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{{about|the film|other uses|Bombay (disambiguation)}}
{{short description|1995 film by Mani Ratnam}}
{{short description|1995 film by Mani Ratnam}}
{{EngvarB|date=February 2014}}
{{EngvarB|date=February 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{Infobox film
{{Infobox film
| name          = Bombay
| image          = Bombay 1995 poster.jpg
| image          = Bombay film poster.jpg
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director      = [[Mani Ratnam]]
| director      = [[Mani Ratnam]]
| producer      = [[S. Sriram]]<br />Mani Ratnam <small>'''(Uncredited)'''</small><br />[[Jhamu Sughand]]
| writer        = Mani Ratnam
| writer        = Mani Ratnam
| starring       = [[Arvind Swami]]<br />[[Manisha Koirala]]
| producer       = [[S. Sriram]]<br />Mani Ratnam <br />[[Jhamu Sughand]]
| music          = [[A. R. Rahman]]
| starring      = [[Arvind Swamy]]<br />[[Manisha Koirala]]
| cinematography = [[Rajiv Menon]]
| cinematography = [[Rajiv Menon]]
| editing        = [[Suresh Urs]]
| editing        = [[Suresh Urs]]
| music          = [[A. R. Rahman]]
| studio        = [[Aalayam Productions]]
| studio        = [[Aalayam Productions]]
| distributor    = Aalayam Productions<br />[[Ayngaran International]]
| distributor    = Aalayam Productions<br />[[Ayngaran International]]<br />[[Amitabh Bachchan Corporation]] (Hindi Version)
| released      = {{Film date|1995|3|10|df=y}}
| released      = {{Film date|1995|3|10|df=y}}
| runtime        = 145 minutes{{sfn|Rangan|2012|p=292}}
| runtime        = 130 minutes{{sfn|Rangan|2012|p=292}}
| country        = India
| country        = India
| language      = Tamil
| language      = Tamil<br />Hindi
}}
}}
'''''Bombay''''' is a 1995 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[romantic drama]] film<ref name="BombayTOI">{{Cite news |url=http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/getFiles.asp?Style=OliveXLib:LowLevelEntityToPrintGifMSIE_PASTISSUES2&Type=text/html&Locale=english-skin-custom&Path=TOICH/2008/05/30&ChunkNum=0&ID=Ar05300 |title=Bombay |date=30 May 2008 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=13 August 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170612102234/http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/getimage.dll?path=TOICH/2008/05/30/53/Img/Ar0530000.png |archive-date=12 June 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref> written and directed by [[Mani Ratnam]], starring [[Arvind Swami]] and [[Manisha Koirala]] in the lead. The film tells the story of an [[Interfaith marriage|inter-religious]] family in [[Mumbai|Bombay]] before and during the [[Bombay riots]], which took place between December 1992 and January 1993 after the [[demolition of the Babri Masjid]] led to religious tensions between [[Hindus|Hindu]] and [[Muslims|Muslim]] communities.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19950430-mani-ratnams-film-bombay-incenses-muslim-leaders-of-city-808273-1995-04-30 |title=Mani Ratnam's film 'Bombay' incenses Muslim leaders of city |publisher=[[India Today]] |date=30 April 1995 |access-date=23 July 2021}}</ref> It is the second in Ratnam's trilogy of films that depict human relationships against a background of Indian politics, including ''[[Roja (film)|Roja]]'' (1992) and ''[[Dil Se..]]'' (1998).<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Tryst-with-terrorism/articleshow/3297217.cms |title=Tryst with terrorism |last=Pillai |first=Sreedhar |date=29 June 2008 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=10 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160623151056/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Tryst-with-terrorism/articleshow/3297217.cms |archive-date=23 June 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The film was dubbed in [[Hindi]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]] and [[Malayalam]] with the same title.
'''''Bombay''''' is a 1995 Indian [[romantic drama film]]<ref name="BombayTOI">{{Cite news |date=30 May 2008 |title=Bombay |work=[[The Times of India]] |url=http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/getFiles.asp?Style=OliveXLib:LowLevelEntityToPrintGifMSIE_PASTISSUES2&Type=text/html&Locale=english-skin-custom&Path=TOICH/2008/05/30&ChunkNum=0&ID=Ar05300 |url-status=dead |access-date=13 August 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170612102234/http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/getimage.dll?path=TOICH/2008/05/30/53/Img/Ar0530000.png |archive-date=12 June 2017}}</ref> written and directed by [[Mani Ratnam]], starring [[Arvind Swamy]] and [[Manisha Koirala]]. The film, primarily in [[Tamil language|Tamil]] and to a lesser extent [[Hindi]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sinha |first=Seema |date=8 January 1995 |title=Police officials turn censors for Mani Ratnam's Bombay |url=https://www.cscsarchive.org/MediaArchive/art.nsf/(docid)/28C3BB0FA1B0482D65256940004E8801?OpenDocument |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250708173914/https://www.cscsarchive.org/MediaArchive/art.nsf/(docid)/28C3BB0FA1B0482D65256940004E8801?OpenDocument |archive-date=8 July 2025 |access-date=26 May 2025 |work=[[The Indian Express]]}}</ref> tells the story of an [[Interfaith marriage|inter-religious]] family in [[Mumbai|Bombay]] before and during the [[Bombay riots]], which took place between December 1992 and January 1993 after the [[demolition of the Babri Masjid]] led to religious tensions between [[Hindus|Hindu]] and [[Muslims|Muslim]] communities. It is the second installment in Ratnam's trilogy of films that depict human relationships against a background of Indian politics, including ''[[Roja (film)|Roja]]'' (1992) and ''[[Dil Se..]]'' (1998).


Eventually becoming one of the highest-grossing films of [[Tamil cinema]], the film was well-received both critically and commercially, and it was screened at many international film festivals including the [[Philadelphia Film Festival]] in 1996 where it was an audience favourite. The [[Bombay (soundtrack)|film's soundtrack]] earned composer [[A. R. Rahman]] his fourth consecutive [[Filmfare Award for Best Music Director&nbsp;– Tamil|Filmfare Best Music Director Award (Tamil)]], and is considered one of the greatest Indian soundtracks of all time.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/playlists/zzzz5h |title=Sound of Cinema: 20 Greatest Soundtracks |date=19 August 2014 |website=[[BBC Music]] |publisher=[[BBC]] |access-date=25 December 2018}}</ref> However, the film caused considerable controversy upon release in India and abroad for its depiction of inter-religious relations between a Muslim girl and a Hindu man.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-the-arts/films/story/19950415-critical-acclaim-and-howls-of-protest-for-mani-ratnam-bombay-806737-1995-04-15 |title=Mani Ratnam's film Bombay invites critical acclaim and howls of protest |publisher=[[India Today]] |date=15 April 1995 |access-date=23 July 2021}}</ref> The film was banned in [[Singapore]] and [[Malaysia]] upon release. Two homemade bombs were thrown at the house of Director Mani Ratnam, who had to be hospitalized with shrapnel injuries. Police blamed Muslim extremists for the attack.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://apnews.com/article/a4a3e1b7524ee91d3c15622c77abbd96 |title=Movie Director Injured By Bomb; Police Blame Muslim Extremists |date=10 July 1995 |publisher=[[Associated Press]] |access-date=14 October 2020}}</ref>
''Bombay'' was released on 10 March 1995. The film was well-received both critically and commercially successful. It was screened at many international film festivals including the [[Philadelphia Film Festival]] in 1996. The [[Bombay (soundtrack)|film's soundtrack]] earned composer [[A. R. Rahman]] his fourth consecutive [[Filmfare Award for Best Music Director&nbsp;– Tamil|Filmfare Best Music Director Award (Tamil)]], and is considered one of the greatest Indian soundtracks of all time.<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 August 2014 |title=Sound of Cinema: 20 Greatest Soundtracks |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/playlists/zzzz5h |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190409185852/https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/playlists/zzzz5h |archive-date=9 April 2019 |access-date=25 December 2018 |website=[[BBC Music]] |publisher=[[BBC]]}}</ref> However, the film caused considerable controversy upon release for its depiction of inter-religious relations between a Muslim woman and a Hindu man. The film was banned in Singapore and Malaysia upon release.


In July 2005, a book on the film by Lalitha Gopalan was published by [[British Film Institute|BFI]] Modern Classics, looking at the film's production, the several issues it covered, and its impact upon release in India and abroad.<ref name="BFIorgBombay">{{Cite web |url=http://filmstore.bfi.org.uk/acatalog/info_206.html |title=BFI Books: Bombay: The film |date=July 2005 |website=BFI.org.uk |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071027081153/http://filmstore.bfi.org.uk/acatalog/info_206.html |archive-date=27 October 2007 |url-status=live |access-date=1 February 2007}}</ref><ref name="UCPressBombay">{{Cite web |url=http://www.ucpress.edu/books/bfi/pages/PROD0397.html |title=Bombay (film): BFI Modern Classics |date=July 2005 |website=University of California Press |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070107021808/http://www.ucpress.edu/books/bfi/pages/PROD0397.html |archive-date=7 January 2007 |url-status=dead |access-date=1 February 2007}}</ref> The film was ranked among the top 20 Indian films in the British Film Institute's rankings.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://bfi.org.uk/features/imagineasia/guide/poll/india/index.html |title=Top 10 Indian Films |date=17 July 2007 |publisher=BFI |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20040803225933/http://bfi.org.uk/features/imagineasia/guide/poll/india/index.html |archive-date=3 August 2004 |url-status=dead |access-date=4 October 2011}}</ref>
In July 2005, a book on the film by Lalitha Gopalan was published by [[British Film Institute|BFI]] Modern Classics, looking at the film's production, the several issues it covered, and its impact upon release in India and abroad.<ref name="BFIorgBombay">{{Cite web |date=July 2005 |title=BFI Books: Bombay: The film |url=http://filmstore.bfi.org.uk/acatalog/info_206.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071027081153/http://filmstore.bfi.org.uk/acatalog/info_206.html |archive-date=27 October 2007 |access-date=1 February 2007 |website=BFI.org.uk}}</ref><ref name="UCPressBombay">{{Cite web |date=July 2005 |title=Bombay (film): BFI Modern Classics |url=http://www.ucpress.edu/books/bfi/pages/PROD0397.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070107021808/http://www.ucpress.edu/books/bfi/pages/PROD0397.html |archive-date=7 January 2007 |access-date=1 February 2007 |website=University of California Press}}</ref> The film was ranked among the top 20 Indian films in the British Film Institute's rankings.<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 July 2007 |title=Top 10 Indian Films |url=http://bfi.org.uk/features/imagineasia/guide/poll/india/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20040803225933/http://bfi.org.uk/features/imagineasia/guide/poll/india/index.html |archive-date=3 August 2004 |access-date=4 October 2011 |website=BFI}}</ref>


== Plot ==
== Plot ==
Starting in 1985, Shekhar is the son of an orthodox [[Tamil Hindu|Hindu]] Narayana Pillai living in a coastal village in [[Tamil Nadu]]. A journalism student studying in [[Mumbai|Bombay]], Shekhar visits home to be with his family. On one of his return trips, he notices Shaila Banu, a [[Tamil Muslim|Muslim]] schoolgirl in the village and falls in love with her. Initially shy, Shaila seeks to distance herself from Shekhar, but after frequent run-ins, and days of pursuit, Shaila begins to like Shekhar. Eventually, they both fall in love.
Shekhar is the son of an orthodox [[Tamil Hindu|Hindu]] Narayana Pillai living in a coastal village in [[Tamil Nadu]]. A journalism student studying in [[Mumbai|Bombay]], Shekhar visits home to be with his family. On one of his return trips, he notices Shaila Banu, a [[Tamil Muslim|Muslim]] schoolgirl in the village and falls in love with her. She happens to be his sister's friend. Initially shy, Shaila seeks to distance herself from Shekhar, but after frequent run-ins, and days of pursuit, Shaila begins to like Shekhar. Eventually, they both fall in love.


