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''Road to Sangam'' is a 2010 Bollywood film written and directed by Amit Rai. The film features Bollywood actors
Paresh Rawal Paresh Rawal (born 30 May 1955) is an Indian actor, comedian, film producer and politician known for his works primarily in Hindi cinema, Hindi films. He has Paresh Rawal filmography, appeared in over 240 films and is the recipient of various L ...
,
Om Puri Om Prakash Puri, (18 October 1950 – 6 January 2017) was an Indian actor who appeared in mainstream commercial Hindi films as well as Urdu, Malayalam, Bengali, Kannada, English, Punjabi, Gujarati, Telugu, and Marathi films, as well as ind ...
and
Pawan Malhotra Pavan Malhotra (born 2 July 1958) is an Indian actor who works in Hindi films and television alongside Punjabi and few Telugu films. He has received several awards including a Filmfare OTT Award and a Filmfare Award South. He has played ...
. ''Road to Sangam'' is a simple story of a God fearing, devout
Muslim Muslims () are people who adhere to Islam, a Monotheism, monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God ...
mechanic A mechanic is a skilled tradesperson who uses tools to build, maintain, or repair machinery, especially engines. Formerly, the term meant any member of the handicraft trades, but by the early 20th century, it had come to mean one who works w ...
named Hasmat Ullah (
Paresh Rawal Paresh Rawal (born 30 May 1955) is an Indian actor, comedian, film producer and politician known for his works primarily in Hindi cinema, Hindi films. He has Paresh Rawal filmography, appeared in over 240 films and is the recipient of various L ...
) who has been entrusted with the job of repairing an old Ford V8 engine, not knowing the historic significance – that it once carried the ashes of
Mahatma Gandhi Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (2October 186930January 1948) was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalism, anti-colonial nationalist, and political ethics, political ethicist who employed nonviolent resistance to lead the successful Indian ...
which were immersed in the holy
Triveni Sangam In Hindu tradition, Triveni Sangam is the confluence (Sanskrit: ''sangama'') of three rivers that is a sacred place, with a bath here said to flush away all of one's sins and free one from the cycle of rebirth. Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj ...
. The film was released worldwide on 29 January 2010.


