As Mani Ratnam’s ‘Bombay’ recently celebrated its 29th anniversary, actress Manisha Koirala reminisced about the challenging experience of filming the iconic movie. Reflecting on the difficulties she faced, Manisha recalled the grueling conditions, such as shooting in a forest teeming with leeches and braving powerful waves crashing against rocks while filming the song ‘Tu Hi Re,’ composed by AR Rahman and crooned by Hariharan.
In an interview with O2 India, Manisha, who made her Tamil film debut with ‘Bombay’, shared how the song ‘Tu Hi Re’ presented unique challenges. Describing the experience, she said, “Tu Hi Re was a very difficult song. There was one chunk, two places, which were extremely difficult (to shoot in). One was on the rocks and the sea hits on those rocks and big splashes come, that was pretty dangerous, but somehow we managed to shoot that and we got it right and everything was ok. The other place was… I don’t know which area that was, we were in the midst of a thick jungle and it was full of leeches.”
She went on to explain, “So, if you walk one step also, a little distance, leeches would be all over your leg. (For the song) I had to wear a skirt, that blue skirt and I had to run through the jungle… It was full of leeches, there was a lot of difficulty. But then you find a mechanism, we were told, you put salt, someone we wore boots. We figured out how to navigate in a tough situation.”
‘Bombay’ is a 1995 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by Mani Ratnam, widely regarded as one of his most significant works. The film is set against the backdrop of the 1992–93 Bombay riots and tells the powerful story of a Hindu man, Shekhar (played by Arvind Swami), and a Muslim woman, Shaila Banu (played by Manisha Koirala), who fall in love and marry despite their different religious backgrounds. Their love story unfolds in a politically charged atmosphere, as they navigate the challenges of interfaith marriage and the societal tensions it incites.
As the couple moves to Bombay (now Mumbai) and starts a family, they are caught in the midst of the real-life communal violence that erupted following the demolition of the Babri Masjid. The film portrays the tragic consequences of religious intolerance and the impact of the riots on ordinary people, particularly the couple’s struggle to protect their children amidst the chaos.
‘Bombay’ is noted for its intense narrative, compelling performances, and a deeply emotional storyline that addresses the themes of communal harmony, love, and resilience. The film’s music, composed by A. R. Rahman, became iconic, with songs like ‘Kehna Hi Kya’ and ‘Tu Hi Re’ contributing to its lasting legacy. The cinematography by Rajiv Menon and the film’s realistic portrayal of the riots received widespread acclaim.
Despite initial controversy and censorship issues due to its sensitive subject matter, ‘Bombay’ was a critical and commercial success. It has since been regarded as a landmark film in Indian cinema, lauded for its bold storytelling and its call for peace and unity in a time of deep division.
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