Shekhar meets Shaila's father Basheer and says he wants to marry Shaila. Basheer refuses, citing difference in religions. Shekhar reveals his interest to his father, who becomes angry, meets Basheer and gets into an abusive argument with him. Upset with rejection from both families, Shekhar returns to Bombay. Through a friend of hers, he sends Shaila a letter and a ticket for her to travel to Bombay. However, she is undecided; Basheer learns of her regular letters from Shekhar and plans to marry her off to stop this relation growing further. Left with no choice, Shaila leaves the village with the ticket and reaches Bombay.
Shekhar meets Shaila's father, Basheer, and says he wants to marry Shaila. Basheer refuses, citing differences in religions. Shekhar reveals his interest to his father, who becomes angry, meets Basheer, and gets into an abusive argument with him. Upset with rejection from both families, Shekhar returns to Bombay. Through a friend of hers, he sends Shaila a letter and a ticket for her to travel to Bombay. However, she is undecided; Basheer learns of her regular letters from Shekhar and plans to get her married in order to stop this relationship from growing further. Left with no choice, Shaila leaves the village with the ticket Shekhar sent and reaches Bombay.


Shekhar and Shaila marry and lead a happy life. In a year, Shaila conceives and delivers twin boys who are named Kabir Narayan and Kamal Basheer. The twins are raised in both religions. Shekhar continues to work as a journalist, while Shaila takes care of home and children. In six years, Shekhar and Shaila firmly settle down in their life and begin the process of re-establishing a relationship with their respective families.
Shekhar and Shaila marry and lead a happy life. In a year, Shaila conceives and delivers twin boys who are named Kabir Narayan and Kamal Basheer. The twins are raised in both religions. Shekhar continues to work as a journalist, while Shaila takes care of her home and children. In six years, Shekhar and Shaila firmly settle down.  


When the [[Babri Masjid]] is [[Demolition of the Babri Masjid|demolished]] by Hindu extremists on 6 December 1992, [[Bombay riots|riots]] break out in Bombay. Kabir and Kamal, who had gone to buy groceries, get caught in the riots; eventually, Shekhar and Shaila save them and reach home safely. Narayana Pillai, who receives the news of the riots, rushes to Bombay to meet his son and his family. He reconciles with his son and everyone is happy with his arrival, and he stays with them. Soon, Basheer also comes with his wife and all of them live together happily for a few days. Both Pillai and Basheer are happy with their grandchildren, try to get both to their religion and wish to be with them.
When the [[Babri Masjid]] is [[Demolition of the Babri Masjid|demolished]] on 6 December 1992, [[Bombay riots|riots]] break out in Bombay. Kabir and Kamal, who had gone to buy groceries, get caught in the riots; eventually, Shekhar and Shaila save them and reach home safely. Narayana Pillai, who receives the news of the riots, rushes to Bombay to meet his son and his family. He reconciles with his son and everyone is happy with his arrival, and he stays with them. Soon, Basheer also comes with his wife and all of them live together happily for a few days. Both Pillai and Basheer are happy with their grandchildren; they try to get both into their religions and wish to be with them.


On 8 January 1993, when two murders are propagated as communal killings, another riot breaks out in Bombay, raising tensions between religious communities. Hindus and Muslims clash in the streets, resulting in hundreds of deaths on both sides. During the conflict, arsonists set fire to the apartment where Shekhar lives with his family. Shekhar tries to evacuate everyone, but Narayana Pillai, Basheer and his wife fail to escape in time and are killed when the building explodes. In the confusion of the panicking crowds, Kamal and Kabir are separated from their parents.
On 5 January 1993, when two murders are propagated as communal killings, another riot breaks out in Bombay, raising tensions between religious communities. Hindus and Muslims clash in the streets, resulting in hundreds of deaths on both sides. During the conflict, arsonists set fire to the apartment where Shekhar lives with his family. Shekhar tries to evacuate everyone, but Narayana Pillai, Basheer and his wife fail to escape in time and are killed in an explosion. In the confusion of the panicking crowds, Kamal and Kabir are separated from their parents.


Kamal is saved by a transgender woman who cares for him and protects him, while Kabir searches aimlessly for his brother. Shekhar and Shaila begin to search for them and they go through several tense moments, as they check the morgues and hospitals for their kids. Shekhar grows emotional and participates in the movement to stop the riots with other moderate religious leaders, ultimately succeeding. When the riots end, Shaila and Shekhar are reunited with their children tearfully as the people on the streets join hands, regardless of age or religion.
Kamal is saved by a transgender woman who cares for him and protects him, while Kabir searches aimlessly for his brother. Shekhar and Shaila begin to search for them, and they go through several tense moments, as they check the morgues and hospitals for their children. Shekhar grows emotional and participates in the movement to stop the riots with other moderate religious leaders, ultimately succeeding. When the riots end, Shaila and Shekhar are reunited with their children tearfully as the people on the streets join hands, regardless of age or religion.


== Cast ==
== Cast ==
Credits adapted from ''Conversations with Mani Ratnam'':{{sfn|Rangan|2012|p=292}}
{{cast listing|
{{colbegin}}
* [[Arvind Swamy]] as Shekhar Narayanan Pillai
* [[Arvind Swami]] as Shekhar Narayanan Pillai  
* [[Manisha Koirala]] as Shaila Banu
* [[Manisha Koirala]] as Shaila Banu
* [[Nassar (actor)|Nassar]] as Narayanan Pillai, Shekhar's father
* [[Nassar (actor)|Nassar]] as Narayanan Pillai
* [[Kitty (actor)|Kitty]] as Basheer
* [[Kitty (actor)|Kitty]] as Basheer Ahmed
* [[Tinnu Anand]] as the Sakthi Samaj Head<ref name="communalism" />
* [[Tinnu Anand]] as the Sakthi Samaj Head<ref name="communalism" />
* [[Akash Khurana]] as a fanatical Muslim leader<ref name="communalism" />
* [[Akash Khurana]] as a fanatical Muslim leader<ref name="communalism" />
* Master Harsha (Sumeet) as Kabir Narayan
* Master Harsha (Sumeet) as Kabir Narayan
* Master Hridhay as Kamal Basheer
* Master Hriday as Kamal Basheer
* [[A. R. Srinivasan]] as Police officer
* [[A. R. Srinivasan]] as Police officer
* Crazy Venkatesh as Servant
* Crazy Venkatesh as Servant
* [[Prakash Raj]] as Kumar
* [[Prakash Raj]] as Kumar
* [[Rallapalli (actor)|Rallapalli]] as Transgender<ref>{{Cite news |last=Correspondenthyderabad |first=N. Rahulspecial |date=17 May 2019 |title=Rallapalli dead |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/rallapalli-dead/article27166155.ece |access-date=17 May 2019}}</ref>
* [[Rallapalli (actor)|Rallapalli]] as a transgender woman<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rahul |first=N. |date=17 May 2019 |title=Rallapalli dead |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/rallapalli-dead/article27166155.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190519203848/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/rallapalli-dead/article27166155.ece |archive-date=19 May 2019 |access-date=17 May 2019 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref>
* [[M. V. Vasudeva Rao]]
* [[M. V. Vasudeva Rao]]
* Pramoth as Periya Thambi
* Pramoth as Periya Thambi
Line 60: Line 57:
* Radhabhai as Pankajam
* Radhabhai as Pankajam
* [[Sujitha]] in a special appearance
* [[Sujitha]] in a special appearance
{{colend}}
}}


Additionally, [[Sonali Bendre]] and [[Nagendra Prasad]] appear in the [[item number]] "Humma Humma".<ref>{{Cite web |title=1997–98 Kodambakkam babies Page |url=http://www.indolink.com/tamil/cinema/People/97/Dec/kuttisp1.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303201551/http://indolink.com/tamil/cinema/People/97/Dec/kuttisp1.htm |archive-date=3 March 2016 |access-date=4 October 2015 |website=Indolink}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=6 January 2017 |title=AR Rahman birthday special: Five most popular songs by Mozart of Madras |work=[[Mumbai Mirror]] |url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/ar-rahman-birthday-special-five-most-popular-songs-by-mozart-of-madras/articleshow/56368173.cms |url-status=dead |access-date=21 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921065717/https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/ar-rahman-birthday-special-five-most-popular-songs-by-mozart-of-madras/articleshow/56368173.cms |archive-date=21 September 2017}}</ref>
Additionally, [[Sonali Bendre]] and [[Nagendra Prasad]] appear in the [[item number]] "[[Humma Humma]]".<ref>{{Cite web |title=1997–98'ன் கோடம்பாக்கக் குஞ்சுகள் |trans-title=1997–98 Kodambakkam babies |url=http://www.indolink.com/tamil/cinema/People/97/Dec/kuttisp1.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303201551/http://indolink.com/tamil/cinema/People/97/Dec/kuttisp1.htm |archive-date=3 March 2016 |access-date=4 October 2015 |website=Indolink |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=6 January 2017 |title=AR Rahman birthday special: Five most popular songs by Mozart of Madras |url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/ar-rahman-birthday-special-five-most-popular-songs-by-mozart-of-madras/articleshow/56368173.cms |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921065717/https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/ar-rahman-birthday-special-five-most-popular-songs-by-mozart-of-madras/articleshow/56368173.cms |archive-date=21 September 2017 |access-date=21 September 2017 |work=[[Mumbai Mirror]]}}</ref>


