s impossible to run away from it.
The story revolves around Kallu Kabaddi, a scrap dealer whose life takes a turn after inheriting his grandfather’s land. The land’s price skyrockets as adjoining the land, a highway is being built. On the other hand, he marries his sweetheart, Chando, the rag picker. However, Kallu tries to erase his past which was overshadowed by poverty. Kallu owns over 150 private toilets around the state but has no experience or education required to run a successful, reputable business. His son, Chaman manages the toilets and makes weekly collections.
Embarrassed by their own profession, the family creates a facade of owning a chain of restaurants. But Kallu dreams of rubbing shoulders with the elite and wishes to marry off his children, Chaman and Meethi into wealthy families. Kallu and Chaman’s dreams come crashing down when Chando, who is ignorant of the lies that her husaband and children have woven, inadvertentlly reveals the truth. A crucial point in the story is reached when Chaman falls in love with Shaili, whose father, Arora hates kabaddis because his sister eloped with one. later, it is revealed that the kabaddi she eloped with happens to be Chaman’s mama.
Kapoor said, “I mostly like to work with characters from towns as I can associate myself with them easily. Nothing in particular compelled me to do this story, when you are film director different stories; different subjects crop up in your mind and one just has to develop it.” Since, this was her debut film as a director and the reason behind her choosing it to start her career was all a matter of priority. “Some stories have social relevance and one simply takes it up according to their preferences,” she added.