Naseeruddin looking back on Kundan Shah's cult film. full story here: http://www.tehelka.com/story_main40.asp?filename=hub300808humhogaye_kaamyaab.asp
THE FILM was not an immediate success, but over time it has come to have a sort of cult reputation. I think it has struck a chord with audiences because of the unassuming way in which it speaks of corruption and the struggle of the underdog. None of these themes were novel, but Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro's off-centre presentation caught people's fancy. Kundan himself — if he were to walk past you — would strike you as the kind of person you wouldn't notice at all. You'd probably take him for an accountant, which he nearly became until the film bug really got to him. I knew him at the Film Institute for almost a year before I was sure I could distinguish him from two of his classmates. All three had beards, wore similar spectacles and seemed to carry the weight of the cosmos on their shoulders. I dreaded seeing the kind of films they would go on to make. Therefore Kundan's off-kilter view of the world (first seen in his diploma film Bonga) was a total revelation. I fell in love with the title before I even saw the film, and if you are at all familiar with institute diploma films, you will understand why. Apart from the punishment of having to see these things, you first have to decipher the titles which invariably go something like "Metamorphosis cum Genesis" or "Tribheeshan ki Mrigtrishna", or "And unto the endless void". In this world, the title Bonga sounded like lovely nonsense, and the film itself fulfilled its promise of being a completely nonsensical piece of work, and perfectly in key. - - - - - - -
