Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi (2005) completed 20 years on April 15 and its surely a film that has stood the test of time. It was one of the first films of Shiney Ahuja and launched the ravishing and talented Chitrangda Singh. Both these powerful actors were joined by the equally powerful Kay Kay Menon. As Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi celebrated its 20th anniversary, Bollywood Hungama exclusively spoke to its acclaimed director Sudhir Mishra about the film, its butchered OTT version and a lot more.

SHOCKING: Crucial scenes of Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi missing on Amazon Prime Video; Sudhir Mishra DEMANDS answers: “I really find it ODD; Nehru’s speech has been edited out. I have no idea why they have done that”

I could see many French names in the cast and crew of Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi. Please tell us about this French connection to the film…
Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi began in the mid-90s. The script was written by me and Shiv Kumar Subramaniam. We jammed for a year and I told him many stories of my childhood. Only I could have made the film and nobody else because it comes from a personal space. It’s about things that have happened to me or those around me while I was growing up.

In the mid-90s, I went around hawking the script to many places. Through Shabana Azmi, I took it to Ismail Merchant, Channel 4 and later to the French. I met a producer, Joël Farges, and his company is called Artcam; they agreed to step in. Through Joël, we applied for funds in France. It was approved but we only got a part of the budget. We still needed money from an Indian counterpart. For a year, I tried to raise money. Then, one day, I met Pritish Nandy on a flight. He noticed that I looked worried. I explained to him my situation. He asked me, ‘How much money do you want?’. I replied, ‘A little less than Rs. 2 crores’. I also narrated him the story of the film and he asked me to meet him the next day in his office. That’s how Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi happened.

That’s the French connection. When they give you money, they have a condition – either you have to use French technicians or you have to complete the post-production in France. If you see All We Imagine As Light (2024), its post-production happened in France for the same reason. In my case, I decided to use a French DOP (Jacques Bouquin), editor (Catherine D’Hoir) and sound recordist (Jean-Claude Brisson). All of them were brilliant.

Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi is also memorable as it launched many people…
I was very angry while making it and I was clear that I didn’t want actors who were known. Therefore, we went looking for new faces. Also, people forget that Swananand Kirkire was my associate director on Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi; he was not just the singer-songwriter. He wanted to be a director then. He was a part of the film till the end. He had written ‘Bawra Mann’ and I assured him that I’d use it in the film. And I did use, during the end titles. As Shiney puts his head on Chitrangda’s shoulders, ‘Bawra Mann’ plays. The placement of the song is such that it makes you sit down and process. The audience doesn’t immediately get up from their seats.

What was the total cost of the film?
It was roughly less than Rs. 3 crores.

As per the censor certificate, Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi was certified on October 24, 2003, and it was released only 1 ½ years later…
Yes, it took a while as it was a difficult film to be released. It was a bad time in Indian cinema. There were very few multiplexes in the country. There was no social media either. Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi is a film which was publicized by those who saw it then, through text messages or by calling their friends and loved ones. Also, it did reasonably well. It ran for 8 weeks in 3 theatres in Mumbai and also for 10 weeks in Delhi. Sadly, many also consumed the film on pirated prints. Now, everywhere I go, many know me by Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi. It is unfortunate for my other films though!

Did the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) ask for any cuts?
During the first stage, they did. I had to go to the Revising Committee. Then, it was passed. When it was released in 2005, there was the UPA government. Therefore, they didn’t consider the film for the National Awards.

I happened to catch the film again on Amazon Prime Video and I was shocked to see many scenes are cut. The film begins with the iconic speech of Mr Jawaharlal Nehru followed by your observation about the ex-Prime Minister’s ‘horological mistake’. The Amazon version begins straight with the text, thus cutting out the speech. The riot scenes that follow this text have also been deleted. Vikram’s (Shiney Ahuja) intro voiceover is cut halfway. Vikram looking at Siddharth’s (Kay Kay Menon) mansion and remarking ‘And these guys are supposed to be Marxists’ is also chopped off. There are many other shots that have been butchered…
I don’t know why those parts have been cut. I really find it odd. I don’t own the film. I have been saying this for the long time that the beginning of the film – Nehru’s speech – is not there on the film put up on Amazon. I have no idea why they have done that. I don’t know who edited it. Maybe, you should ask PNC (Pritish Nandy Communcations).

Do you think it is possible to make a film like Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi in today’s times?
If I wanted to make a film, I would have tried. I am not that kind of sensationalist that I’ll make a statement that I couldn’t have made this film in the present day. I made Afwaah (2023), which is far more aggressive than Hazaaron. I also made Serious Men (2020), which is about a Dalit man. I am now making a film about the JP Movement. Hence, I’ll make the film I want to make. If I can’t tell, then I’ll tell you. If I start saying that it is difficult for me to make films, what will happen to the young and aspiring filmmakers?

Also, every society has some weak points and default lines. We need to learn to circumvent them. Look like how Iranians make films in a certain way. Even the Americans are required to make films in a certain way. There’s no such thing as absolute freedom! Go to Europe now and you’ll realize this aspect even more. Therefore, one should not get bogged down by imaginary fears.

It’s the era of re-releases. Would you like to re-release Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi?
I want it to be re-released. When Pritish Nandy was alive, I had asked him. But now he is no more. Nevertheless, I’ll ask Rangita Pritish Nandy. I didn’t ask earlier as Pritish had just passed away. But now, I will bring this topic up.

Also Read: Geeta Kapur reflects on working with Farah Khan, “Strict on set, loving off camera”

More Pages: Hazaron Khwaishein Aisi Box Office Collection

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