Thaindian News

July 16, 2010 (Sampurn Wire): Two years in the making, Bipasha Basu’s Lamhaa is finally up for release today. Though narrated as a thriller, at the core of it, the film carries an issue-based subject. Considering the fact that Kurbaan, which released last year, too was an issue-based film (despite the thriller treatment) and still didn’t work at the box office, isn’t Bipasha worried about the fate of Lamhaa?

“Well, honestly I really don’t know much about such matters. How can one predict? Audiences are very moody and sometimes they ignore even good films. The business of films is so unpredictable and you don’t know how your product is received by the audience. Of course, I do wish though that people watch Lamhaa. There couldn’t have been more topical film than this”, says Bipasha, who is having a mainstream release to her name (if one ignores the atrocious Pankh) close to nine months after All The Best.

“Lamhaa is important because it talks about the country that we are living in and the situation which is prevalent here”, reflects Bipasha. “Today we are talking about Kashmir but the reality is such that this could happen in any state in our country. We constantly hear about how Kashmir is a disputed place and how there are people who want freedom from India or Pakistan. But then we just pause for a second, have those mixed emotions and move on. That’s not fair because we should not be okay with the stalemate situation out there.”

With a definite subject clarity coming from the man at the hot seat, Rahul Dholakia (the director), Bipasha has come to realize the plight of an average Kashmiri in on her own small way. In fact, the character played by her also mouths a statement, “Yeh gussa hamein virasat mein milta hai’, which pretty much sums up the core of the film in a big way.

“Absolutely”, Bipasha says immediately, “This dialogue really makes an impact. You can, I can talk about it but would realize the truth behind it only after talking to a Kashmiri. It is a different situation when you actually see their plight”.

On a parting note, she makes a call to the youth of India. “I just hope that youth watches Lamhaa as well other than the frothy films that release practically every week”, she says, “One should watch all kind of films. With the kind of infrastructure, dedication and conviction that has gone into the making of Lamhaa, we should encourage the effort more than ever”.

– Joginder Tuteja/Sampurn Wire