== Production ==
== Production ==
<!-- https://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.20999/page/n1269 -->
=== Development ===
During the recording of the background score of [[Mani Ratnam]]'s ''[[Thiruda Thiruda]]'' (1993), the [[Bombay riots]] broke out. Mani Ratnam planned on making a film in [[Malayalam]] about a boy who gets lost in the riots, and requested [[M. T. Vasudevan Nair]] to write the script. This was supposed to be Mani Ratnam's second Malayalam film after ''[[Unaroo]]'' (1985). But since the idea did not materialise, he decided to make it in [[Tamil language|Tamil]] as the film that would later be titled ''Bombay''.{{Sfn|Rangan|2012|page=147}} According to Ratnam, ''Bombay'' was not originally planned as a political film: "It was a phase India was going through and these things affected me and found their way into my work."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Melwani |first=Lavina |date=26 September 2015 |title=Up close and personal with Mani Ratnam |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/magazine/up-close-and-personal-with-mani-ratnam/article7684784.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927044000/http://www.thehindu.com/features/magazine/up-close-and-personal-with-mani-ratnam/article7684784.ece |archive-date=27 September 2015 |access-date=27 September 2015 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref>
 
=== Casting ===
[[File:Tirumalai Nayak.jpg|right|thumb|[[Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal]], where "Kannalane" was shot.]]
[[File:Tirumalai Nayak.jpg|right|thumb|[[Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal]], where "Kannalane" was shot.]]
During the recording of the background score of [[Mani Ratnam]]'s ''[[Thiruda Thiruda]]'' (1993), the [[Bombay riots]] broke out. Mani Ratnam planned on making a film in [[Malayalam]] about a boy who gets lost in the riots, and requested [[M. T. Vasudevan Nair]] to write the script. This was supposed to be Mani Ratnam's second Malayalam film after ''[[Unaru]]'' (1985). But since the idea did not materialise, he decided to make it in [[Tamil language|Tamil]] as the film that would later be titled ''Bombay''.{{Sfn|Rangan|2012|page=147}}
[[Aishwarya Rai Bachchan|Aishwarya Rai]] was considered for the female lead, but she opted out due to unavailability of dates, with the production schedules clashing with her Miss World pageant, a title she went on to win.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Melwani |first=Lavina |date=26 September 2015 |title=Did you know? Aishwarya Rai Versus Manisha Koirala |url=https://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/bollywood-news/article/did-you-know--aishwarya-rai-versus-manisha-koirala-62334 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927044000/https://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/bollywood-news/article/did-you-know--aishwarya-rai-versus-manisha-koirala-62334 |archive-date=27 September 2015 |access-date=3 November 2009 |work=[[Mid-Day]]}}</ref> Mani Ratnam held a photoshoot for the film with [[Vikram (actor)|Vikram]] and [[Manisha Koirala]], but eventually excluded Vikram as he was unwilling to shave his beard and long hair that he had grown for the production of another film during the period, ''[[Pudhiya Mannargal]]'' (1994);<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rangan |first=Baradwaj |author-link=Baradwaj Rangan |date=1 December 2013 |title=Man of Steel |url=http://www.caravanmagazine.in/arts/man-steel?page=0,5 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150108223000/http://www.caravanmagazine.in/arts/man-steel?page=0%2C5 |archive-date=8 January 2015 |access-date=30 October 2014 |work=[[The Caravan]]}}</ref> the role went to [[Arvind Swamy]].{{sfn |Gopalan |2019 |p=22}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Balachandran |first=Logesh |date=4 August 2020 |title=Tuesday Trivia, Bombay: Communal riots post Babri Masjid demolition to Vikram opting out |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/tuesday-trivia-bombay-communal-riots-post-babri-masjid-demolition-to-vikram-opting-out-1707689-2020-08-04 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810063117/https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/tuesday-trivia-bombay-communal-riots-post-babri-masjid-demolition-to-vikram-opting-out-1707689-2020-08-04 |archive-date=10 August 2020 |access-date=19 August 2022 |website=[[India Today]]}}</ref> Koirala has stated that, though some people advised her against accepting the project since she had to play a mother, she did not listen as there were others who said "it'll be foolish to refuse a Mani Ratnam film".<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 June 2018 |title=Don't want to overwork myself, says Manisha Koirala |url=http://www.ptinews.com/news/9825993_Don-t-want-to-overwork-myself--says-Manisha-Koirala.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819085601/http://www.ptinews.com/news/9825993_Don-t-want-to-overwork-myself--says-Manisha-Koirala.html |archive-date=19 August 2022 |access-date=19 August 2022 |website=[[Press Trust of India]]}}</ref> Koirala's voice was dubbed by [[Rohini (actress)|Rohini]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Srinivasan |first=Meera |date=12 July 2010 |title=Success of dubbing artist lies in not letting audience know who you are |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/ldquoSuccess-of-dubbing-artist-lies-in-not-letting-audience-know-who-you-arerdquo/article16193272.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001104713/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/ldquoSuccess-of-dubbing-artist-lies-in-not-letting-audience-know-who-you-arerdquo/article16193272.ece |archive-date=1 October 2021 |access-date=6 August 2017 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> Nassar, a Muslim in real life, was cast as the father of Swamy's character (a Hindu) while Kitty, a Hindu in real life, was cast as the father of Koirala's character (a Muslim). Ratnam deliberately cast them in those roles as a statement.<ref name="communalism">{{Cite news |last=Rai |first=Saritha |date=15 January 1995 |title=Mani Ratnams Bombay views communalism through eyes of common man |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-and-the-arts/films/story/19950115-mani-ratnams-bombay-views-communalism-through-eyes-of-common-man-806701-1995-01-14 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915105642/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/mani-ratnams-bombay-views-communalism-through-eyes-of-common-man/1/287685.html |archive-date=15 September 2017 |access-date=15 September 2017 |work=[[India Today]]}}</ref>{{Sfn |Rangan |2012 |p=158}} Twins Harsha and Hriday were chosen to play the protagonists' twin sons, from over 70 twins that the director saw but was not impressed. ''Bombay'' remains Harsha's only release.<ref>{{Cite news |date=5 September 2011 |title=From Bombay to Chennai: Actor Hridayraaj |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/2011/Sep/05/from-bombay-to-chennai-actor-hridayraaj-287787.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240607061655/https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/2011/Sep/05/from-bombay-to-chennai-actor-hridayraaj-287787.html |archive-date=7 June 2024 |access-date=7 June 2024 |work=[[The New Indian Express]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=11 February 2012 |title=A child star's journey |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/a-child-stars-journey/article2882687.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240615024337/https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/a-child-stars-journey/article2882687.ece |archive-date=15 June 2024 |access-date=7 June 2024 |work=[[The Hindu]] |language=en}}</ref>


Mani Ratnam held a photo shoot for the film with [[Vikram (actor)|Vikram]] and [[Manisha Koirala]], but eventually did not choose Vikram as he was unwilling to remove his beard and moustache that he had grown for the production of another film during the period, [[Vikraman]]'s ''[[Pudhiya Mannargal]]'' (1994).<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.caravanmagazine.in/arts/man-steel?page=0,5 |title=Man of Steel |last=Rangan |first=Baradwaj |date=1 December 2013 |work=[[The Caravan]] |access-date=30 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150108223000/http://www.caravanmagazine.in/arts/man-steel?page=0%2C5 |archive-date=8 January 2015 |url-status=live |author-link=Baradwaj Rangan}}</ref> According to Ratnam, ''Bombay'' was not originally planned as a political film: "It was a phase India was going through and these things affected me and found their way into my work."<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/magazine/up-close-and-personal-with-mani-ratnam/article7684784.ece |title=Up close and personal with Mani Ratnam |last=Melwani |first=Lavina |date=26 September 2015 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=27 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927044000/http://www.thehindu.com/features/magazine/up-close-and-personal-with-mani-ratnam/article7684784.ece |archive-date=27 September 2015}}</ref> Koirala's voice was dubbed by [[Rohini (actress)|Rohini]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/ldquoSuccess-of-dubbing-artist-lies-in-not-letting-audience-know-who-you-arerdquo/article16193272.ece |title=Success of dubbing artist lies in not letting audience know who you are |last=Srinivasan |first=Meera |date=12 July 2010 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=6 August 2017}}</ref> Nassar, a Muslim in real life, was cast as the father of Arvind Swamy's character (a Hindu) while Kitty, a Hindu in real life, was cast as the father of Koirala's character (a Muslim). Ratnam deliberately cast them in those roles as a statement.{{Sfn|Rangan|2012|p=158}}<ref name="communalism">{{Cite news |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/mani-ratnams-bombay-views-communalism-through-eyes-of-common-man/1/287685.html |title=Mani Ratnams Bombay views communalism through eyes of common man |last=Rai |first=Saritha |date=15 January 1995 |work=[[India Today]] |access-date=15 September 2017 |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6tUhH0PDm?url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/mani-ratnams-bombay-views-communalism-through-eyes-of-common-man/1/287685.html |archive-date=15 September 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
=== Filming ===
 
