Cinematographer Rajiv Menon, known for his collaborations with Mani Ratnam on films such as Guru and Kadal, expressed his belief that a film like Bombay could not be produced in the current era. In an interview with O2 India, reflecting on the 30th anniversary of the film featuring Arvind Swamy and Manisha Koirala, he remarked that if it were to be made today, theaters would face severe backlash.

Rajiv Menon on why Bombay couldn’t be made today

In a recent interview, Rajiv remarked that India has grown 'less tolerant' compared to three decades ago, during the release of the film Bombay. He expressed concern that audiences might adopt 'strong positions' regarding the film, suggesting that it would be unrealistic to anticipate a release without the risk of theaters being 'burned down' in the current climate.

He elaborated, "The reality is that a film like Bombay could not be produced today. The situation in India is extremely volatile, and people are likely to take very strong stances, with religion becoming a significant issue. I believe it is impossible to release a film like Bombay in theaters today without the expectation of violence against those theaters. Over the past 25 to 30 years, India has indeed become less tolerant."

He also discussed the significance of Manisha's character's burqa getting caught on an anchor during the song "Uyire" (known as "Tu Hi Re" in Hindi), clarifying that it was not intended to symbolize her 'loss of faith in order to be with her lover.' He explained that since they had only one costume for the scene, and she was dressed in blue, they thought it would be an 'interesting idea' to showcase it.

"It wasn't conceived with a specific intention; it stemmed from the monotony of using a single dress. We didn't have a dance master. We were simply organizing and filming in a manner that felt right to us," he elaborated.

About Bombay

Bombay premiered on March 10, 1995, achieving both critical acclaim and commercial success. It was also made available in Hindi under the same title. The film narrates the love story between a Hindu man and a Muslim woman as they navigate the tumultuous Bombay riots that occurred from December 1992 to January 1993. This film is the second part of Mani's trilogy that explores themes of Indian politics and interpersonal relationships, following Roja, which was released in 1992, and preceding Dil Se..., which came out in 1998.

Mani's upcoming project, Thug Life, featuring Kamal Haasan and Silambarasan TR, is set to be released on June 5.

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