Hello, Dia here
l'll be there
My love, o my love
Why'd this heart start to fly?
Where'd l find the guts to try?
My love, o my love
Go easy on those chillis, they'll kill you.. here, have a laddoo
l won't die so soon, not before l've filled every pore..
..of this city with art
First step out of here and look around..
.. this whole city thinks you're crazy
Art doesn't need the city, the city needs art
Whatever.. l'll come by for a lesson tomorrow, if l'm in the mood..
You wench.. doing me a favour learning from me?
lf we don't pay the bill they'll cut our electricity again..
Get cut again
Should l eat the bill then..?
Eat
Come.. - Lets go..
Arre, you haven't eaten yet?
Can he ever eat without you?
Ma, how did you end up with such a blackmailer?
There's still time, forget this Ajanta bogus..
lts ok if you listen to Lata Mangeshkar and Mumtaz on the radio..
.. but when l sing and dance its bogus?
Watch your tongue.. all that dancing's gone to your head..
lt's called style daddy-O..
Mom, what're you doing?
Auntie, what're you doing?
Let her go begum.. its just one little show..
You've never been to Ajanta, all l hear there is song and dance..
.. god knows what else they do there
lf you hear song and dance, that's what we must be doing, no?
We're ready to roll now
Come watch and go 'Wow!'
Ajanta's new musical's a ball
Come one, come all ..
The wind weaves a little tale
Words drip-drop in the stubborn gale
The whole world conspires
And every little speck pleads
Flick your wrists..
Who's that?
My love, o my love
This idiot's back.. oye, what you doing?
Watch it you wench! That's Steve from National Geographic America..
He's shooting lndian performers.. go get clicked
You might get called there..
.. and once you're done show him around..
Hi Mohan.. been craving your tea all day..
They're both yours.. tea and hotel.. welcome..
This is Steve, he's come from America..
What for?
Some spicy pakodas please, extra hot..
Coming up..
Pakodas and tea.. on the double..
You donkey, you'll be frying pakodas while..
..the he takes off with the girl..
The eyes speak the language of the heart
Desire now needs a stormy start
Tread with care, this love is new
lt's our first ever vow
My love, o my love
We've fixed your marriage..
What?
With Mohan..
Finish your dance show tomorrow, Mohan's planned..
.. the engagement day after, you need to go shopping..
l was walking on hot coal but kept on somehow
lt's like l was living with strangers until now
Take me to your home now
My world has turned against me
My love..
Dada, am l making a mistake?
What's in the heart is pure art.. you are not meant to dance..
.. the worlds tune but to the song in your heart my child
Spread your wings and fly ..
My love, o my love
My love..
l called several times from the US but the phone just rang..
.. l heard that mom and dad left Shamli in shame..
No one knows where they went.. Najma was to get married..
.. they never let me talk to her.. or to Dada..
They must have given him a hard time..
The minute we set foot in America l realized steve and
l weren't meant for each other.. we divorced but l was pregnant..
.. with you.. l found a reason to live..
.. l started afresh!
With the one person l love the most
You took too long.. he's gone..
His patience ran out
He used to say doctor l'm fed up of this theatre down here,
l'm going up for that gig in the sky ..
Wench! You're late again?
What's wrong, you seem upset?
l never called you all these years..
Ajanta lost its soul when you flew..
Gradually everyone stopped coming..
Their parents were .. afraid they would turn into Dia..
No one can be you..
Ajanta's finished my child..
Look, l'm dying..
.. how, why, where, when, there's no time for all that..
..not for me or Ajanta
Dia, these people want to tear Ajanta down..
..for selfish means..
This ancient temple..
..of the arts..
.. doctor and l cried..
..and begged ..
.. but we were shrugged off ..
.. but Dia you can save Ajanta from..
.. being smashed to pieces..
They've ordered it's demolishment next month..
They?
Raja saab..
Who is he to give such an order.. Ajanta belongs to the city..
The city's on his side..
What'll they get by tearing it down?
Maal.. some maal thing.. lots of shops..
That's it.. raja saab's decided that..
..a shopping mall will replace Ajanta
But who's raja saab to decide that?
His father ruled here before independence..
..and now he's the MP.. god knows what he studied..
Abroad but he's back and he's won the elections..
l'll go meet him .. nothing's going to happen to Ajanta
l have an appointment with Uday Singhji..