When Ratnam approached cinematographer [[Rajiv Menon]] to shoot ''Bombay'', he described it as a film about the riots and said that he (Menon) needed to "(make what came before) the riots as beautiful as possible". So Menon suggested shooting in the rains to achieve the effect. They shot the interiors of homes in [[Pollachi]] in Tamil Nadu and the exteriors were shot in [[Kasaragod]], and [[Kannur district|Kannur village]] in Kerala.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Shot breakdown |url=http://www.timeoutmumbai.net/client_coverstory/client_coverstory_details.asp?code=816 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716220405/http://www.timeoutmumbai.net/client_coverstory/client_coverstory_details.asp?code=816 |archive-date=16 July 2011 |access-date=10 May 2019 |work=[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]] |location=Mumbai}}</ref> The song "Kannalane" was shot at [[Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Teena |first=L |date=29 April 2012 |title=Thirumalai Nayakar Mahal gets a facelift |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/Thirumalai-Nayakar-Mahal-gets-a-facelift/articleshow/12911321.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170217050452/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/Thirumalai-Nayakar-Mahal-gets-a-facelift/articleshow/12911321.cms |archive-date=17 February 2017 |access-date=17 February 2017 |work=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref> and "Uyire" was shot at [[Bekal Fort]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Aishwarya |first=S. |date=3 July 2010 |title=Indian locations provide stunning backdrops for film shoots |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/Indian-locations-provide-stunning-backdrops-for-film-shoots/article16182372.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170921070424/http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/Indian-locations-provide-stunning-backdrops-for-film-shoots/article16182372.ece |archive-date=21 September 2017 |access-date=21 September 2017 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> The demolition of the Babri Masjid was shown onscreen through newspaper headlines and photographs, as the [[Central Board of Film Certification|Censor Board]] did not want the makers to show the actual destruction.{{Sfn |Rangan |2012 |page=146}}<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=2–8 April 1995 |title=Bombay: The Making of the Most Controversial film of the Decade |url=https://archive.org/download/dli.bengal.10689.20999/10689.20999_text.pdf |access-date=7 June 2024 |magazine=Sunday |pages=75–84 |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref>
When Ratnam approached cinematographer [[Rajiv Menon]] to shoot ''Bombay'', he described it as a film about the riots and said that he (Menon) needed to "(make what came before) the riots as beautiful as possible". So, Menon suggested shooting in the rains to achieve the effect. They shot the interiors of homes in [[Pollachi]] in Tamil Nadu and the exteriors were shot in [[Kasaragod]], and [[Kannur district|Kannur village]] in Kerala.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.timeoutmumbai.net/client_coverstory/client_coverstory_details.asp?code=816 |title=Shot breakdown |work=[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]] |access-date=10 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716220405/http://www.timeoutmumbai.net/client_coverstory/client_coverstory_details.asp?code=816 |archive-date=16 July 2011 |url-status=dead |location=Mumbai}}</ref> The song "Kannalane" was shot at [[Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal]],<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/Thirumalai-Nayakar-Mahal-gets-a-facelift/articleshow/12911321.cms |title=Thirumalai Nayakar Mahal gets a facelift |last=Teena |first=L |date=29 April 2012 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=17 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170217050452/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/Thirumalai-Nayakar-Mahal-gets-a-facelift/articleshow/12911321.cms |archive-date=17 February 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> and "Uyire" was shot at [[Bekal Fort]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/Indian-locations-provide-stunning-backdrops-for-film-shoots/article16182372.ece |title=Indian locations provide stunning backdrops for film shoots |last=Aishwarya |first=S. |date=3 July 2010 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=21 September 2017 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170921070424/http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/Indian-locations-provide-stunning-backdrops-for-film-shoots/article16182372.ece |archive-date=21 September 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> The demolition of the Babri Masjid was shown onscreen through newspaper headlines and photographs, as the [[Central Board of Film Certification|Censor Board]] did not want the makers to show the actual destruction.{{Sfn|Rangan|2012|page=146}}<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=2–8 April 1995 |title=Bombay: The Making of the Most Controversial film of the Decade |url=https://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.20999 |magazine=Sunday |page=[https://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.20999/page/n280 76]}}</ref>


== Themes and influences ==
== Themes and influences ==
Mani Ratnam described ''Bombay'' as "a positive film about communal harmony". He said the Bombay riots were not the main focus of the film, but "a helpless, innocent man caught up in violence not of his own making."<ref name="communalism" />
Mani Ratnam described ''Bombay'' as "a positive film about communal harmony". He said the Bombay riots were not the main focus of the film, but "a helpless, innocent man caught up in violence not of his own making."<ref name="communalism" /> The film is the second installment in Ratnam's trilogy of films that depict human relationships against a background of Indian politics, including ''[[Roja (film)|Roja]]'' (1992) and ''[[Dil Se..]]'' (1998).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pillai |first=Sreedhar |date=29 June 2008 |title=Tryst with terrorism |work=[[The Times of India]] |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Tryst-with-terrorism/articleshow/3297217.cms |url-status=dead |access-date=10 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160623151056/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Tryst-with-terrorism/articleshow/3297217.cms |archive-date=23 June 2016}}</ref> ''[[Bangalore Mirror]]'' compared it to the theme of the 1990 movie ''[[Come See the Paradise]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |date=29 January 2012 |title=Bypassing copycats, Sandalwood style |work=[[Bangalore Mirror]] |url=https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/south-masala/Bypassing-copycats-Sandalwood-style/articleshow/21434657.cms |url-status=live |access-date=4 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009214014/http://www.bangaloremirror.com/entertainment/south-masala/Bypassing-copycats-Sandalwood-style/articleshow/21434657.cms |archive-date=9 October 2016}}</ref>


== Soundtrack ==
== Soundtrack ==
{{Main|Bombay (soundtrack)}}
{{Main|Bombay (soundtrack)}}


The soundtrack album for ''Bombay'' was composed by [[A. R. Rahman]], in his third collaboration with [[Mani Ratnam]] after ''[[Roja (film)|Roja]]'' (1992) and ''[[Thiruda Thiruda]]'' (1993). The lyrics for the Tamil version were written by [[Vairamuthu]], except for the song "Antha Arabi Kadaloram", which was written by [[Vaali (poet)|Vaali]]. The soundtrack of the film became one of the best-selling [[Indian music]] albums of all time, with sales of 15{{nbsp}}million units.<ref name="sbs">{{cite news|title=The "Mozart of Madras" AR Rahman is Performing LIVE in Australia|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/hindi/en/audiotrack/mozart-madras-ar-rahman-performing-live-australia|agency=[[SBS (Australian TV channel)|SBS]]|date=14 February 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/money/2002/sep/21bizsp.htm|title=A R Rahman: Composing a winning score|author=Surajeet Das Gupta, Soumik Sen|publisher=[[Rediff]]|access-date=2002-09-21}}</ref> The soundtrack was included in ''[[The Guardian]]'''s "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die" list,<ref name="Guardian">{{cite web|title=100 Best Albums Ever|work=[[The Guardian]]|url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/guardian100.htm|access-date=2010-02-03}}</ref> and the song "Kannalanae" sung by [[K. S. Chithra]] was included in their "1000 Songs Everyone Must Hear" list.<ref name="Guardian" /> "Bombay Theme" has appeared in various international films and music compilations, while the songs "Kannalanae" and "Bombay Theme" have been sampled by various international artists.
The soundtrack album for ''Bombay'' was composed by [[A. R. Rahman]], in his third collaboration with Mani Ratnam after ''Roja'' and ''Thiruda Thiruda''. The lyrics for the Tamil version were written by [[Vairamuthu]], except "Humma Humma" and "Halla Gulla" written by [[Vaali (poet)|Vaali]]. The soundtrack of the film became one of the best-selling Indian music albums of all time, with sales of 15{{nbsp}}million units.<ref name="sbs">{{Cite news |date=14 February 2017 |title=The "Mozart of Madras" AR Rahman is Performing LIVE in Australia |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/hindi/en/audiotrack/mozart-madras-ar-rahman-performing-live-australia |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201145814/https://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/hindi/en/audiotrack/mozart-madras-ar-rahman-performing-live-australia |archive-date=1 December 2017 |access-date=28 June 2020 |work=[[SBS (Australian TV channel)|SBS]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Gupta |first1=Surajeet Das |last2=Sen |first2=Soumik |date=21 September 2002 |title=A R Rahman: Composing a winning score |url=http://www.rediff.com/money/2002/sep/21bizsp.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081015040951/http://www.rediff.com/money/2002/sep/21bizsp.htm |archive-date=15 October 2008 |access-date=21 September 2002 |website=[[Rediff.com]]}}</ref> The soundtrack was included in ''[[The Guardian]]'''s "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die" list,<ref name="Guardian">{{Cite web |title=100 Best Albums Ever |url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/guardian100.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100203223926/http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/guardian100.htm |archive-date=3 February 2010 |access-date=3 February 2010 |website=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> and the song "Kannalanae" sung by [[K. S. Chithra]] was included in their "1000 Songs Everyone Must Hear" list.<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 March 2009 |title=1000 songs everyone must hear; Part one: Love |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/table/2009/mar/14/love-1000-songs-everyone-must-hear |website=[[The Guardian]] |quote="Songs about love across the barricades delivered in a coquettish fashion are something of a staple in Bollywood. Which is why Kehna Hi Kya by AR Rahman is all the more extraordinary. With its extravagant vocal gymnastics and qawwali-esqe devotional wails, this tale of inter-religious attraction set a new standard and leaves you in no doubt that Rahman deserves his India's greatest living composer tag." |access-date=1 October 2023 |archive-date=27 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327234331/http://www.theguardian.com/music/table/2009/mar/14/love-1000-songs-everyone-must-hear |url-status=live }}</ref> "Bombay Theme" has appeared in various international films and music compilations, while the songs "Kannalanae" and "Bombay Theme" have been sampled by various international artists.