Plot

Hashmatullah (Hashmat) is a God-fearing, devout Muslim mechanic of
Allahabad Prayagraj (, ; ISO 15919, ISO: ), formerly and colloquially known as Allahabad, is a metropolis in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.The other five cities were: Agra, Kanpur, Kanpur (Cawnpore), Lucknow, Meerut, and Varanasi, Varanasi (Benar ...
,
Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh ( ; UP) is a States and union territories of India, state in North India, northern India. With over 241 million inhabitants, it is the List of states and union territories of India by population, most populated state in In ...
. He is to repair an old Ford V8 lorry engine, the historic significance he is unaware -– it carried the ashes of
Mahatma Gandhi Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (2October 186930January 1948) was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalism, anti-colonial nationalist, and political ethics, political ethicist who employed nonviolent resistance to lead the successful Indian ...
after Gandhi's assassination in 1948. As part of the funerary celebration, the ashes were immersed in the holy
Triveni Sangam In Hindu tradition, Triveni Sangam is the confluence (Sanskrit: ''sangama'') of three rivers that is a sacred place, with a bath here said to flush away all of one's sins and free one from the cycle of rebirth. Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj ...
, Allahabad, divided into 20 portions, sent to different provinces of India, brought back, and then dispersed in
Triveni Sangam In Hindu tradition, Triveni Sangam is the confluence (Sanskrit: ''sangama'') of three rivers that is a sacred place, with a bath here said to flush away all of one's sins and free one from the cycle of rebirth. Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj ...
. One of the portions is found years later forgotten in the Orissa State Bank. Gandhi's grandson makes an application to the Orissa High Court for their return. The government honours Gandhi by having the ashes repeat the procession of 1948. The original lorry is found, a news channel reporter visits, and Hashmat learns about the historic significance of the engine he is to repair. There has been a terrorist bomb blast in three court houses of
Lucknow Lucknow () is the List of state and union territory capitals in India, capital and the largest city of the List of state and union territory capitals in India, Indian state of Uttar Pradesh and it is the administrative headquarters of the epon ...
,
Varanasi Varanasi (, also Benares, Banaras ) or Kashi, is a city on the Ganges river in northern India that has a central place in the traditions of pilgrimage, death, and mourning in the Hindu world.* * * * The city has a syncretic tradition of I ...
and
Faizabad Faizabad (Hindustani pronunciation: ɛːzaːbaːd is a city located in Ayodhya district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is situated on the southern bank of the River Saryu about 6.5 km from Ayodhya City, the district headquarter, ...
in
Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh ( ; UP) is a States and union territories of India, state in North India, northern India. With over 241 million inhabitants, it is the List of states and union territories of India by population, most populated state in In ...
. The Uttar Pradesh Police arrests suspects who have links with the terror organisation
Hizb-ul-Mujahideen Hizbul Mujahideen, also spelled Hizb-ul-Mujahidin (, ), is a Pakistan-based Islamist separatist militant organisation that has been engaged in the Kashmir insurgency since 1989. It aims to separate Kashmir from India and merge it with Pakist ...
) and the Muslim neighbourhood of
Allahabad Prayagraj (, ; ISO 15919, ISO: ), formerly and colloquially known as Allahabad, is a metropolis in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.The other five cities were: Agra, Kanpur, Kanpur (Cawnpore), Lucknow, Meerut, and Varanasi, Varanasi (Benar ...
, where Hashmat lives. Hashmat is General Secretary of the Managing Committee of the main Mosque of
Allahabad Prayagraj (, ; ISO 15919, ISO: ), formerly and colloquially known as Allahabad, is a metropolis in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.The other five cities were: Agra, Kanpur, Kanpur (Cawnpore), Lucknow, Meerut, and Varanasi, Varanasi (Benar ...
(Masjid-e-Azam). The Mosque Committee protests at the court house the arrests of the suspects. Protestors enter the court despite the beatings by the police with canes (
lathi charge A baton charge is a coordinated tactic for dispersing crowds of people, usually used by police, paramilitary or military in response to public disorder. In the Indian subcontinent, a long bamboo stick, called a '' lathi'' in Bengali, Hindi, ...
). One Muslim protester, while trying to scale the boundary wall of the court house, dies in an accident. He is the nephew of Chairman of the Mosque Committee
Nawab Nawab is a royal title indicating a ruler, often of a South Asian state, in many ways comparable to the Western title of Prince. The relationship of a Nawab to the Emperor of India has been compared to that of the Kingdom of Saxony, Kings of ...
Kasuri. Infuriated
Nawab Nawab is a royal title indicating a ruler, often of a South Asian state, in many ways comparable to the Western title of Prince. The relationship of a Nawab to the Emperor of India has been compared to that of the Kingdom of Saxony, Kings of ...
