People power

7 Islands and a Metro
Cast: People of Mumbai
Direction: Madhushree Datta
Rating: ****

To dispense with the bad news: the intrusions by two actors playing Sadat Hasan Manto and Ismat Chughtai are not only incomprehensible but also a  cerebral literary conceit.

Now the great news. For the rest of the length of its 100 minutes, Madhushree Datta’s documentary on the city, its past and present with forebodings of the future, is excellent. Apart from detailing useful information, 7 Islands..discusses the politics and demographics of  Bombay, asserting that it’s a victim of haphazard urban planning, bigoted groups and irrepressible prejudices.

Yet the city is an open house, and always will be. Strong faces stay with you, right from the bombil selling fisherwomen and a Sholay stunt artiste to a worker from the slum demotion squad who must demolish his own home.

Visually arresting, 7 Islands.. is a thoughtful essay on the city of gold and garbage.Anyone interested in the docu-media, should rush to the Inox-Fame-Fun ‘plexes asap.

khalid@dnaindia.net