There was a time in Hindi film industry's history, in 1970s and 1980s, when making movies closer to real life was popular. These are sometimes referred to as parallel cinema. This movie falls into that category.
This is a movie (MOHAN JOSHI HAZIR HO) about the housing problem for low-income population living in crowded metropolis called Mumbai(India) set in 1970s. This mundane subject appears appealing because of the talented actors, though the movie itself is not very technically sophisticated. While thousands and thousands live in Mumbai in middle class and rich areas, there are millions of poor people living in slums and chawls (though I have never visited a chawl) !
This is a movie (MOHAN JOSHI HAZIR HO) about the housing problem for low-income population living in crowded metropolis called Mumbai(India) set in 1970s. This mundane subject appears appealing because of the talented actors, though the movie itself is not very technically sophisticated. While thousands and thousands live in Mumbai in middle class and rich areas, there are millions of poor people living in slums and chawls (though I have never visited a chawl) !
Mohan Joshi, a middle aged gentleman, lives in a crowded Mumbai 'chawl' along with his family. A chawl in a multi-storey building with dozens of residents all living in their independent rooms/homes but they share common areas. These chawls are decades old and have many problems due to lack of maintenance. Nobody wants to fix these buildings, not even their owners who would rather destroy the buildings and invest in more profitable condos without any regards for the poor tenants.
Mohan Joshi's room/home has a damaged roof that is suspended on a bamboo pole and covered with plastic sheet to collect the falling pieces. The toilet water seeps into the kitchen area etc. Mohan decides to approach the rich owner for help. The owner declines to help and informs him bluntly that he is not willing to spend even a rupee on the repair. On the contrary, he wants to destroy some of his old buildings so he can erect profitable new condo buildings!
Mohan Joshi hires a cheap lawyer, who is willing to do anything to win, including sleeping with the enemy .oops. I mean enemy's lawyer! Poor Mrs Joshi has to shell out the cash for paying the lawyer by selling a few pieces of jewelry she has. Someone sends Joshi to a government agency called 'the repairs board'. There he is informed that his file will stay in a pile for years because they do not have funds.
Joshi's lawyer finally convinces the judge to visit the chawl. The devious owner then has the exterior painted and decorated to impress the judge. When Joshi realizes that the judge is indecisive, he looses his patience. Three years have passed since Joshi first lodged a complaint! Joshi removes a bamboo pole from one side of the building and that part of the building collapses right in front of the judge! That is how Joshi proves the precarious condition of the building though it is not clear if Joshi himself survives the building collapse.
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