== Release ==
== Release ==
''Bombay'' was released on 10 March 1995.<ref>{{Cite book |url=http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/106524/15/15_bibliography.pdf |title=1985 முதல் 1995 வரையிலான விருது பெற்ற தமிழ்த் திரைப்படங்கள் ஒர் ஆய்வு |last=Devaki |first=A |publisher=[[Bharathiar University]] |year=2004 |pages=226 |language=ta |trans-title=A review of award winning Tamil films from 1985 to 1995}}</ref> The [[Telugu language|Telugu]]-dubbed version, ''Bombayi'', was released on the same day which was well received.{{sfn|Chatterjee|Jeganathan|2005|p=158}}
''Bombay'' was released on 10 March 1995.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ramnath |first=Nandini |date=1 December 2020 |title=A war for love: Mani Ratnam's 'Bombay' explored an inter-faith marriage battered by bigotry |url=https://scroll.in/reel/979821/a-war-for-love-mani-ratnams-bombay-explored-an-inter-faith-marriage-battered-by-bigotry |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220709060644/https://scroll.in/reel/979821/a-war-for-love-mani-ratnams-bombay-explored-an-inter-faith-marriage-battered-by-bigotry |archive-date=9 July 2022 |access-date=19 August 2022 |website=[[Scroll.in]]}}</ref> The [[Telugu language|Telugu]]-dubbed version was released on the same day.{{sfn |Gopalan |2019 |p=28}} It was previously scheduled to release in January 1995, during [[Pongal (festival)|Pongal]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=சரண்யா |first=அருண் |date=15 January 1995 |title=பொங்கல் ரிலீஸ் – பம்பர் அறுவடை! |url=https://archive.org/details/kalki1995-01-15/page/n63/mode/2up? |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230909121625/https://archive.org/details/kalki1995-01-15/page/n63/mode/2up? |archive-date=9 September 2023 |access-date=29 February 2024 |magazine=[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]] |pages=62–63 |language=ta |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref> The film caused considerable controversy upon release in India and abroad for its depiction of inter-religious relations between a Muslim woman and a Hindu man.<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 April 1995 |title=Mani Ratnam's film Bombay invites critical acclaim and howls of protest |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-the-arts/films/story/19950415-critical-acclaim-and-howls-of-protest-for-mani-ratnam-bombay-806737-1995-04-15 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181222012839/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-the-arts/films/story/19950415-critical-acclaim-and-howls-of-protest-for-mani-ratnam-bombay-806737-1995-04-15 |archive-date=22 December 2018 |access-date=23 July 2021 |website=[[India Today]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Chandra |first=A. |date=30 April 1995 |title=Mani Ratnam's film 'Bombay' incenses Muslim leaders of city |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19950430-mani-ratnams-film-bombay-incenses-muslim-leaders-of-city-808273-1995-04-30 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819095412/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19950430-mani-ratnams-film-bombay-incenses-muslim-leaders-of-city-808273-1995-04-30 |archive-date=19 August 2022 |access-date=23 July 2021 |website=[[India Today]]}}</ref> The film was banned in Singapore and Malaysia upon release. Two homemade bombs were thrown at the house of Mani Ratnam by Radical Islamist terrorists, Mani Ratnam had to be hospitalised with shrapnel injuries.<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 July 1995 |title=Movie Director Injured By Bomb; Police Blame Muslim Extremists |url=https://apnews.com/article/a4a3e1b7524ee91d3c15622c77abbd96 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819091802/https://apnews.com/article/a4a3e1b7524ee91d3c15622c77abbd96 |archive-date=19 August 2022 |access-date=14 October 2020 |website=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref>


== Reception ==
== Reception ==
=== Box office ===
=== Box office ===
The Hindi version of the film grossed {{INRConvert|140|m|year=1995}}, as reported by [[Box Office India]], making it one of the year's top ten highest-grossing Hindi films.<ref name="BOI">{{Cite web |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=201&catName=MTk5NQ== |title=Box Office 1995 |website=[[Box Office India]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017072458/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=201&catName=MTk5NQ%3D%3D |archive-date=17 October 2013 |url-status=dead |access-date=24 January 2012}}</ref>
The Hindi dubbed version of the film grossed {{INRConvert|140|m|year=1995}}, as reported by [[Box Office India]], making it one of the year's ten highest-grossing Hindi films.<ref name="BOI">{{Cite web |title=Box Office 1995 |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=201&catName=MTk5NQ== |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017072458/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=201&catName=MTk5NQ%3D%3D |archive-date=17 October 2013 |access-date=24 January 2012 |website=[[Box Office India]]}}</ref>


=== Critical reception ===
=== Critical reception ===
''[[Ananda Vikatan]]'', in a review dated 19 March 1995, rated the film 53 out of 100.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=19 March 1995 |title=சினிமா விமர்சனம்: ''பம்பாய்'' |trans-title=Movie Review: ''Bombay'' |magazine=[[Ananda Vikatan]] |language=ta}}</ref> Anand Kannan, writing for ''Planet Bollywood'', said, "I wouldn't call this the best of Mani Ratnam [...] But good acting, a socially conscious theme and a quick pace make the movie well worth watching."<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.indolink.com/bollywood/Film/bombay.html |title=Bombay |last=Kannan |first=Anand |website=Planet Bollywood |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010711104534/http://www.indolink.com/bollywood/Film/bombay.html |archive-date=11 July 2001 |url-status=dead |access-date=20 May 2019}}</ref> In 1996, American critic [[James Berardinelli]] rated the film 3.5 out of 4 and said, "Largely because of their limited North American appeal and dubious quality, Indian movies are routinely ignored by distributors [...] Occasionally, however, a worthwhile picture causes enough people to take notice that it becomes a favorite on the international film festival circuit. One such movie is ''Bombay'', the fourteenth feature from celebrated director Mani Rathnam." He concluded, "Director Rathnam has shown great courage in making this picture (bombs were thrown at his house after it opened in India), which speaks with a voice that many will not wish to hear. ''Bombay'' recalls how forceful a motion picture can be."<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://preview.reelviews.net/movies/b/bombay.html |title=Bombay |last=Berardenelli |first=James |author-link=James Berardinelli |date=1996 |website=ReelViews |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170915103513/http://preview.reelviews.net/movies/b/bombay.html |archive-date=15 September 2017 |url-status=dead |access-date=30 October 2014}}</ref>
''[[Ananda Vikatan]]'', in a review dated 19 March 1995, rated the film 53 out of 100.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=19 March 1995 |title=சினிமா விமர்சனம்: ''பம்பாய்'' |trans-title=Movie Review: ''Bombay'' |magazine=[[Ananda Vikatan]] |language=ta}}</ref> Anand Kannan, writing for ''Planet Bollywood'', said, "I wouldn't call this the best of Mani Ratnam [...] But good acting, a socially conscious theme and a quick pace make the movie well worth watching."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kannan |first=Anand |title=Bombay |url=http://www.indolink.com/bollywood/Film/bombay.html |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010711104534/http://www.indolink.com/bollywood/Film/bombay.html |archive-date=11 July 2001 |access-date=20 May 2019 |website=Planet Bollywood}}</ref> In 1996, American critic [[James Berardinelli]] rated the film 3.5 out of 4 and said, "Largely because of their limited North American appeal and dubious quality, Indian movies are routinely ignored by distributors [...] Occasionally, however, a worthwhile picture causes enough people to take notice that it becomes a favorite on the international film festival circuit. One such movie is ''Bombay'', the fourteenth feature from celebrated director Mani Rathnam." He concluded, "Director Rathnam has shown great courage in making this picture (bombs were thrown at his house after it opened in India), which speaks with a voice that many will not wish to hear. ''Bombay'' recalls how forceful a motion picture can be."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Berardenelli |first=James |author-link=James Berardinelli |date=1996 |title=Bombay |url=http://preview.reelviews.net/movies/b/bombay.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170915103513/http://preview.reelviews.net/movies/b/bombay.html |archive-date=15 September 2017 |access-date=30 October 2014 |website=ReelViews}}</ref> R. P. R. of ''[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]]'' wrote that with far cry from average cinema, this film raises a thousand questions about social morality, not just Mani Ratnam; it has given every Indian a chance to be proud.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=ஆர். பி. ஆர் |date=26 March 1995 |title=பம்பாய் |url=https://archive.org/details/kalki1995-03-26/page/n2/mode/2up |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230330023357/https://archive.org/details/kalki1995-03-26/page/n2/mode/2up |archive-date=2023-03-30 |access-date=2023-03-30 |magazine=[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]] |page=1 |language=Ta |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref>
 
''[[Bangalore Mirror]]'' noted that the film had similarities with the 1990 film ''[[Come See the Paradise]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.bangaloremirror.com/entertainment/south-masala/Bypassing-copycats-Sandalwood-style/articleshow/21434657.cms |title=Bypassing copycats, Sandalwood style |date=29 January 2012 |work=[[Bangalore Mirror]] |access-date=4 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009214014/http://www.bangaloremirror.com/entertainment/south-masala/Bypassing-copycats-Sandalwood-style/articleshow/21434657.cms |archive-date=9 October 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>