Kasuri supported by Maulana of the Mosque Masjid-e-Azam calls for a
Bandh Bandh () is a form of protest used by political activists in South Asian countries such as India and Nepal. It is similar to a general strike. During a bandh, a political party or a community declare a general strike. For example, a ''Bharat (t ...
. Hashmat has a quandary: support the bandh or return to Mr Rizvi a fixed Ford lorry. Rizvi works with the Government of
Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh ( ; UP) is a States and union territories of India, state in North India, northern India. With over 241 million inhabitants, it is the List of states and union territories of India by population, most populated state in In ...
. He seeks out Mr. Rizvi at the museum where Mr. Rizvi works; Mr. Rizvi is not available. Hashmat learns that
Mahatma Gandhi Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (2October 186930January 1948) was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalism, anti-colonial nationalist, and political ethics, political ethicist who employed nonviolent resistance to lead the successful Indian ...
led his life fighting for the safety of Muslims during Partition. He seeks permission of the Mosque Committee to repair the engine since the purpose is connected with Gandhi. Muslims considered a traitor. The Mosque Committee insults and rebukes him. His family and friends turn against him. He is intimidated and assaulted but he carries on with his work eventually winning over hearts of his fellow Muslims with Gandhian values and methods. The film allegedly displays the split personality of Indian Muslims through irrational symbolism. In a scene, right in the beginning of the film, some Muslims are shown praising the
Pakistan national cricket team The Pakistan men's national cricket team represents Pakistan in international cricket. It is controlled by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the governing body for cricket in Pakistan, which is a Full Member of the International Cricket Counc ...
and its famous players like
Shahid Afridi Sahibzada Mohammad Shahid Khan Afridi (, ; born 1 March 197is a Pakistani former cricketer and captain of the Pakistan national cricket team. An all-rounder, Afridi was a right-handed leg spinner and a right-handed batsman. Afridi made ...
and
Javed Miandad Mohammad Javed Miandad PP SI (; born 12 June 1957), popularly known as Javed Miandad (; ), is a Pakistani cricket coach, commentator and former cricketer known for his unconventional style of captaincy and batting. ESPNcricinfo described him ...
insinuating towards the support which Pakistan National Cricket Team enjoys over the
India national cricket team The India men's national cricket team, also known as Men in Blue, represents India in international cricket. It is governed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India and is a full member nation of the International Cricket Council with ...
in Muslim neighbourhoods of India. In contrast, the main protagonist Hashmatullah (portrayed as a moderate patriot Muslim) praises
Sachin Tendulkar Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar (; ; born 24 April 1973) is an Indian former international cricketer who List of India national cricket captains#Men's cricket, captained the Indian national team. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest cricketer ...
in the same scene. In a scene, it is shown how aristocrats are ruling the Muslim community with an iron fist.
Nawab Nawab is a royal title indicating a ruler, often of a South Asian state, in many ways comparable to the Western title of Prince. The relationship of a Nawab to the Emperor of India has been compared to that of the Kingdom of Saxony, Kings of ...
Kasuri (
Om Puri Om Prakash Puri, (18 October 1950 – 6 January 2017) was an Indian actor who appeared in mainstream commercial Hindi films as well as Urdu, Malayalam, Bengali, Kannada, English, Punjabi, Gujarati, Telugu, and Marathi films, as well as ind ...
) is angry with Hashmat and his family because Hashmat's late elder brother, who was once an employee in
Nawab Nawab is a royal title indicating a ruler, often of a South Asian state, in many ways comparable to the Western title of Prince. The relationship of a Nawab to the Emperor of India has been compared to that of the Kingdom of Saxony, Kings of ...
Kasuri's household, had contested an election against him for the Chairmanship of the Mosque Committee. Because a former employee dared to contest election against him the aristocrat bears a grudge against him for life. In many scenes, ordinary Muslims are seen fearing the aristocrat-
Nawab Nawab is a royal title indicating a ruler, often of a South Asian state, in many ways comparable to the Western title of Prince. The relationship of a Nawab to the Emperor of India has been compared to that of the Kingdom of Saxony, Kings of ...
Kasuri. In one argument, Hashmat asks his fellow shopkeepers, would they have not allowed him to work if this work was for cause of a Muslim personality, (and after a pause he says) like Jinnah. Hashmat sees Gandhi as one of his own not as a Hindu leader, and that is why he makes his work his cause, whereas for other Muslims Mosque's order is above any cause.