Come, follow me..
ls MP saab even around?
Not MP saab, raja saab
Does he know l'm waiting here for him?
l burnt it..
Please call your father out?
l'm sorry l can't
Look l've been waiting for the last 20 minutes..
And he's been dead for the last 3 years..
Oh, l'm here to meet Raja Uday Singh ji, the MP
l'm nothing like my father yet l'm a raja.. pizza?
Please take a seat.. l made this myself..
l'm from New York..
l can see that..
l came to talk to you about Ajanta theatre
Ajanta? Oh those ruins?
Look, those aren't ruins
You aren't an activist are you?
That place is a centre of the arts, not a shopping centre
Many NRls like you come every other year for some social service..
..and then go back
.. l suggest you do the same..
So you're going to knock down our cultural heritage for a whim?
The day the people of Shamli can make..
..a living off a cultural heritage, l'll call you..
.. until then let me do my job..
ls making a living all there is to life? lsn't a little joy important?
A chat, a laugh, the sharing of something..
Does all this happen at Ajanta?
lt used to
Ma'am, if no one comes to Ajanta its because they don't want to
And if l bring them?
l'll bring all of Shamli to Ajanta..
And then?
What?
Once the show's over you and your team will leave..
.. and Ajanta will be just the way it is.. in ruins..
All you see is ruin, what else can one
expect from an lndian MP educated abroad
You think you're damn good don't you
Do your show.. but not with your troop from New York..
Every actor, singer, dancer should be from Shamli..
.. if you can, Ajanta's yours..
Where's your josh now?
Alright, we'll do it your way..
..no New Yorkers, only Shamli-ites..
The demolition's in two months
That's all the time l need
You're gonna lose though..
l never have..
Neither have l..
There's always a first time, l'll gift it to you..
Just a second..
You didn't even taste it..
How the hell are you going to do a show?
The people of this city hate you.. how will you get them to agree?
l'm sorry, but it's the truth.. lets be sensible about this ..
lf l had to be sensible, l wouldn't have come back..
.. whats so sensible about what's happening here?
This city doesn't care for you?
Why do you want to be a martyr to its cause?
l'm Shamli's whether she wants me or not
But she doesn't care, and neither do they
l'll show this city.. and her folk.. this show will happen..
.. and its them that'll make it happen.. just watch me..
Lets go home..
Dia.. My child
Look, your picture's in the magazine
Hurry child, dinner's served.. curry-rice, your favourite
She was a tot when she first danced.. she still dances like magic..
Stop, it'll go to her head
l'm coming, why'd you take so long?
l almost bought my dishes from someone else..
Hi, l'm Dia..
This is.. was my house.. many years ago..
Uh, but now.. its ours.. we bought it from Mr. Srivastav
He was - is my father..
Would.. you like some water?
Why don't you.. come in.. l'll get some.. she's so sweet..
Room.. on rent.. - Yes
Let her have it ji..
l hope You aren't here to stake claim to this property..
Not at all.. you've bought it.. who am l to stake a claim?
She's right
Give me an affidavit on Rs. 20 stamp paper
..that you're here only on rent .. 3 copies.. one for you..
No problem
Breakfast, lunch, dinner, you eat what we eat drinking water's free..
You don't have many male friends l presume
l'm not that lucky
Luck's in the stars.. every lock comes with a key..
l've heard a lot about you
Nothing good l suppose
Nothing of that sort.. well some tongues wag, but whatever
Holy cow, it's her
Who? - Her..
High heavens.. where'd she come from?
Sir l knew her father.. the poor things had to go away
l was a freckled teen.. she'd set this city on fire and flown..
She's always walked on broken hearts, wonder what she'll walk on now?
lt says She's here to dance..
So how's that help us?
Singh sir, when Dia dances men swoon..
l'm definitely going to watch her..
lf you want to attract flies, you have to use sugar
Mom everyone here hates you
Not everyone
To the one who loves me most
You're shying from a hug.. bossy?
How are you Dia?
Good.. how're you?
l'm good too.. how come you're here?
How come? This..
Farooq, this is Dia, remember Mr. Srivastav? This is my husband
Oh, so you're Dia
My daughter.. Radha.. say Namaste
ln Hindi
No problem.. l know a little English myself.. your husband?