== Accolades ==
== Accolades ==
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| ''Bombay'' – {{sort|Ratnam|[[Mani Ratnam]]}}
| ''Bombay'' – {{sort|Ratnam|[[Mani Ratnam]]}}
| {{won}}
| {{won}}
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="6"| <ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.madrastalkies.com/Accolades.asp |title=List Accolades Received by Films Produced Under Madras Talkies |work=[[Madras Talkies]] |access-date=23 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060514090245/http://www.madrastalkies.com/Accolades.asp |archive-date=14 May 2006}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="6"| <ref>{{Cite news |title=List Accolades Received by Films Produced Under Madras Talkies |url=http://www.madrastalkies.com/Accolades.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060514090245/http://www.madrastalkies.com/Accolades.asp |archive-date=14 May 2006 |access-date=23 July 2021 |work=[[Madras Talkies]]}}</ref>
|-
|-
| Best Director – Tamil
| Best Director – Tamil
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|-
|-
| Best Actor (Special Award)
| Best Actor (Special Award)
| {{sort|Swami|[[Arvind Swami]]}}
| {{sort|Swamy|[[Arvind Swamy]]}}
| {{won}}
| {{won}}
|-
|-
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| ''Bombay'' – {{sort|Ratnam|[[Mani Ratnam]]}}
| ''Bombay'' – {{sort|Ratnam|[[Mani Ratnam]]}}
| {{won}}
| {{won}}
| style="text-align:center;"|  
| style="text-align:center;"|
|-
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2"| [[Filmfare Awards]]
! scope="row" rowspan="2"| [[Filmfare Awards]]
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| ''Bombay'' – {{sort|Ratnam|[[Mani Ratnam]]}}{{efn|The only dubbed film to win the award.}}
| ''Bombay'' – {{sort|Ratnam|[[Mani Ratnam]]}}{{efn|The only dubbed film to win the award.}}
| {{won}}
| {{won}}
| style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{cite news|url=http://recipeguide.indiatimes.com/awards2001/ex_cfilm.htm |title=Critics Award for Best Film Winners 1970 – 1999 |work=[[Times Internet|Indiatimes]] |access-date=23 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713030107/http://recipeguide.indiatimes.com/awards2001/ex_cfilm.htm |archive-date=13 July 2011 |agency=[[The Times Group]]}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{Cite news |title=Critics Award for Best Film Winners 1970–1999 |url=http://recipeguide.indiatimes.com/awards2001/ex_cfilm.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713030107/http://recipeguide.indiatimes.com/awards2001/ex_cfilm.htm |archive-date=13 July 2011 |access-date=23 July 2021 |work=[[Times Internet|Indiatimes]] |agency=[[The Times Group]]}}</ref>
|-
|-
| [[Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress|Critics Award for Best Actress]]
| [[Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress|Critics Award for Best Actress]]
| {{sort|Koirala|[[Manisha Koirala]]}}{{efn|Koirala is the only actress who has won the award for a non-Hindi film as ''Bombay'' was dubbed in Hindi.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/bollywood/filmfare-awards-2019-inclusion-of-critics-choice-category-doesnt-hold-water-in-times-when-content-is-the-king-6321001.html |title=Filmfare Awards 2019: Inclusion of Critics' Choice category doesn't hold water in times when content is the king |website=[[Firstpost]] |date=25 March 2019 |access-date=23 July 2021}}</ref>}}  
| {{sort|Koirala|[[Manisha Koirala]]}}{{efn|Koirala is the only actress who has won the award for a non-Hindi film as ''Bombay'' was dubbed in Hindi.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 March 2019 |title=Filmfare Awards 2019: Inclusion of Critics' Choice category doesn't hold water in times when content is the king |url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/bollywood/filmfare-awards-2019-inclusion-of-critics-choice-category-doesnt-hold-water-in-times-when-content-is-the-king-6321001.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723164044/https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/bollywood/filmfare-awards-2019-inclusion-of-critics-choice-category-doesnt-hold-water-in-times-when-content-is-the-king-6321001.html |archive-date=23 July 2021 |access-date=23 July 2021 |website=[[Firstpost]]}}</ref>}}
| {{won}}
| {{won}}
| style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{cite news|url=http://recipeguide.indiatimes.com/awards2001/ex_cperformance.htm |title=Critics Award for Best Performer Winners 1990 – 1999 |work=[[Times Internet|Indiatimes]] |access-date=23 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713030053/http://recipeguide.indiatimes.com/awards2001/ex_cperformance.htm |archive-date=13 July 2011 |agency=[[The Times Group]]}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{Cite news |title=Critics Award for Best Performer Winners 1990–1999 |url=http://recipeguide.indiatimes.com/awards2001/ex_cperformance.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713030053/http://recipeguide.indiatimes.com/awards2001/ex_cperformance.htm |archive-date=13 July 2011 |access-date=23 July 2021 |work=[[Times Internet|Indiatimes]] |agency=[[The Times Group]]}}</ref>
|-
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="4"| [[Filmfare Awards South]]
! scope="row" rowspan="4"| [[Filmfare Awards South]]
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| ''Bombay'' – {{sort|Sriram|S. Sriram}}
| ''Bombay'' – {{sort|Sriram|S. Sriram}}
| {{won}}
| {{won}}
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="4"| <ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.filmfare.com/site/nov96/faward.htm |title=The 43rd Filmfare Awards South 1996 Winners |work=[[Filmfare]] |access-date=23 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970428123200/http://www.filmfare.com/site/nov96/faward.htm |archive-date=28 April 1997 |agency=[[The Times Group]]}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="4"| <ref>{{Cite news |title=The 43rd Filmfare Awards South 1996 Winners |url=http://www.filmfare.com/site/nov96/faward.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970428123200/http://www.filmfare.com/site/nov96/faward.htm |archive-date=28 April 1997 |access-date=23 July 2021 |work=[[Filmfare]] |agency=[[The Times Group]]}}</ref>
|-
|-
| [[Filmfare Award for Best Director – Tamil|Best Director – Tamil]]
| [[Filmfare Award for Best Director – Tamil|Best Director – Tamil]]
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| ''Bombay'' – {{sort|Ratnam|[[Mani Ratnam]]}}
| ''Bombay'' – {{sort|Ratnam|[[Mani Ratnam]]}}
| {{won}}
| {{won}}
| style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://jff.org.il/en/article/6197 |title=Jerusalem Film Festival 1996 |publisher=Jerusalem Film Festival |access-date=23 July 2021}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{Cite web |title=Jerusalem Film Festival 1996 |url=https://jff.org.il/en/article/6197 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723165558/https://jff.org.il/en/article/6197 |archive-date=23 July 2021 |access-date=23 July 2021 |website=Jerusalem Film Festival}}</ref>
|-
|-
! scope="row"| [[Matri Shree Media Award]]
! scope="row"| [[Matri Shree Media Award]]
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| {{sort|Ratnam|[[Mani Ratnam]]}}
| {{sort|Ratnam|[[Mani Ratnam]]}}
| {{won}}
| {{won}}
| style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.readwhere.com/read/159868/g4u-MEDIA/1996-Matri-Shree-Award#page/1/2 |title=1996 : 20th Matri Shree Awards |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921061032/http://www.readwhere.com/read/159868/g4u-MEDIA/1996-Matri-Shree-Award |publisher=[[The Indian Express]] |work=[[Readwhere]] |date=21 September 2013 |archive-date=21 September 2013}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{Cite web |date=21 September 2013 |title=1996 : 20th Matri Shree Awards |url=http://www.readwhere.com/read/159868/g4u-MEDIA/1996-Matri-Shree-Award#page/1/2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921061032/http://www.readwhere.com/read/159868/g4u-MEDIA/1996-Matri-Shree-Award |archive-date=21 September 2013 |website=[[The Indian Express]] |via=[[Readwhere]]}}</ref>
|-
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2"| [[National Film Awards]]
! scope="row" rowspan="2"| [[National Film Awards]]
| rowspan="2"| [[43rd National Film Awards|6 August 1996]]
| rowspan="2"| [[43rd National Film Awards|6 August 1996]]
| [[Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration|Best Feature Film on National Integration]]
| [[Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration|Best Feature Film on National Integration]]
| Producer: {{sort|Ratnam|[[Mani Ratnam]]}} and {{sort|Sriram|S. Sriram}}<br>Director: {{sort|Ratnam|[[Mani Ratnam]]}}
| Producer: {{sort|Ratnam|[[Mani Ratnam]]}} and {{sort|Sriram|S. Sriram}}<br />Director: {{sort|Ratnam|[[Mani Ratnam]]}}
| {{won}}
| {{won}}
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://dff.nic.in/images/Documents/74_43rdNfacatalogue.pdf |title=43rd National Film Awards |publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals |access-date=23 July 2021 |archive-date=16 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200116081834/https://dff.nic.in/images/Documents/74_43rdNfacatalogue.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| <ref>{{Cite web |title=43rd National Film Awards |url=http://dff.nic.in/images/Documents/74_43rdNfacatalogue.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200116081834/https://dff.nic.in/images/Documents/74_43rdNfacatalogue.pdf |archive-date=16 January 2020 |access-date=23 July 2021 |website=Directorate of Film Festivals}}</ref>
|-
|-
| [[National Film Award for Best Editing|Best Editing]]
| [[National Film Award for Best Editing|Best Editing]]
Line 194: Line 190:
| {{won}}
| {{won}}
|-
|-
! scope="row"| [[Political Film Society]]
! scope="row"| Political Film Society
| 1996
| 1996
| Special Award
| Special Award
| ''Bombay'' – {{sort|Ratnam|[[Mani Ratnam]]}}
| ''Bombay'' – {{sort|Ratnam|[[Mani Ratnam]]}}
| {{won}}
| {{won}}
| style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.geocities.com/~polfilms/previous.html|title=Political Film Society Awards&nbsp;– Previous Winners|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091028135432/http://www.geocities.com/~polfilms/previous.html|archive-date=28 October 2009}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| {{cn|date=February 2026}}
|-
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2"| [[Tamil Nadu State Film Awards]]
! scope="row" rowspan="2"| [[Tamil Nadu State Film Awards]]
Line 206: Line 202:
| {{sort|Vairamuthu|[[Vairamuthu]]}}{{efn|also for ''[[Muthu (film)|Muthu]]''.}}
| {{sort|Vairamuthu|[[Vairamuthu]]}}{{efn|also for ''[[Muthu (film)|Muthu]]''.}}
| {{won}}
| {{won}}
| style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dinakaran.com/cinema/english/highlights/1997/1997high.htm |title=1997 Highlights |publisher=[[Dinakaran]] |access-date=23 July 2021 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980615063650/http://www.dinakaran.com/cinema/english/highlights/1997/1997high.htm |archive-date=15 June 1998}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{Cite web |title=1997 Highlights |url=http://www.dinakaran.com/cinema/english/highlights/1997/1997high.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980615063650/http://www.dinakaran.com/cinema/english/highlights/1997/1997high.htm |archive-date=15 June 1998 |access-date=23 July 2021 |website=[[Dinakaran]]}}</ref>
|-
|-
| [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Female Playback|Best Female Playback Singer]]
| [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer|Best Female Playback Singer]]
| {{sort|Chithra|[[K. S. Chithra]]}} – (for "Kannalane")
| {{sort|Chithra|[[K. S. Chithra]]}} – (for "Kannalane")
| {{won}}
| {{won}}
| style="text-align:center;"|
| style="text-align:center;"|
|-
|}
|}


== Further reading ==
== Bibliography ==
* {{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y9GXrgrkXIIC&q=Kamal+Basheer+Kabir+Narayan+Bombay|title=Community, Gender and Violence|last1=Chatterjee|first1=Partha|last2=Jeganathan|first2=Pradeep|publisher=Permanent Black |year=2005| orig-year=2000 | isbn=81-7824-033-5}}
* {{Cite book |last=Gopalan |first=Lalitha |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gTn8DwAAQBAJ |title=Bombay |publisher=[[Bloomsbury Publishing]] |year=2019 |isbn=978-0-85170-956-7 |orig-date=2005}}
* {{cite book | last = Gopalan | first = Lalitha | title = Bombay: BFI Film Classics | publisher = [[British Film Institute|BFI Publishing]]| year = 2005 | location = London | isbn = 978-0-85170-956-7}}
* {{Cite book |last=Rangan |first=Baradwaj |title=Conversations with Mani Ratnam |title-link=Conversations with Mani Ratnam |publisher=[[Penguin Books]] |year=2012 |isbn=978-0-670-08520-0 |location=India |author-link=Baradwaj Rangan}}
* {{cite book |title-link=Conversations with Mani Ratnam |title=Conversations with Mani Ratnam|publisher=[[Penguin Books]] |location=India|first=Baradwaj|last=Rangan|author-link=Baradwaj Rangan|year=2012|isbn=978-0-670-08520-0}}


== Notes ==
== Notes ==
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== External links ==
== External links ==
{{Wikiquote}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{IMDb title|id=0112553|title=Bombay}}
* {{IMDb title}}


{{Mani Ratnam}}
{{Mani Ratnam}}
{{Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration}}
{{Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration}}
{{FilmfareCriticsAwardBestMovie}}
{{FilmfareCriticsAwardBestMovie}}
{{FilmfareAwardBestTamilMovie}}
{{Filmfare Award for Best Film – Tamil}}