Cast

*
Paresh Rawal Paresh Rawal (born 30 May 1955) is an Indian actor, comedian, film producer and politician known for his works primarily in Hindi cinema, Hindi films. He has Paresh Rawal filmography, appeared in over 240 films and is the recipient of various L ...
- Hasmat Ullah *
Om Puri Om Prakash Puri, (18 October 1950 – 6 January 2017) was an Indian actor who appeared in mainstream commercial Hindi films as well as Urdu, Malayalam, Bengali, Kannada, English, Punjabi, Gujarati, Telugu, and Marathi films, as well as ind ...
-
Nawab Nawab is a royal title indicating a ruler, often of a South Asian state, in many ways comparable to the Western title of Prince. The relationship of a Nawab to the Emperor of India has been compared to that of the Kingdom of Saxony, Kings of ...
Mohammad Ali Kasuri *
Pawan Malhotra Pavan Malhotra (born 2 July 1958) is an Indian actor who works in Hindi films and television alongside Punjabi and few Telugu films. He has received several awards including a Filmfare OTT Award and a Filmfare Award South. He has played ...
- Maulana Qureshi *
Javed Shaikh Jawed Sheikh (also spelled Javaid and Javed; born 8 October 1954) is a Pakistani actor, film director and producer who works in Lollywood and Bollywood. He is best known for working in the Hindi films ''Om Shanti Om'', '' My Name Is Anthony Go ...
- Dr. Banerjee *
Swati Chitnis Swati Chitnis (born 1958/1959) is an Indian television actress who works in films, television and Marathi stage. She played the pivotal role of Suhasini Ajmera Goenka, who is Kartik Goenka's grandmother; Akshara Goenka Sharma's great-grandmother ...
- Aara, Hasmat's wife * Vijay Mishra - Rafaat, Hasmat's son * Rajan Bhise - Shaukat *
Masood Akhtar Masood Akhtar may refer to: * Masood Akhtar (cricketer) * Masood Akhtar (actor) * Masood Akhtar (politician) {{hndis, Akhtar, Masood ...
- Zulfiqar *
Yusuf Hussain Yusuf Hussain (21 January 1948 – 30 October 2021) was an Indian television actor known for his work predominantly in Bollywood. Yusuf was also known for his work in ''Dhoom 2'', '' OMG – Oh My God!'', '' Raees'', ''Dil Chahta Hai'' and ''K ...
- Gaffar


Awards and accolades

*9th Annual International Film Festival (South Africa), 2 – 8 November 2009 - (best first film director) *5th Annual Macon Film Festival (US), 17 – 21 February 2010 - (best film) *11th Annual MAMI (Mumbai Film Festival) (India), 29 October – 5 November 2009 - (audience choice) *2nd Annual Radar Hamburg International Independent Film Festival (Germany), 2 – 7 November 2009 - (best film) *1st annual Los Angeles Reel Film Festival (US), 30 December 2009 (3rd place for best film, best original score and production design) *The Gollapudi Srinivas National Award for best debutant director (Chennai, India), 2009 *6th annual White Sands International Film Festival (US), 15 – 18 April 2010 (feature length narrative) *4th annual Mexico International Film Festival (Mexico), 21 – 23 May 2010 (Silver Palm Award) *10th annual Nickel Independent Film Festival (Canada), 22 – 26 June (best drama) *1st annual London Indian Film Festival (UK), 18 July 2010 (audience choice) *7th edition Bollywood and Beyond Indian film festival (Stuttgart, Germany), 21 – 25 July 2010 (director's vision) *1st annual Jagran Film Festival (North India), 5 June – 28 August 2010 (Paresh Rawal for best actor, best director and jury award) *17th annual Star Screen Awards (Mumbai, India), 6 January 2011 (best story) *17th annual Lions Golden Awards (Mumbai, India), 11 January 2011 (Lions Favourite International Acclaimed Film and Paresh Rawal for best actor) Official selection and nomination in festivals worldwide: *Third Eye Asian Film Festival (Mumbai, India) 8–15 October 2009 *International Film Festival Ahmedabad (Gujarat, India) *11th annual
Bare Bones International Film Festival The Bare Bones International Film and Music Festival was founded in 1999 by the Darkwood Film Arts Institute in the city of Muskogee, Oklahoma, United States to showcase independent motion picture projects with budgets of less than 1 million dolla ...
(US) 15 – 25 April 2010 *20th annual
Cinequest Film Festival The Cinequest Film & Creativity Festival is an annual independent film festival held each March in San Jose, California and Redwood City, California. The international festival combines the cinematic arts with Silicon Valley’s innovation. It ...
(US) 23 February – 7 March 2010 *Ekwa (Reunion Island) 22 – 28 October 2009 *International Film Festival (Egypt) 4 – 8 April 2010 *International Forum of New Cinema (Kolkata, India) 13 – 19 November 2009 * Kerala Film Festival (Kerala, India) *Memphis International (US) 22 – 25 April 2010 * Swansea Bay Film Festival (UK) 7 – 16 May 2010 *3rd annual International Festival of Independent Cinema Off Plus Camera (Poland) 16 – 26 April 2010 *15th annual Trivandrum International Film Festival (Kerala, India), 30 July – 5 August 2010 *3rd annual Indie Spirit Film Festival (US) 23 – 25 April 2010 *7th annual Salento International Film Festival (Italy), 3 – 12 September 2010 *Norway Bollywood Film Festival (Oslo, Norway) 10 – 17 September 2010 *Yes India Film Festival (Wellington, New Zealand) 7 – 10 October 2010 *Yes India Film Festival (Auckland, New Zealand) 28 – 31 October *17th
Star Screen Awards The Screen Awards was an annual awards ceremony held in India, honouring professional excellence in Bollywood. The nomination and award selection was done by a panel of distinguished professionals from the industry. The awards were introduced ...
(India) *
Stardust Awards The Stardust Awards was an award ceremony for Hindi movies, which was sponsored by '' Stardust'' magazine. Here is a list of the award winners and the films for which they won. The first ceremony was held in 2004 for films released in 2003. The ...
(India) *56th Film Fare (India) 29 January 2010 *4th annual Hidden Gems Film Festival (Alberta, Canada) 29 January 2012