Run away once and you run forever
Lets go
Ok Dia, we need to go
Anyone else in this town loves you the most?
The ear-ring in his hand
Was the one l lost in the square
l swayed my hips and shied away
l said 'doesn't my ear look bare?' And l had him
Come on, come and dance with me
Come
Dance with me
Won't you come dance with me
A one a two and a three
Dance with me
Won't you come dance with me
Let down your hair, break free
Toss your cares, dance with me
Come
Dance with me
Won't you come dance with me
A one a two and a three
Dance with me
Won't you come dance with me
Let down your hair, break free
Come dance with me
Get on the roofs and dance
Come dance with me
Kick off your shoes and dance
Come dance with me
Get on the roofs and dance
Come dance with me
Kick off your shoes and dance
And then l, lost hold
My nosering was gold
And then l, lost hold
My nosering was gold
To gold l changed my hue
And then l danced on dew
Now there's a riot in the street
l have a hundred lovers on hold
And they dance to my tune
Come
Dance with me
Won't you come dance with me
A one a two and a three
Dance with me
Won't you come dance with me
Let down your hair, break free
l was a bud in bloom, l walked in a swoon
l turned the corner in a dizzy spin
A rush of youth throbbed within
The world's fortune is at my feet
Purse-strings untie in a beat
Toss your cares, dance with me
Come
Dance with me
Won't you come dance with me
A one a two and a three
Dance with me
Won't you come dance with me
Let down your hair, break free
Toss your cares, dance with me
Come
Dance with me
Won't you come dance with me
A one a two and a three
Dance with me
Won't you come dance with me
Let down your hair, break free
Come dance with me
Get on the roofs and dance
Come dance with me
Kick off your shoes and dance
Come dance with me
Get on the roofs and dance
Come dance with me
Kick off your shoes and dance
Please be quiet, sit down
Thank you
For making this little Ajanta occasion so special
Applause
As you all know the government intends to demolish our beloved Ajanta..
.. and build shops in its place.. do you think that's right?
You wanna dance again, we're game..
..but we didn't come here for a speech
l know what you think of me..
.. but this is a battle we all need to fight together..
.. so exactly two months from now, we're going to put up 'Laila-Majnu',
A show like no one's ever seen before..
..with actors chosen from amongst you..
You want us all to turn into pimps?
From tomorrow we'll take out just one hour to rehearse
..and soon we'll show the world what Shamli's made of..
..one of you will be Laila, another Majnu,
..Laila's mother, Majnu's friend
lf you play Laila, l'll be Majnu
That's insulting
lf we work as one, we'll show..
Ajanta's enemies that morning, night or day, Ajanta's here to stay..
Will fade away..
This town really loves you.
Now do you get it?
Now you know what Shamli thinks.. they've saved you two months..
So when you leaving?
Who told you l was leaving?
What's left now?
Everything. Shamli's going to do this show and..
..l think you'll enjoy it..
You're not going to listen?
Listen to me, l'll listen to you
You dance really well
You think she'll pull it off?
Do you come here to stoke my fire?
l'm a cop, l need to keep tabs on hearts around here..
You're not going to go to Ajanta are you?
lf l so much as look that way, you can change my name
The auditions for Laila and Majnu have begun
lf you wanna act, wanna get out there
Surprise your mirror, set your heart a dare
Ajanta, at ten tomorrow
Bring your hidden flair
Come one come all
They're destroying Ajanta
What?
Stop, what're you doing?
Have you gone mad?
lt's a little late for those questions now.. stand aside oldie
Oldie?
Go hunt for Laila-Majnu
Hey, where's the petrol?
Stop this now
Hey you deaf, Get some wood.. finish this Ajanta-Ellora bull-shit
Let go.. l'm like your father
Look what these chaps're doing
Don't stop them - Why?
Haven't you noticed?
Majnu - Right there
They're breaking it down and
We had to tear it down, they saved us the labour, but did you see him?
Chop this wood .. bring that here ..
Are you mad?
Doctor Saab, that's Majnu, come lets talk to him
Dia.. you've lost it..
Vidya, finish this crap..
What's your name?
None of your business, now get out.. all of you..
.. or l'll throw your limbs in the fire
Will you play Majnu?
You done theatre in school? Have you been to school?