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}
 
[[Category:1995 Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:Ayodhya dispute]]
[[Category:1995 controversies]]
[[Category:1995 films]]
[[Category:1995 Indian films]]
[[Category:1995 romantic drama films]]
[[Category:1995 romantic drama films]]
[[Category:Best Film on National Integration National Film Award winners]]
[[Category:Fictional portrayals of the Maharashtra Police]]
[[Category:Films about religious violence in India]]
[[Category:Films directed by Mani Ratnam]]
[[Category:Films directed by Mani Ratnam]]
[[Category:Films produced by Mani Ratnam]]
[[Category:Films scored by A. R. Rahman]]
[[Category:Films set in 1992]]
[[Category:Films set in 1993]]
[[Category:Films set in Mumbai]]
[[Category:Films set in Mumbai]]
[[Category:Films shot in Kannur]]
[[Category:Films shot in Madurai]]
[[Category:Films shot in Madurai]]
[[Category:Films shot in Kerala]]
[[Category:Films shot in Mumbai]]
[[Category:Films featuring an item number]]
[[Category:Films shot in Thalassery]]
[[Category:Films about religious violence in India]]
[[Category:Films whose editor won the Best Film Editing National Award]]
[[Category:Indian interfaith romance films]]
[[Category:Indian interfaith romance films]]
[[Category:1995 films]]
[[Category:1990s Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:Films scored by A. R. Rahman]]
[[Category:Films shot in Mumbai]]
[[Category:Indian romantic drama films]]
[[Category:Indian romantic drama films]]
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:Religious controversies in film]]
[[Category:Fictional portrayals of the Maharashtra Police]]
[[Category:Religious controversies in India]]
[[Category:Films whose editor won the Best Film Editing National Award]]
[[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]]
[[Category:Best Film on National Integration National Film Award winners]]
[[Category:Tamil-language romantic drama films]]

Latest revision as of 02:23, 4 March 2026


Bombay
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMani Ratnam
Produced byS. Sriram
Mani Ratnam
Jhamu Sughand
Written byMani Ratnam
StarringArvind Swamy
Manisha Koirala
Music byA. R. Rahman
CinematographyRajiv Menon
Edited bySuresh Urs
Production
company
Distributed byAalayam Productions
Ayngaran International
Amitabh Bachchan Corporation (Hindi Version)
Release date
  • 10 March 1995 (1995-03-10)
Running time
130 minutes[1]
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil
Hindi

Bombay is a 1995 Indian romantic drama film[2] written and directed by Mani Ratnam, starring Arvind Swamy and Manisha Koirala. The film, primarily in Tamil and to a lesser extent Hindi,[3] tells the story of an inter-religious family in Bombay before and during the Bombay riots, which took place between December 1992 and January 1993 after the demolition of the Babri Masjid led to religious tensions between Hindu and Muslim communities. It is the second installment in Ratnam's trilogy of films that depict human relationships against a background of Indian politics, including Roja (1992) and Dil Se.. (1998).

Bombay was released on 10 March 1995. The film was well-received both critically and commercially successful. It was screened at many international film festivals including the Philadelphia Film Festival in 1996. The film's soundtrack earned composer A. R. Rahman his fourth consecutive Filmfare Best Music Director Award (Tamil), and is considered one of the greatest Indian soundtracks of all time.[4] However, the film caused considerable controversy upon release for its depiction of inter-religious relations between a Muslim woman and a Hindu man. The film was banned in Singapore and Malaysia upon release.

In July 2005, a book on the film by Lalitha Gopalan was published by BFI Modern Classics, looking at the film's production, the several issues it covered, and its impact upon release in India and abroad.[5][6] The film was ranked among the top 20 Indian films in the British Film Institute's rankings.[7]

Plot[edit | edit source]

Shekhar is the son of an orthodox Hindu Narayana Pillai living in a coastal village in Tamil Nadu. A journalism student studying in Bombay, Shekhar visits home to be with his family. On one of his return trips, he notices Shaila Banu, a Muslim schoolgirl in the village and falls in love with her. She happens to be his sister's friend. Initially shy, Shaila seeks to distance herself from Shekhar, but after frequent run-ins, and days of pursuit, Shaila begins to like Shekhar. Eventually, they both fall in love.

Shekhar meets Shaila's father, Basheer, and says he wants to marry Shaila. Basheer refuses, citing differences in religions. Shekhar reveals his interest to his father, who becomes angry, meets Basheer, and gets into an abusive argument with him. Upset with rejection from both families, Shekhar returns to Bombay. Through a friend of hers, he sends Shaila a letter and a ticket for her to travel to Bombay. However, she is undecided; Basheer learns of her regular letters from Shekhar and plans to get her married in order to stop this relationship from growing further. Left with no choice, Shaila leaves the village with the ticket Shekhar sent and reaches Bombay.

Shekhar and Shaila marry and lead a happy life. In a year, Shaila conceives and delivers twin boys who are named Kabir Narayan and Kamal Basheer. The twins are raised in both religions. Shekhar continues to work as a journalist, while Shaila takes care of her home and children. In six years, Shekhar and Shaila firmly settle down.

When the Babri Masjid is demolished on 6 December 1992, riots break out in Bombay. Kabir and Kamal, who had gone to buy groceries, get caught in the riots; eventually, Shekhar and Shaila save them and reach home safely. Narayana Pillai, who receives the news of the riots, rushes to Bombay to meet his son and his family. He reconciles with his son and everyone is happy with his arrival, and he stays with them. Soon, Basheer also comes with his wife and all of them live together happily for a few days. Both Pillai and Basheer are happy with their grandchildren; they try to get both into their religions and wish to be with them.

On 5 January 1993, when two murders are propagated as communal killings, another riot breaks out in Bombay, raising tensions between religious communities. Hindus and Muslims clash in the streets, resulting in hundreds of deaths on both sides. During the conflict, arsonists set fire to the apartment where Shekhar lives with his family. Shekhar tries to evacuate everyone, but Narayana Pillai, Basheer and his wife fail to escape in time and are killed in an explosion. In the confusion of the panicking crowds, Kamal and Kabir are separated from their parents.

Kamal is saved by a transgender woman who cares for him and protects him, while Kabir searches aimlessly for his brother. Shekhar and Shaila begin to search for them, and they go through several tense moments, as they check the morgues and hospitals for their children. Shekhar grows emotional and participates in the movement to stop the riots with other moderate religious leaders, ultimately succeeding. When the riots end, Shaila and Shekhar are reunited with their children tearfully as the people on the streets join hands, regardless of age or religion.

Cast[edit | edit source]

Additionally, Sonali Bendre and Nagendra Prasad appear in the item number "Humma Humma".[10][11]

Production[edit | edit source]

Development[edit | edit source]

During the recording of the background score of Mani Ratnam's Thiruda Thiruda (1993), the Bombay riots broke out. Mani Ratnam planned on making a film in Malayalam about a boy who gets lost in the riots, and requested M. T. Vasudevan Nair to write the script. This was supposed to be Mani Ratnam's second Malayalam film after Unaroo (1985). But since the idea did not materialise, he decided to make it in Tamil as the film that would later be titled Bombay.[12] According to Ratnam, Bombay was not originally planned as a political film: "It was a phase India was going through and these things affected me and found their way into my work."[13]

Casting[edit | edit source]

Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal, where "Kannalane" was shot.

Aishwarya Rai was considered for the female lead, but she opted out due to unavailability of dates, with the production schedules clashing with her Miss World pageant, a title she went on to win.[14] Mani Ratnam held a photoshoot for the film with Vikram and Manisha Koirala, but eventually excluded Vikram as he was unwilling to shave his beard and long hair that he had grown for the production of another film during the period, Pudhiya Mannargal (1994);[15] the role went to Arvind Swamy.[16][17] Koirala has stated that, though some people advised her against accepting the project since she had to play a mother, she did not listen as there were others who said "it'll be foolish to refuse a Mani Ratnam film".[18] Koirala's voice was dubbed by Rohini.[19] Nassar, a Muslim in real life, was cast as the father of Swamy's character (a Hindu) while Kitty, a Hindu in real life, was cast as the father of Koirala's character (a Muslim). Ratnam deliberately cast them in those roles as a statement.[8][20] Twins Harsha and Hriday were chosen to play the protagonists' twin sons, from over 70 twins that the director saw but was not impressed. Bombay remains Harsha's only release.[21][22]

Filming[edit | edit source]

When Ratnam approached cinematographer Rajiv Menon to shoot Bombay, he described it as a film about the riots and said that he (Menon) needed to "(make what came before) the riots as beautiful as possible". So Menon suggested shooting in the rains to achieve the effect. They shot the interiors of homes in Pollachi in Tamil Nadu and the exteriors were shot in Kasaragod, and Kannur village in Kerala.[23] The song "Kannalane" was shot at Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal,[24] and "Uyire" was shot at Bekal Fort.[25] The demolition of the Babri Masjid was shown onscreen through newspaper headlines and photographs, as the Censor Board did not want the makers to show the actual destruction.[26][27]

Themes and influences[edit | edit source]

Mani Ratnam described Bombay as "a positive film about communal harmony". He said the Bombay riots were not the main focus of the film, but "a helpless, innocent man caught up in violence not of his own making."[8] The film is the second installment in Ratnam's trilogy of films that depict human relationships against a background of Indian politics, including Roja (1992) and Dil Se.. (1998).[28] Bangalore Mirror compared it to the theme of the 1990 movie Come See the Paradise.[29]

Soundtrack[edit | edit source]

Main article: Bombay (soundtrack)

The soundtrack album for Bombay was composed by A. R. Rahman, in his third collaboration with Mani Ratnam after Roja and Thiruda Thiruda. The lyrics for the Tamil version were written by Vairamuthu, except "Humma Humma" and "Halla Gulla" written by Vaali. The soundtrack of the film became one of the best-selling Indian music albums of all time, with sales of 15 million units.[30][31] The soundtrack was included in The Guardian's "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die" list,[32] and the song "Kannalanae" sung by K. S. Chithra was included in their "1000 Songs Everyone Must Hear" list.[33] "Bombay Theme" has appeared in various international films and music compilations, while the songs "Kannalanae" and "Bombay Theme" have been sampled by various international artists.