Production

Amit Rai first formed the idea for the film when he read a story about the restoration of the truck that carried
Mahatma Gandhi Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (2October 186930January 1948) was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalism, anti-colonial nationalist, and political ethics, political ethicist who employed nonviolent resistance to lead the successful Indian ...
's ashes to the Sangam by a Muslim mechanic. After he read about Gandhi's ashes being unearthed in an
Orissa Odisha (), formerly Orissa ( the official name until 2011), is a state located in Eastern India. It is the eighth-largest state by area, and the eleventh-largest by population, with over 41 million inhabitants. The state also has the thir ...
bank vault, he decided to write a script based on the idea. To prepare for his role as an orthodox
Maulvi Mawlawi (), is an Islamic religious title given to Muslim religious scholars, or ulama, preceding their names, similar to the titles Mawlānā, Mullah, or Sheikh. Mawlawi generally means a highly qualified Islamic scholar, usually one who has ...
,
Pawan Malhotra Pavan Malhotra (born 2 July 1958) is an Indian actor who works in Hindi films and television alongside Punjabi and few Telugu films. He has received several awards including a Filmfare OTT Award and a Filmfare Award South. He has played ...
watched
Urdu language Urdu (; , , ) is an Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in South Asia. It is the Languages of Pakistan, national language and ''lingua franca'' of Pakistan. In India, it is an Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of Indi ...
channels. The film was shot on location in
Allahabad Prayagraj (, ; ISO 15919, ISO: ), formerly and colloquially known as Allahabad, is a metropolis in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.The other five cities were: Agra, Kanpur, Kanpur (Cawnpore), Lucknow, Meerut, and Varanasi, Varanasi (Benar ...
.
Tushar Gandhi Tushar Arun Gandhi (born 17 January 1960) is an Indian author and son of Arun Manilal Gandhi, thus great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi. In March 2005, he led the 75th anniversary re-enactment of the Dandi March. Early life Tushar Arun Gandhi was b ...
makes a cameo appearance in the film and many of the secondary characters are non-actor residents of Allahabad.


Marketing

In a unique gesture, the Indian Post & Telegraphs Department issued special envelopes on the release of the film. They also put up posters and advertisements in all the post offices in the country.


Music

The music has been primarily given by two young directors - Nitin Kumar Gupta and Prem Haria. Actor Vijay Vidyadhar Mishra also composed three songs with taking name of "Vinay" He also sung a Kawwali in this film. The 500-year-old song " Vaisnav Jan", which was a favourite of Gandhi, has been rearranged for this film. The music received the award for Best Foreign Film Original Score at Los Angeles Reel Film Festival.


References


External links

* * {{IMDb title, 1471247, Road to Sangam
Los Angeles Reel Film Festival Winner List
2009 films 2000s Hindi-language films Films set in Uttar Pradesh Indian independent films Films about religious violence in India