I just finished watching the movie, “Gulabo Sitabo” few hours ago. This movie is definitely not the regular movie, it has many layers, many aspects which can become food for thought. One important aspect which hit me was how every character in the movie was as despicable as the other. You can very momentarily feel for someone in the movie before being disgusted by them again. Or atleast the story attempts to do the same. Another important aspect of the movie is the complete focus on the so called “common man” in the movie. Anything that does not relate to the common man is given very less attention in the movie, except at the end which shows the rich enjoying while the common man rejected after their petty fights amongst each other. This combination of the two aspects seems to be sending a very powerful message, it shows the disgusting behavior of the common man in full limelight. From stealing of items by the house owner to finding excuses to pay rent, it shows the complete lack of morality in common man. This same theme is extended to each and every character. The lawyer, the sister, the girl friend, the broker friend, the government servant, the dumb servant, each of them are only looking for their own benefit in each and every situation.
The word that keeps resounding of this behaviour is “Jugaad”. This 6 letter word has become the common man’s excuse of any wrongdoing to suit his or her selfish interest. What is worst, from excuse, it has become a matter of pride. That is why there is no remorse in any of the character even till the end and their lives go on. This lack of remorse and even acknowledgement of wrong doing is made very evident in the scene between Mirza and lawyer after they are thrown out from one of the Begum’s relatives house. When lawyer asks Mirza so to why everyone hates him, Mirza is surprised and says he did not notice any enmity. Guddo, Banke’s sister, also exemplifies this Jugaad behaviour. She tries to get herself a job within all the chaos by trying to sleep with the government officer and then goes and even works for the lawyer to try make some money as part of selling the haveli. She feels everything she is doing is ok and goes on about it. The broker friend of Mirza keeps giving him ideas while his interest lies in trying to sell the haveli to the builder. The government servant promises something to the tenants, does not show any sense of shame and uses his power to ignore them and continue with his lives.
In all, while many bollywood movies have been made to reflect the despicable behaviour of those with money, the upper class, like Corporate, Fashion, Rajneeti, this movie has completely focused on the common man’s despicable behaviour and how it is no different in the lives of common man and displays him in his full nakedness.
