The Indian movie `Lage Raho Munnabhai` is the second film of the popular Munnabhai series. Sanjay Dutt and Arshad Warsi played the lead role where Sanjay Dutt sees the spirit of Mahatma Gandhi. The street savvy tapori find himself face to face with Mahatma Gandhi`s ideology. After realizing the importance of Gandhigiri i.e. non-violence Munna starts following Gandhi`s rule and the story goes forward. The film is acclaimed by many eminent personalities as for example the Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh stated that the film captures Bapu`s message about the power of truth and humanism. The film was generally well received by critics and at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival the film was declared a `blockbuster`,and was the recipient of a number of awards. It is the first Hindi film to be shown in the United Nations. The film has the ability to make anyone cry, love and, parallel to all the entertainment, it gives a message that sticks in the mind. For Munna breaking bones and abducting people is the way of life. When he comes face to face with Bapu, he discovers that it takes more courage to turn the other cheek than to hit back. Munna discovers that nothing works like compassion and non-violence. Following Mahatma Gandhi`s way, Munna not only triumphs over his enemies, but he also wins the love of the woman he so very longs for.
Synopsis of Lage Raho Munnabhai
In the film `Lage Raho Munnabhai`, Munna is back with his inseparable friend Circuit. Once again, Sanjay Dutt plays the foul-mouthed, uneducated, but extremely good-hearted goon, and Arshad Warsi plays his inseparable friend circuit.
While Circuit is busy doing abductions and forcing people from their properties, Munna spends his days listening to RJ Jhanvi played by Vidya Balan on the radio. Munna, hopelessly smitten with Jhanvi, gets an opportunity to be on her show after answering a number of questions on Mahatma Gandhi. He managed this by hiring lot of history teachers to answer the questions. However, to conceal his real identity, Munna lies to her that he is a professor of History. Impressed by the history teacher who speaks tapori language just to relate to today`s youths, Jhanvi invites Munna to her house to give a lecture on Gandhiji to her `children`. Jhanvi runs a home called Second Innings in which old people who have been left by their children get a chance to restart their lives afresh. It is these old people whom Jhanvi calls her `children`. These children also include her own grandfather.
Now, Munna is in a fix. To know about Gandhiji`s life and ideology, he goes to a library and begins reading books on the iconic figure for three days continuously. After three days, a miracle happens. Gandhiji played Dilip Prabhavalkar appears and start talking to Munna. Startled to see Gandhiji, Munna goes to a shrink and is told that there is some chemical locha i.e problem in his brain. However, Munna becomes friend with Gandhiji, gives an excellent lecture at Jhanvi`s home and makes a place in everyone`s hearts, including Jhanvi`s.
Trouble starts when a builder named Lucky Singh played by Boman Irani wants to take over Jhanvi`s property. Lucky is an unscrupulous businessman who employs Circuit and Munna Bhai to conduct `underworld` activities for him. His daughter, Simran played by Dia Mirza, is engaged to marry Sunny played by Abhishek Bachchan, the son of a powerful businessman, Kkhurana played by Kulbhushan Kharbanda. Kkhurana, however, is superstitious and his activities are controlled by his astrologer, Batuk Maharaj played by Saurabh Shukla. Maharaj`s particular use of numerology led Kkhurana to add an extra `K` to his real name Khurana as well as to the conclusion that the `Second Innings House` would be the most auspicious place for Sunny and Simran to live.
When Lucky asks Munna to vacate the house he refuses to do the work and requests Lucky to leave that house. But the greedy builder makes his manipulative moves and acquires the property. And as a result Munna becomes his foe. Here comes the twist, with Gandhiji by his side, Munna resigns his old fighter style and wins over his enemy in the most unexpected way.
Munna launches a `non-violent` protest to reclaim it. He calls this protest, `Get Well Soon, Lucky` and asks his radio show audience to send Lucky flowers to help him recover from the `disease of dishonesty`. Munna, along with Circuit, Jahnavi and the senior citizens of `Second Innings House`, begin a peaceful satyagraha in front of Lucky`s house. It is during this time that Munna decides to tell Jahnavi the truth that he is not a professor and he does this via a letter he gives to her. While doing this action Gandhiji is always with Munna.
Heartbroken, Jahnavi leaves Munna. Munna receives another setback when he is tricked by Lucky into revealing his conversations with Gandhi before a public audience. Munna finds that only after he has learned something about Bapu`s life can the Gandhi image talk about it, which serves as proof for a psychiatrist in the audience that Munna is delusional. Gandhi`s monologue at the end of the film, however, questions this conclusion. Though confused Munna still continues to use Gandhigiri, a decision which transforms Lucky, brings Jahnavi back to him, and resolves Simran`s marriage.
Lucky Singh, himself, eventually becomes a student of `Gandhigiri`. Additional subplots include the story of Victor D`Souza played by Jimmy Shergill who, having lost his father`s played by Parikshat Sahni money in stock market, promises to earn back the money by working as a taxi driver. It is Victor who returns Simran to her family, when she had fled to escape her father`s shame and had heard the advice of Munna. Another includes the story of a retired teacher who, having been denied his pension, offers everything he owns to the corrupt official in the pension office. In this manner, the application of Gandhi`s concept of satyagraha (non-violence) to day-to-day modern life becomes the central thematic issue of the film. The film also tackles issues related to social justice such as the impact of astrology and numerology on daily life.
`Lage Raho Munnabhai` is a film that keeps you riveted to the screen from the very opening reels to its conclusion. The most exceptional thing about the film is the way it blends comedy with emotional moments.
Cast and Crew of Lage Raho Munnabhai
The star cast of the film `Lage Raho Munnabhai` includes Sanjay Dutt, Arshad Warsi, Dilip Prabhawalkar, Boman Irani, Vidya Balan, Jimmy Shergill, Dia Mirza, Saurabh Shukla, Parikshit Sahani, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Abhishek Bachchan, etc. The film is directed by Rajkumar Hirani, while the producer is Vidhu Vinod Chopra. The cinematography is done by C. K. Muraleedharan and music director is Shantanu Moitra. Rajkumar Hirani and Abhijit Joshi do the screenplay and dialogues jointly while Rajkumar Hirani himself does editing.
Awards for Lage Raho Munnabhai
Indian movie `Lage Raho Munnabhai` is an award winning film. The movie has got many awards in different ceremonies. Broadcast India Awards for Excellence in Films and TV has awarded Rajkumar Hirani as best director. The film also got CNN IBN movie of 2006 and filmfare critics` choice best movie, filmfare best story, best dialogue and best comedian award. In GIFA ceremony the film got best film, best story, best dialogues, and critic`s choice best actor award. The film also got best film award in STAR Gold`s Sabsey Favourite Kaun category. The Star Screen has awarded the film as best film, best supporting actor, best actor, best editing, best dialogue and best story. The film has got bollywood movie award as best film, best director, best story and best dialogue. IIFA has awarded the movie for best director, best supporting actor, best story and best dialogue award. Stardust has awarded Hirani as dream director and also awarded Sanjay Dutt the star of the year award. Zee Cine award also give different awards like best story, best screenplay, best dialogue, best actor in comic role.