Convenient partnership?

Mandi (Market Place, Hindi; 1983)
Directed by: Shyam Benegal

It was a time when Bollywood could not go wrong. With their vast array of capable actors, there controlled the narrative. Even though initially, Bollywood catered for the masses. It tried to put forward the leftists' agenda, and the rest of the population would just feed off their hands.

So when Bollywood made a movie out of a classic satirical novel with prolific and talented actors of that era, the likes of Shabana Azmi, Naseeruddin Shah, Smita Patil, Om Puri and Amrish Puri, it became an instantaneous national and international hit. It has a string of accolades under its belt to boast.

Things have turned 180 degrees since OTT platforms democratized movie releases. It seems that the Bollywood mafias are struggling to produce even a single hit. All their recent releases have tanked repeatedly. Conversely, unknown newcomers often shine at the top.

This movie takes a sarcastic look at the unholy alliance between the madame of a house of disrepute with the police and people in power. Members of an NGO are up in arms against a brothel in the middle of a town. They want it closed. The politicians are looking at its real estate value. In the midst of it all, two of the brothel girls perform at the landlord's son's engagement ceremony. The potential groom is all smitten with the performer and is lovestruck, wanting to elope with the callgirl! 

An interesting movie that takes a swipe at the convenient coalition between the oldest and the second oldest profession in the world.

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