Mira Nair and Salaam Bombay

Outline Mira Nair & the history of the production of Salaam Bombay. Major Theme 1: Migrants in the city Major Theme 2: comradeship and betrayal Major Theme 3: Social factors

Introduction to Mira Nair Born in Bhubaneshwar, Orissa in 1957 (middle class family) Attended the University of New Delhi (Sociology and Theater) Went to Harvard in 1976 (Sociology) (source)

Films by Mira Nair Jama Masjid Street Journal (1979) So Far From India (1982) India Cabaret (1985) Children of a Desired Sex (1987) Salaam Bombay (1988) Mississippi Masala (1991) The Perez Family (1993) Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love (1997) My Own Country (1998) Monsoon Wedding (2001)

Salaam Bombay! History of Production Interviews of street kids in Bombay. Out of these interviews emerged a screenplay that was a composite of several lives. “Then many of the children were enlisted for weeks in a daily workshop, not to teach them "acting" (for that they already knew from hundreds of overacted Indian film melodramas), but to teach them how to behave naturally in front of the camera.” (source)

What happened to the children? "Our whole attitude was to meet them halfway and help them realize their own self-worth and dignity," said Nair in a recent interview with The Christian Science Monitor (12 Oct 1988, p.19). "[We] wanted to help them create opportunities they want for themselves." Responding to this respectful approach, some children entered school, some returned home to their villages, some got jobs, and some have stayed on the streets. Nair is using proceeds from the film to open learning centers for street children in both Bombay and Delhi. (source)

Salaam Bombay! Awards: the New Director's Award at the Cannes Film Festival in 1988 an Academy Award nomination for best foreign film in 1989 Neo-Realism; A departure from Bollywood Musical.

Salaam Bombay!: Questions How does Krishna go to Bombay? What is his first experience of it? (clip 1) Why is he away from home? Why does he go to Bombay and what does he want to do there? (clip 7;11 ) How does he relate to the people he meets in Bombay? (e.g. Manju, Sweet 16, Manju’s mother, Chillum, & the other street kids.) e.g. Why does Krishna fall in love with Sweet Sixteen? Are there any traces of Bollywood musical influence in the film?

Major Themes in Salaam Bombay Migratory identity: people drifted to the metropolis, lost in the crowd, e.g. shots of the train station -- Chaipau: his name (Krishna); no home address -- Chillum: completely lost  hybrid culture and identity (e.g. Chillum, Manju’s dance—clip 3; Ms. Hawaii in the movie clip 6)

Salaam Bombay: survival How do Krishna and the other kids survive? Skin chicken, clean chicken coops; rob an old man, serve in a rich man’s wedding party

Major Themes in Salaam Bombay Desire for home e.g. Krishna -- tries to write home -- needs 500 rupees so that he can go home -- forms a “family” in Bombay (Chillum, the other children). What about Manju’s family?

Salaam Bombay: The migrants in a city (2) Manju’s family— Baba – child-abuser and pimp Mother –loving but cannot help Manju– lonely and in desperate need of love. (e.g. clips 8, 9, 12, 14)

Salaam Bombay: a series of betrays Baba His wife & Manju Chillum Krishna The other street kids The Sweet Sixteen The circus boss

Major Themes (2) Comradeship, betrayal and rebellion/survival-- Pattern of Repetition: Drug-dealing: the death of the previous drug dealer, Chillum and then another Chillum. Cheating: Manju’s mother cheated, The Sweet Sixteen Some are self-destructive and some, surviving Chillum – has no friend; cheats Krishna with his “bank.” Krishna’s setting fire as a way of rebellion against his brother, and then against the whorehouse

Major Themes 3: Social Factors Why are Baba and his wife not named? Why do people call Krishna Chaipau? What roles do Krishna God play in this film? And the “Chiller room”? (clip 20, 22) Who sends the two kids to Chiller room? How is the chiller room presented?

Salaam Bombay: social factors State intervention: Chiller Room drug, prostitution and Bollywood traces of collonial influence: cricket, tourists, statues, movies Religion: helpless. E.g. Ganesh

Salaam Bombay and Earth What do you think about the ending of Salaam Bombay? Is there any hope for the street children? What does the spinning top mean? How are the positions of Lenny and Krishna different in Earth and Salaam Bombay. Can you think of any other film that is comparable to Salaam Bombay?

References: This outline is made partly by Pin-chia Feng. Roger Elbert. SALAAM BOMBAY!