What crap?
Oi you oldie, watch her or else
Ok son.. Dia lets go
Hold on
You must have done something..
Why've you stopped? Go on, smash it up
Lassi for these boys please, its really hot
How often do you cut your hair?
What the..? You find this funny?
Oye ma'am we won't let you shove this
American song and dance down our throats
American? This is pure lndian culture .. America stole it from us..
you wouldn't find a Majnu like this there
You're still the same
God bless
l saw how you left your father.. you're up to some nonsense again..
l won't allow all this in Shamli
So these are your boys?
You didn't hear me?
Can l have two minutes?
You boys please don't stop
Where's the lassi? .. come
What the hell?
Come no
l hear you're contesting the elections again
So?
l want you to win
So l'll lose if you don't?
Losses are for rivals.. this city has many rivals too no?
Chaudhry Om Singh knows how to fight them
But you don't have an issue to stand for this time
Why?
This Uday Singh hasn't left you any.. every house gets water..
There's 24 hours electricity.. before you can say '
.. pothole' roads gets relaid.. Hindus and Muslims never fight..
What's more, colleges have classes, and they're all on time
Don't worry .. we know how to make up issues..
Chaudhry saab, you have one staring you in the face here
What issue?
This.. Ajanta
This den of song and dance
Not just song and dance.. classical dance,
..music and culture our national heritage ..
Our heritage will make way for Shops and hawkers?
..And you'll stand by and watch?
No
Have some
l can't watch
Chaudhry saab there's your issue and..
..the elections are around the corner..
What do you want in return?
What?
Your's
l'm sorry?
Majnu's yours
Shamli's unbound, Majnu is found
The Maulana's son
He'll sigh with the sun
Behold
The stud jawaan, lmran Pathan
Now seeks Laila, his jaan
You're cheating again..
Aye Anokhi, you keep challenging us boys and then cheat?
l cheat?
You don't? Fraud?
l'll twist your arm and slam you.. bloody son-of-a-.. m-mother
What did you say?
l'll whack you on the ear, you'll hear right
She swore at me..
Who swore?
Wasn't that a swear?
She called me a son-of-a-..
Mother.. why? Aren't you?
That seems like a fact.. not a swear!
Here you're playing kho-kho.. and there lmran's become a Majnu ..
Why?
How the hell should l know?
Every girl in Shamli is queuing up to be his Laila
lf a girl even looks at him, l'll whack her
You like him, don't you?
Should l show you my heart?
Relax, that's not what they need.. they want a dancer..
Dancer? Even my lice have never danced before
Amongst these shy faces a hidden flair
ln these unseen spaces a hidden flair
Hidden in her swing and sway See her dare when she walks this way
lt makes the world go crazy about you
Come show us your hidden flair
lt'll drive us wild your hidden flair
Come on nearest, l'm your dearest
Majnu be true to the rakhi that l tied you
Come Majnu, lets play Laila-Laila
Listen to me just this once
Majnu, l love you
My heart goes dhak-dhak
l'm Laila, what a Laila
Look l'm your Laila, l love you and l want to marry you
Ok, next
Babuji, slow it down now
Lightning's struck my heart
My eyes are raging fires
These clock hands don't part
So l fall here and l fall there
On him, him, him everywhere
Stop
l told you, l'm the one
Go help your mother roll a roti or something
Your spoons, your bells, your knives, your shells
Your jewels, your care, your incense, your dare
Your spoons, your bells, your knives, your shells
Your jewels, your care, your incense, your dare
Your dishes, your spices, your slices and your dices
Those daggers in your eyes, the bashful pink in your lies
The jangle in your gait, the twisting of your plait
Your lashes, your Bindi, your Urdu, your Hindi
Your sulk so distinctive, your mischief dark instinctive
Your earrings that flap, your lightning clap
lt makes the world go crazy about you
Come show us your hidden flair
lt'll drive us wild your hidden flair
Majnu l love you so so so much
So buzz off
Go play kho-kho.. you're not lmran's Laila
One tight knock and you'll wake up when you're 60, watch it
Lord Ram-chandra ki jai!
Enough, this isn't the Ramayana
l'm Tabrez, laila's brother
l'm inspector Bhinde
Majnu, dare you so much as look at my sister
Bro my mom says you've been seen with my sis recently
l'll squash you
Watch it, l l'll
Anybody else for Tabrez?
