Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro is one of the best satirical comedy films of Indian cinema. And as is the case with most great things, it wasn't designed for distinction. A first-time filmmaker, Kundan Shah and his young, exceptionally gifted crew were merely trying to make a 'mad' movie they believed in with whatever resources available to them. It is a dark satire on the rampant corruption in Indian politics, bureaucracy, news media and business, and stars an ensemble cast that includes the likes of Naseeruddin Shah, Ravi Baswani, Om Puri, Pankaj Kapur, Satish Shah, Satish Kaushik, Bhakti Barve and Neena Gupta. This week Factrichi 100 Varsh recollects this critically acclaimed film on Sunday, 23rd December 2012 at 1:30 pm and 9:30 pm only on IBN-Lokmat.
The story of Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro revolves around two friends (Naseeruddin Shah and Ravi Baswani), attempting to start-up their own photo studio, come across shady dealings, corruption and murder, and must fight to bring the guilty to light. It is known to be a small NFDC film created by a bunch of enthusiasts with all that they had in terms of creativity and resources. Made at a shoestring budget of roughly Rs 7 lakh, Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro wasn’t a blockbuster right away, but made a significant contribution to Indian cinema, like any good film ought to. Lovers of cinema can never forget the iconic Mahabharata play enacted at the end of the film.
The film was not immediately successful at the box office when released, but was eventually regarded as a cult classic. Even after almost three decades, it superb satirical depiction of the essential, timeless, human condition made the depiction particularly powerful. To know about this enthralling movie and all that went behind it, tune in to Factrichi 100 Varsh on Sunday 23rd December 2012 at 1:30 pm and 9:30 pm only on IBN-Lokmat.