Rickshaaa! - About the film
January 15th, 2005, Mumbai, India - the residents of Hiranandani Complex witnessed a race unlike any other – the formula one for Rickshaws. Organized for the Mumbai festival, the race, first of its kind around the world, attracted hundreds of rickshaw drivers who wanted a shot at the prize money, and the fame. “I want to participate because it is fun and my chance to move ahead in life, and be known” says one competitor. “They think they are the Michael Schumachers of the roads… with their goddam Ferraris” claims an angry local.
Adorned with posters of local filmstars, models, Gods and Politicians, blasting loud Punjabi music through their stereophonic speakers, and steering, honking their way through the potholes and traffic jams, auto-rickshaws represent the crazy chaos that is Asia, and its most understated attraction. With taglines like ‘Horn Ok Please’, ‘Stop Signal’, ‘Jesus Love Us All’ screaming out their philosophy, the locals and the tourists share a love and hate relationship with them, and James Bond treats it as an ultimate adventure ride in Octopussy. “Designed to rule the roads” claims Bajaj, one of the biggest three wheeler manufacturers.
From Albert Tolman, the American blacksmith who designed the first rickshaw, to the futuristic solar paneled hybrid three wheelers; from personal taxis of Sri Lanka, to crowded rickshaws of Mumbai; from traffic jams, to auto-rickshaw races, this musical documentary tries to dive into the crazy world of auto-rickshaws, and bring out their joys and frustrations, their music and their daily struggle for bread, and their fights against a largely chaotic system. And through a concept revolving around rickshaws, it tries to bring forth the ultimate irony of an Asian existence.
January 15th, 2005, Mumbai, India - the residents of Hiranandani Complex witnessed a race unlike any other – the formula one for Rickshaws. Organized for the Mumbai festival, the race, first of its kind around the world, attracted hundreds of rickshaw drivers who wanted a shot at the prize money, and the fame. “I want to participate because it is fun and my chance to move ahead in life, and be known” says one competitor. “They think they are the Michael Schumachers of the roads… with their goddam Ferraris” claims an angry local.
Adorned with posters of local filmstars, models, Gods and Politicians, blasting loud Punjabi music through their stereophonic speakers, and steering, honking their way through the potholes and traffic jams, auto-rickshaws represent the crazy chaos that is Asia, and its most understated attraction. With taglines like ‘Horn Ok Please’, ‘Stop Signal’, ‘Jesus Love Us All’ screaming out their philosophy, the locals and the tourists share a love and hate relationship with them, and James Bond treats it as an ultimate adventure ride in Octopussy. “Designed to rule the roads” claims Bajaj, one of the biggest three wheeler manufacturers.
From Albert Tolman, the American blacksmith who designed the first rickshaw, to the futuristic solar paneled hybrid three wheelers; from personal taxis of Sri Lanka, to crowded rickshaws of Mumbai; from traffic jams, to auto-rickshaw races, this musical documentary tries to dive into the crazy world of auto-rickshaws, and bring out their joys and frustrations, their music and their daily struggle for bread, and their fights against a largely chaotic system. And through a concept revolving around rickshaws, it tries to bring forth the ultimate irony of an Asian existence.
posted by Soum @ 11:18 PM
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