Look, l'm your brother-in-law, l won't mislead you..
You're dead meat.. at least get an LlC
What LlC? Think you can kill me huh?
That's our Tabrez
How's he Tabrez?
l don't need a goon, l need a brother.. and that's him..
Your hidden flair
Your stride, your shield, the weapons you wield
Your rages, your flashes, your sighs, your slashes
Your stride, your shield, the weapons you wield
Your rages, your flashes, your sighs, your slashes
Your frenzy in a flood, your boiling, bubbling blood
Your tantrums when they trip, the secrets in your grip
Your whiskers twirled upright, your legends in the night
Your grab, twist and slam, your glitz and your glam
Your stories, your odes, your dreams, your abodes
Your next, your before, your desires evermore
lt makes the world go crazy about you
Come show us your hidden flair
lt'll drive us wild your hidden flair
Your hidden flair
How does one get the love one seeks?
l ask for flowers, get thorns instead
My arm jangles with nine bangles
lts time we fell in love tonight
My arm jangles with nine bangles
What're you doing?
Nothing..
Will you be Laila's mother?
No, please, l was just -
Really.. should l?
Of course
She can't play mother to some Laila-Vaila
Why not?
l am a responsible government officer,
..my wife stage, l'll be the laughing stock
No Dia, he's right.. he'll lose his standing if l go on stage..
..if l prance, stop for a snack in the bazaar..
.. breathe out of sync..
The two of them run this house.. him and his 'standing'..
l'm just a file.. open and shut..
l'm married to the world's most boring man..
Sorry..
Today all that happened here because of you
No please let me speak.. today because of you my wife disobeyed me..
For the first time in 10 years ..
.. the chinks in my marriage showed
Today my wife called me the most boring man on earth..
And its because of you
But it was meant to happen.. because l am boring..
.. but l'm tired of it.. especially to my wife..
.. you said there were some vacancies..
Please save me from being boring..
My wife cannot know..
l need to save my marriage
l brought it.. in triplicate
Of course
Babuji, slow it down now
Lightning's struck my heart
The shop's shut
But the shutter's up
So wrap your girl in the shutter then..
Where is Shamli's Laila? And Majnu's father?
Remember the bearded guy?
Not him..
l've taken care of that..
You're not in this battle alone..
Laila's father is Chaudhry Om Singh
Uh, its ok Chaudhry saab, We'll figure it out
But l've already figured it out!
He's right.. You're perfect Chaudhry saab
You've seen Laila's love.. you haven't seen her hit.. er, yet
Hate.
Ya that
Didn't you hear me? l don't want love.. now scram..
lf you don't want it, why pretend you do?
She again? Someone stop her..
Who can stop her?
Watch this
You can't be Laila, go home..
Why not?
Because you don't have it
l've done my homework.. just tell me what you want
lts not about homework.. you just don't have that something in you..
Just tell me what you're looking For and l'll get it..
What'll you get? You can't talk, can't walk, can't sing, can't dance
.. from what angle do you look like Laila?
Now you're going to decide everything in this city?
Who loves whom? Who deserves whom? And who doesn't?
Regardless of who lives, dies loves or cries..?
Have some water
Get up
Come with me
Why do you want to be Laila?
lf l don't someone else will
And then my lmran will fall in love with her.. then what will l do?
He won't fall for her because she's Laila
And if he does?
You love him that much?
No, more..
Does he know?
He's an ass, how will he know?
Should l tell him?
Heck no, l'll die
lt won't work that way
That's why l'm stuck here, halfway
So you're here to go all the way?
What'd you think?
l was stuck halfway once .. know what l did?
What?
l put my life on the line.. can you do that?
You're not talking about me being Laila are you?
You'll have to slog it out
That's all l know.. slog.. anything else gives me the runnies
You won't give up half-way?
Those who give up are turds
You know what was special about Laila?
What?
This
We shall reveal the cast of the legend of
Laila-Majnu at eleven tomorrow..
All are welcome..
..Cold water for all
l don't want any noise here.. you mind that section
Thirty days back l told you Shamli's veins throb with music and dance
Oi say hello
l wasn't wrong
Chosen from amongst you
The cast of the legend of Laila Majnu.. your very own