The DVD cover for Chameli (2003) shows Rahul Bose in the
rain, embracing Kareena Kapoor as he gazes lovingly into her eyes. It’s
a nice picture, if you like that sort of thing. Doesn’t have much to
do with the actual movie, though. Contrary to appearances, this is not
your average filmi romance.
Aman Kapoor (Rahul Bose) is an investment consultant trying to recover from a personal tragedy, the nature of which isn’t revealed until much later in the film. We first see him suffering through a party while reminding himself to smile. On the way home from the party, his car breaks down in a bad part of town - Kamathipura, Mumbai’s most infamous red light district. When he tries to call a mechanic, his cell phone dies as well, and the heavy rain soon force him to seek shelter in the same spot that Chameli (Kareena Kapoor) is plying her trade. Awkward.
The two are very wary of one another at first, especially as Aman makes it very clear that he is not interested in Chameli’s professional services. Still, because of the rain, they’re stuck with one another. Business is slow, and Aman isn’t going anywhere without a mechanic, and so they talk. Chameli tells a few amusing lies about herself, and they’re just starting to like one another when the plot intrudes.
It turns out that Usman (Pankaj Jha), Chameli’s pimp, has contracted her for the evening to Naik, a prominent local gangster. Chameli is not keen on this arrangement; not only is Naik a sadistic sociopath, but he’s also infected with something (other reviews I’ve read say HIV, but the subtitles are not clear on this point) that Chameli does not want, and her level of prostitution is not one where she can safely ask for protection. Chameli is hiding out from Usman’s men, and against his better judgement, Aman helps her and keeps on helping her, even as the situation becomes more and more dire. Soon the pair are on the run, and then in jail, and then, just as the situation is about to become truly dire, Aman manages to make contact with DCP K. P. Singh ( Yashpal Sharma), who is, and I want to be clear on this point, the coolest policeman in India. (Aamir’s character in Sarfarosh? Shahrukh in One 2 Ka 4? The entire cast of Khakee? Singh is cooler.)
The whole thing sounds rather typical. After all, while Chameli makes a disparaging reference to Umrao Jaan, she is still a hooker with a heart of gold, and you can only de-glamorize Kareena Kapoor so far. It’s not typical though, largely due to the relationship that evolves between the two leads.
Despite the DVD cover, this is not a love story. Sure, the film flirts with the possibility of romance a few times (”There ought to be love,” Chameli says, in a line which I’m sure I’ll be quoting for weeks to come) but it’s an afterthought. Aman doesn’t help Chameli because he’s suddenly fallen in love with her, he helps her because she’s in trouble and he’s a decent human being. And while it’s clear that they grow to like one another as the night goes on, it’s also clear that they’re not destined soul mates.
Rahul Bose delivers a very strong performance as an ordinary guy in an extraordinary situation, without ever developing the kung fu skills that Bollywood’s everyman heroes all seem to know. His transformation from weary and resigned to unlikely hero is handled quite well. Yashpal Sharma is also great as K. P. Singh, and, much to my surprise, Kareena Kapoor demonstrates that she can act as well.
The world of Chameli is never quite as sordid as it likes to pretend. Bad things are clearly happening, and the characters in the film talk about how bad they are, but we don’t ever see them, insulating the viewer and ultimately Aman from the full impact. That’s alright, though, because this isn’t a stirring expose of social injustice. In the end it’s a commercial film with an art house soul, rather like Oh Darling, Yeh Hai India without the heavy handed metaphor or the super-villains.
Aman Kapoor (Rahul Bose) is an investment consultant trying to recover from a personal tragedy, the nature of which isn’t revealed until much later in the film. We first see him suffering through a party while reminding himself to smile. On the way home from the party, his car breaks down in a bad part of town - Kamathipura, Mumbai’s most infamous red light district. When he tries to call a mechanic, his cell phone dies as well, and the heavy rain soon force him to seek shelter in the same spot that Chameli (Kareena Kapoor) is plying her trade. Awkward.
The two are very wary of one another at first, especially as Aman makes it very clear that he is not interested in Chameli’s professional services. Still, because of the rain, they’re stuck with one another. Business is slow, and Aman isn’t going anywhere without a mechanic, and so they talk. Chameli tells a few amusing lies about herself, and they’re just starting to like one another when the plot intrudes.
It turns out that Usman (Pankaj Jha), Chameli’s pimp, has contracted her for the evening to Naik, a prominent local gangster. Chameli is not keen on this arrangement; not only is Naik a sadistic sociopath, but he’s also infected with something (other reviews I’ve read say HIV, but the subtitles are not clear on this point) that Chameli does not want, and her level of prostitution is not one where she can safely ask for protection. Chameli is hiding out from Usman’s men, and against his better judgement, Aman helps her and keeps on helping her, even as the situation becomes more and more dire. Soon the pair are on the run, and then in jail, and then, just as the situation is about to become truly dire, Aman manages to make contact with DCP K. P. Singh ( Yashpal Sharma), who is, and I want to be clear on this point, the coolest policeman in India. (Aamir’s character in Sarfarosh? Shahrukh in One 2 Ka 4? The entire cast of Khakee? Singh is cooler.)
The whole thing sounds rather typical. After all, while Chameli makes a disparaging reference to Umrao Jaan, she is still a hooker with a heart of gold, and you can only de-glamorize Kareena Kapoor so far. It’s not typical though, largely due to the relationship that evolves between the two leads.
Despite the DVD cover, this is not a love story. Sure, the film flirts with the possibility of romance a few times (”There ought to be love,” Chameli says, in a line which I’m sure I’ll be quoting for weeks to come) but it’s an afterthought. Aman doesn’t help Chameli because he’s suddenly fallen in love with her, he helps her because she’s in trouble and he’s a decent human being. And while it’s clear that they grow to like one another as the night goes on, it’s also clear that they’re not destined soul mates.
Rahul Bose delivers a very strong performance as an ordinary guy in an extraordinary situation, without ever developing the kung fu skills that Bollywood’s everyman heroes all seem to know. His transformation from weary and resigned to unlikely hero is handled quite well. Yashpal Sharma is also great as K. P. Singh, and, much to my surprise, Kareena Kapoor demonstrates that she can act as well.
The world of Chameli is never quite as sordid as it likes to pretend. Bad things are clearly happening, and the characters in the film talk about how bad they are, but we don’t ever see them, insulating the viewer and ultimately Aman from the full impact. That’s alright, though, because this isn’t a stirring expose of social injustice. In the end it’s a commercial film with an art house soul, rather like Oh Darling, Yeh Hai India without the heavy handed metaphor or the super-villains.
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