By Murtaza Ali Khan
Over the years, Delhi has been a
destination of choice for filmmakers. Yes, it’s partly due to the fact that it
is India’s capital. But it certainly has more to do with the city’s rich
cultural legacy. After all, Delhi is just not a city but a city of cities that
has been a witness to endless highs and lows. Over the past millennium, Delhi
has seen the rise and fall of many an ambitious ruler whose ambitions ultimately
got the better of them. All we get to see
today are ruins that continue to remind us about the glory of those mighty
rulers who once dared to dream of immortality. But, the influences of all the
bygone eras can still be seen and felt in the kaleidoscopic cultural reality that’s
the present-day Delhi.
The art of moviemaking is as much
about exploring the reality as it is about anything else and good filmmakers
understand this really well. It is for this reason they are drawn towards the
city of Delhi, perhaps in search of the eternal truth about the human existence.
To quote the great Pablo Picasso, “Art is a lie that tells the truth.” So let’s
look at some of the films shot in Delhi over the last decade by important
filmmakers, starting with the latest.
1. Shab (2017), directed by Onir
Onir’s upcoming film Shab,
starring Raveena Tandon, Arpita Chatterjee and Ashish Bisht, is set in the
backdrop of the glitz and glamour of the Delhi’s fashion circuit. Interestingly,
the film is shot over four seasons (Summer, Monsoon, Autumn, and Winter) so as
to capture the changing moods of Delhi. Parts of the movie are shot in
Connaught Place, Hauz Khas, Malviya Nagar, Vasant Kunj, and Paharguj, among
others.
2. Fan (2016), directed by Maanish Sharma
Maanish Sharma’s highly ambitious
film, Fan, which failed to perform at the box office, revolves around a Delhi boy
who idolizes a superstar named Aryan Khanna whose journey to fame mirrors that
of Shah Rukh Khan himself. Fan’s highlight is the music video of the song
"Jabra Fan" that spectacularly captures the euphoria and frenzy associated
with the city of Delhi.
3. Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015), directed by Kabir Khan
One of the biggest blockbusters
in the history of Hindi cinema, Kabir Khan’s Bajrangi Bhaijaan brilliantly captures
the charm of Old Delhi. The song ‘Chicken KUK-DOO-KOO’ pays a nice tribute to
the mouthwatering food of
Jama Masjid.
4. PK (2014), directed by Rajkumar Hirani
This Aamir Khan blockbuster that
takes swipes at superstitions prevalent in the Indian society had a 26-day shooting
run in Delhi including the famous Chandni Chowk area. Directed by Rajkumar
Hirani, PK currently happens to be the third-highest grossing Indian
film of all time.
5. Queen (2013), directed by Vikas Bahl
This Vikas Bahl-directed film, Queen, is
best known for Kangana Ranaut’s hard-hitting performance which not only revived
her career but also won her a National Award. In Queen, Kangana plays a homely Punjabi
girl, residing in West Delhi’s Rajouri Garden, who gets dumped by her fiancé on
the day of her wedding. While the majority of the movie is shot across Europe,
several key sequences are shot in Delhi.
6. Vicky Donor (2012), directed by Shoojit Sircar
Extensively shot in Delhi, this brilliant
film starring Ayushmann Khurrana in the role of a sperm donor went on to become
a major hit of 2012. While the protagonist, played by Khurana, is a resident of
Lajpat Nagar, the sperm clinic and bank that he is closely associated with is based
in Darya Ganj. It is worth mentioning that both these places are two of the
biggest commercial hubs of Delhi.
7. The Reluctant Fundamentalist
(2012), directed by Mira Nair
Directed by Mira Nair, The Reluctant Fundamentalist is the only
international project to feature on this list. Interestingly, parts of this film are set in
Lahore but in actuality those sequences are shot in Delhi with Nair recreating the
Lahore scenes around Miranda House’s Zoology Department. The film is an attempt
to capture the impact of the Al Qaeda attacks on Muslims living in the US.
8. Rockstar (2011), directed by Imtiaz Ali
In many ways, Rockstar has been
the most important film of Ranbir Kapoor’s acting career. While many believe
that it is the song sequences that stand out, there is no denying that the
Delhi University scenes are no less effective. The film is shot across Delhi at
places like the Kotla Mubarakpur, Greater Kailash, Munirka, Connaught Place,
Shri Ram College of Commerce, St. Stephen's College and the Hindu College.
Speaking of the song sequences, none can beat ‘Kun Faya Kun’ shot at the
Nizamuddin Dargah. IT wonderfully captures the Sufi tradition of Delhi.
9. Dev D (2009), directed by Anurag Kashyap
A modern take on Devdas, Anurag
Kashyap’s Dev D happens to be Abhay Deol’s most remembered film. It is also a
film that established Anurag Kashyap as a major filmmaker in the country. Apparently,
playing an alcoholic in film took such a toll on Deol that decided to take a
break from acting. It ultimately proved to be a bad decision as this was the
time everybody was going crazy about his performance in the film and, so, holidaying
in the US, he missed a great opportunity to perpetuate his stardom. Several parts
of the film are shot around Delhi University’s
famous Hansraj College campus and Central Delhi’s Pahargang area.
10. Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! (2008), directed by Dibakar Banerjee
The final film on this list
features another remarkable performance form Abhay Deol. Only this time it is in
a brilliant Dibakar Banerjee film titled Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! Few films have
managed to capture the spirit of Delhi as this film does. Banerjee, who himself
grew up in Delhi, seems presents a wonderful portrait of the city just as he
has achieved with Khosla Ka Ghosla (2006). Deol’s character ‘Lucky’ is based on
a real-life crook named Bunty who originally belonged to Delhi’s Vikaspuri area.
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