Release[edit | edit source]

Bombay was released on 10 March 1995.[34] The Telugu-dubbed version was released on the same day.[35] It was previously scheduled to release in January 1995, during Pongal.[36] The film caused considerable controversy upon release in India and abroad for its depiction of inter-religious relations between a Muslim woman and a Hindu man.[37][38] The film was banned in Singapore and Malaysia upon release. Two homemade bombs were thrown at the house of Mani Ratnam by Radical Islamist terrorists, Mani Ratnam had to be hospitalised with shrapnel injuries.[39]

Reception[edit | edit source]

Box office[edit | edit source]

The Hindi dubbed version of the film grossed ₹140 million (equivalent to ₹670 million or US$9.4 million in 2019), as reported by Box Office India, making it one of the year's ten highest-grossing Hindi films.[40]

Critical reception[edit | edit source]

Ananda Vikatan, in a review dated 19 March 1995, rated the film 53 out of 100.[41] Anand Kannan, writing for Planet Bollywood, said, "I wouldn't call this the best of Mani Ratnam [...] But good acting, a socially conscious theme and a quick pace make the movie well worth watching."[42] In 1996, American critic James Berardinelli rated the film 3.5 out of 4 and said, "Largely because of their limited North American appeal and dubious quality, Indian movies are routinely ignored by distributors [...] Occasionally, however, a worthwhile picture causes enough people to take notice that it becomes a favorite on the international film festival circuit. One such movie is Bombay, the fourteenth feature from celebrated director Mani Rathnam." He concluded, "Director Rathnam has shown great courage in making this picture (bombs were thrown at his house after it opened in India), which speaks with a voice that many will not wish to hear. Bombay recalls how forceful a motion picture can be."[43] R. P. R. of Kalki wrote that with far cry from average cinema, this film raises a thousand questions about social morality, not just Mani Ratnam; it has given every Indian a chance to be proud.[44]

Accolades[edit | edit source]

Award[lower-alpha 1] Date of ceremony[lower-alpha 2] Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Cinema Express Awards 1995 Best Film – Tamil Bombay – Mani Ratnam Won [45]
Best Director – Tamil Mani Ratnam Won
Best Actor (Special Award) Arvind Swamy Won
Best Actress (Special Award) Manisha Koirala Won
Best Lyricist – Tamil Vairamuthu Won
Best Female Playback Singer – Tamil K. S. Chithra Won
Edinburgh International Film Festival 1996 Gala Award Bombay – Mani Ratnam Won
Filmfare Awards 2 March 1996 Critics Award for Best Film Bombay – Mani Ratnam[lower-alpha 3] Won [46]
Critics Award for Best Actress Manisha Koirala[lower-alpha 4] Won [48]
Filmfare Awards South 14 September 1996 Best Film – Tamil Bombay – S. Sriram Won [49]
Best Director – Tamil Mani Ratnam Won
Best Actress – Tamil Manisha Koirala Won
Best Music Director – Tamil A. R. Rahman Won
Jerusalem Film Festival 4–13 July 1996 Honorable Mention Bombay – Mani Ratnam Won [50]
Matri Shree Media Award 6 May 1996 Best Film Mani Ratnam Won [51]
National Film Awards 6 August 1996 Best Feature Film on National Integration Producer: Mani Ratnam and S. Sriram
Director: Mani Ratnam 		Won [52]
Best Editing Suresh Urs Won
Political Film Society 1996 Special Award Bombay – Mani Ratnam Won [citation needed]
Tamil Nadu State Film Awards 1997 Best Lyricist Vairamuthu[lower-alpha 5] Won [53]
Best Female Playback Singer K. S. Chithra – (for "Kannalane") Won

Bibliography[edit | edit source]

  • Gopalan, Lalitha (2019) [2005]. Bombay. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-0-85170-956-7.
  • Rangan, Baradwaj (2012). Conversations with Mani Ratnam. India: Penguin Books. ISBN 978-0-670-08520-0.

Notes[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Awards, festivals and organizations are in alphabetical order.
  2. ↑ Date is linked to the article about the awards held that year, wherever possible.
  3. ↑ The only dubbed film to win the award.
  4. ↑ Koirala is the only actress who has won the award for a non-Hindi film as Bombay was dubbed in Hindi.[47]
  5. ↑ also for Muthu.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Rangan 2012, p. 292.
  2. ↑ "Bombay". The Times of India. 30 May 2008. Retrieved 13 August 2013.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  3. ↑ Sinha, Seema (8 January 1995). "Police officials turn censors for Mani Ratnam's Bombay". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 8 July 2025. Retrieved 26 May 2025.
  4. ↑ "Sound of Cinema: 20 Greatest Soundtracks". BBC Music. BBC. 19 August 2014. Archived from the original on 9 April 2019. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  5. ↑ "BFI Books: Bombay: The film". BFI.org.uk. July 2005. Archived from the original on 27 October 2007. Retrieved 1 February 2007.
  6. ↑ "Bombay (film): BFI Modern Classics". University of California Press. July 2005. Archived from the original on 7 January 2007. Retrieved 1 February 2007.
  7. ↑ "Top 10 Indian Films". BFI. 17 July 2007. Archived from the original on 3 August 2004. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Rai, Saritha (15 January 1995). "Mani Ratnams Bombay views communalism through eyes of common man". India Today. Archived from the original on 15 September 2017. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
  9. ↑ Rahul, N. (17 May 2019). "Rallapalli dead". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 19 May 2019. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
  10. ↑ "1997–98'ன் கோடம்பாக்கக் குஞ்சுகள்" [1997–98 Kodambakkam babies]. Indolink. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  11. ↑ "AR Rahman birthday special: Five most popular songs by Mozart of Madras". Mumbai Mirror. 6 January 2017. Archived from the original on 21 September 2017. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
  12. ↑ Rangan 2012, p. 147.
  13. ↑ Melwani, Lavina (26 September 2015). "Up close and personal with Mani Ratnam". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 27 September 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  14. ↑ Melwani, Lavina (26 September 2015). "Did you know? Aishwarya Rai Versus Manisha Koirala". Mid-Day. Archived from the original on 27 September 2015. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
  15. ↑ Rangan, Baradwaj (1 December 2013). "Man of Steel". The Caravan. Archived from the original on 8 January 2015. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  16. ↑ Gopalan 2019, p. 22.
  17. ↑ Balachandran, Logesh (4 August 2020). "Tuesday Trivia, Bombay: Communal riots post Babri Masjid demolition to Vikram opting out". India Today. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  18. ↑ "Don't want to overwork myself, says Manisha Koirala". Press Trust of India. 24 June 2018. Archived from the original on 19 August 2022. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  19. ↑ Srinivasan, Meera (12 July 2010). "Success of dubbing artist lies in not letting audience know who you are". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 1 October 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  20. ↑ Rangan 2012, p. 158.
  21. ↑ "From Bombay to Chennai: Actor Hridayraaj". The New Indian Express. 5 September 2011. Archived from the original on 7 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  22. ↑ "A child star's journey". The Hindu. 11 February 2012. Archived from the original on 15 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  23. ↑ "Shot breakdown". Time Out. Mumbai. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
  24. ↑ Teena, L (29 April 2012). "Thirumalai Nayakar Mahal gets a facelift". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 17 February 2017. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
  25. ↑ Aishwarya, S. (3 July 2010). "Indian locations provide stunning backdrops for film shoots". The Hindu. Retrieved 21 September 2017.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  26. ↑ Rangan 2012, p. 146.
  27. ↑ "Bombay: The Making of the Most Controversial film of the Decade" (PDF). Sunday. 2–8 April 1995. pp. 75–84. Retrieved 7 June 2024 – via Internet Archive.
  28. ↑ Pillai, Sreedhar (29 June 2008). "Tryst with terrorism". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 23 June 2016. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
  29. ↑ "Bypassing copycats, Sandalwood style". Bangalore Mirror. 29 January 2012. Archived from the original on 9 October 2016. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
  30. ↑ "The "Mozart of Madras" AR Rahman is Performing LIVE in Australia". SBS. 14 February 2017. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  31. ↑ Gupta, Surajeet Das; Sen, Soumik (21 September 2002). "A R Rahman: Composing a winning score". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 15 October 2008. Retrieved 21 September 2002.
  32. ↑ "100 Best Albums Ever". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 3 February 2010. Retrieved 3 February 2010.
  33. ↑ "1000 songs everyone must hear; Part one: Love". The Guardian. 14 March 2009. Archived from the original on 27 March 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2023. Songs about love across the barricades delivered in a coquettish fashion are something of a staple in Bollywood. Which is why Kehna Hi Kya by AR Rahman is all the more extraordinary. With its extravagant vocal gymnastics and qawwali-esqe devotional wails, this tale of inter-religious attraction set a new standard and leaves you in no doubt that Rahman deserves his India's greatest living composer tag.
  34. ↑ Ramnath, Nandini (1 December 2020). "A war for love: Mani Ratnam's 'Bombay' explored an inter-faith marriage battered by bigotry". Scroll.in. Archived from the original on 9 July 2022. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  35. ↑ Gopalan 2019, p. 28.
  36. ↑ சரண்யா, அருண் (15 January 1995). "பொங்கல் ரிலீஸ் – பம்பர் அறுவடை!". Kalki (in தமிழ்). pp. 62–63. Retrieved 29 February 2024 – via Internet Archive.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  37. ↑ "Mani Ratnam's film Bombay invites critical acclaim and howls of protest". India Today. 15 April 1995. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  38. ↑ Chandra, A. (30 April 1995). "Mani Ratnam's film 'Bombay' incenses Muslim leaders of city". India Today. Archived from the original on 19 August 2022. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  39. ↑ "Movie Director Injured By Bomb; Police Blame Muslim Extremists". Associated Press. 10 July 1995. Archived from the original on 19 August 2022. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  40. ↑ "Box Office 1995". Box Office India. Archived from the original on 17 October 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  41. ↑ "சினிமா விமர்சனம்: பம்பாய்" [Movie Review: Bombay]. Ananda Vikatan (in தமிழ்). 19 March 1995.
  42. ↑ Kannan, Anand. "Bombay". Planet Bollywood. Archived from the original on 11 July 2001. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
  43. ↑ Berardenelli, James (1996). "Bombay". ReelViews. Retrieved 30 October 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  44. ↑ ஆர். பி. ஆர் (26 March 1995). "பம்பாய்". Kalki (in தமிழ்). p. 1. Retrieved 30 March 2023 – via Internet Archive.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  45. ↑ "List Accolades Received by Films Produced Under Madras Talkies". Madras Talkies. Archived from the original on 14 May 2006. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  46. ↑ "Critics Award for Best Film Winners 1970–1999". Indiatimes. The Times Group. Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  47. ↑ "Filmfare Awards 2019: Inclusion of Critics' Choice category doesn't hold water in times when content is the king". Firstpost. 25 March 2019. Archived from the original on 23 July 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  48. ↑ "Critics Award for Best Performer Winners 1990–1999". Indiatimes. The Times Group. Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  49. ