Helmed by debutant director Manav Bhalla, who’s also producing it along with Gheorghe Seran, the movie has a pertinent message.
Lashtam Pashtam, a funny tongue-twister, started doing the rounds on social media over a month ago, but barely anyone knew what it meant. It’s actually the title of a Hindi film, starring the late Om Puri, Tisca Chopra, Dolly Ahluwalia, Ishita Dutta, Feryna Wazheir, Vibhav Roy and Samar Vermani.
Helmed by debutant director Manav Bhalla, who’s also producing it along with Gheorghe Seran, the movie has a pertinent message. Though it has an Indo-Pak context, its essence can be true for any bond that transcends the limitations of political boundaries.
Incidentally, this is one of the last films of Om, whose prolific work appealed to audiences across the globe. It’s a fateful coincidence that before his demise he was working on this movie that celebrates the warmth of friendship beyond borders.
In an interview a week before his untimely demise, talking about his character in Lashtam Pashtam, he had said, “I play a Pakistani taxi driver. He helps an Indian, who is lost in Pakistan, reach Islamabad and meet his friend. Manav has written my character in a way that tells people — all hatred should end...we are all humans, we have stayed together for years, and we have learned from each other’s etiquettes (tehzeeb). Yes, there have been some issues but just like there is a dialogue in the film that says — issues happen at home also, even among brothers! Unfortunately, people have to be reminded of this. We must live and let live as we have sacrificed a lot during the Partition. I hope that the audience watches this film so that they understand this.”
On his part, Manav adds, “Lashtam Pashtam is about universal brotherhood. To me, there’s far too much in common between India and Pakistan, and our cultures, for any animosity to last this long after the Partition. As a filmmaker, I feel blessed that I got to work with Omji on (probably) his last film and my first.”
Lashtam Pashtam, produced by Manav Bhalla and Gheorghe Seran, releases worldwide today.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Lashtam Pashtam")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}