When Comedy Walked Into Chaos: Re-entering the World of Hungama
It is one thing to make an audience laugh, and it is another thing to create a world so ridiculous, and chaotic, and so laughable that a film can truly stand the test of time, making people laugh 20 years later like in the case of Hungama (2003). Here, the audience gets a snapshot of the life of the actors/members of the cast of the film who have also found themselves in a poetic and timeless part of cinema. While reveling in the chaos of the film, a cast and crew could pursue their lifelong dreams of comebacks, career building, and defeating stereotypes, etc.
The film was one and the same: a comedy and an art drama at the same time. This tribute stands as the love letter it is, with a voice of gratitude to the multi-aspect life and world the film has given us.
Each Piece of Chaos Fits
The amazing Priyadarshan film attacks the topic of one incorrect rumor and the consequences that follow it. It begins with the hiring of character Jeetu, an motivated and passionate employee with the goal of becoming a successful businessman. On the other hand, Nandu, a country character, rushes from his countryside home looking for a big-city lifestyle. Add in Anjali, the ‘classic’ big-city woman who comes to Mumbai with deception and fake credentials to apply for a job, and you have the film’s first hints of chaos and confusion.
The primary enduring cause of chaos is Radheshyam Tiwari, a man who is a self declared master of ‘izzat’ and rumor. It is Radheshyam’s conflict spurting, mainly with his ‘trophy’ wife com Anjali Tiwari, that provide a large percent of the films humor and comedy.
The film is a masterclass of irony, in that no character ever plays to or embraces the comedy built into their situations. It is the character’s.
The quotes were removed in order to allow the interpretation to shine, whilst the hints the quotes provide to allow for a authentic Stan in contrast to other full and blank Stan. It is also to provide contextual evidence of an almost ‘stream of consciousness’ style of writing.
Calm Within the Storm of Akshaye Khanna
When looking closely at the character Jeetu, played by Akshaye Khanna, Jeetu is the only character who has composure in the chaos that surrounds him. Khanna’s performance is even more admirable because he did not get carried away into the inner chaos of his character’s madness, but rather portrayed his role with dedication. This, too, reflects Khanna’s personality beyond the film, as he remains quiet, has his own inner motivations, and is particular with the projects he chooses to undertake.
During the early 2000s, Akshaye was walking the tightrope of selective but inspiring roles in the mainstream (Deewangee, Dil Chahta Hai). Fortunately, the film, “Hungama”, was an opportunity for him to take part in the comedies of that era, but he was able to maintain the class and style he had. Some of the more elegant and sophisticated components of the film were his subtle, controlled but sharp reactions.
During the shoot, a number of Khanna’s colleagues and fellow crew members noted that he would quietly take the directing seat during scenes and act effortlessly as if he had rehearsed several times.
Rimi Sen’s Nice Surprise
Rimi Sen arrived on the set of Hungama with an even smaller status, a newcomer. However, by the time the film was ready to be released, she had established the status of being the freshly trained and gifted winner of comedic roles in the Bollywood industry. Sen was able to take a character that was wrapped in lies, and impersonate her to allow the audience to to see a person of innocence and even be in support of her character’s absurd actions.
The effortless charm that captivated viewers had to be earned off screen first. Combining several projects at once, adapting to a new city, and learning to navigate the challenging world of stand up comedy all had to come together seamlessly to maintain that charm. This was particularly difficult because of Priyadershan’s notoriously fast-paced shooting. Rimi was often learning her lines on the fly and had to rely on comedy veterans like Paresh Rawal to elevate the performance on camera.
This crafted effort was the start of a career in comedy that was to be successful for many years.
The Endearing Absurdity of Aftab Shivdasani
Aftab’s Nandu is the character who fetches the audience’s sympathy the most. He is a highly ambitious man who is plagued by unfortunate circumstances and is simply the unluckiest when it comes to timing. Aftab had a reputation for young, youthful roles before this we was given the opportunity to dive into physical comedy for the first time. He had to do a lot of chaotic and clumsy running, wide eyed acting and fell off rooftops a lot.
Aftab kept the pranking spirit behind the camera, and it was Aftab’s energy that the other actors mentioned as the reason they enjoyed shooting long, tiresome outdoor sets. His pranking spirit greatly contributed to Nandu’s chaotic and absentminded energy that was a wonderful part of the character.
Paresh Rawal – The Man Who Started the Fire
If Hungama had a center, it was Paresh Rawal. His Radheshyam Tiwari was one of the greats in indian comedy – proud, suspicious, loud, and terribly unlucky.
All of Rawal’s comedy from Hera Pheri was vertical. However, Hungama expanded that horiztonally while maintianing the same levels of subtlety. The chemistry of Rawal and Shoma Anand created a subplot that could have been an entire sitcom.
Few know that Priyadarshan frequently allowed Rawal to improvise. Many of Tiwari’s funniest lines, and some of the most impressive one-liners, were completely unscripted. Other cast members struggled to maintain their composure, resulting in the legendary retakes that we all know.
The Set That Was Always Overstretched
Priyadarshan’s films, including Hungama, are notorious for their tight shooting schedules. He likes to do fewer retakes, and more spontaneity.
The film has gained a few legends, among which are:
- Massive Heat During Climaxes
The climax involved a lot of running and chaos, trucks, extras, broken gates, and half the main cast. It was shot in extreme heat to the point a few actors recalled almost fainting. - Late Night House Scenes with Paresh Rawal
The sequences in the Tiwari household required a lot of integration–a single small glitch and the comedic timing was thrown off. These scenes tended to take longer, though the end result justified the suffering. - Rimi Sen and the Quick Correct
She once said the reason was because a lot of the script was quick, and in order to keep up with the story, she memorized lines phonetically instead of understanding the meaning because things moved way too fast to slow down.
Rise and Fall
The moment Hungama dropped a trailer, the audience was aware of the type of comedy that was about to play: a fast, loud, and elevated take on farcical Malayalam comedy. It was a delight and anticipation for the audience, especially to see Paresh Rawal lose control in a chaotic role.
While the film had no recognizable faces, it had easy star power. Reviewers praised it, and people, especially families, kept coming to witness the grappling of a single man vs. endless questions, concepts, car chases, and identities until he finally found the identity he was grasping for. The film spawned many references and memes as people kept coming to witness the pure chaos of the car chases and endless creeds for which it is now a comfort film, a clicking joy of a classic, easy and satisfying to watch.
The classic comfort film, which is now a frequent companion during dining hours, holidays, and revered for its ability to lighten life, still has a special place in many hearts.
A special place that he has earned as the film of true mad brilliance
As primary school teachers understand, the movie has a life of its own; a life of true joyous chaos that will reward you with laughter as the end product and show you the funny side of chaos; the side that reminds you to be free with life and see the fun side of chaos.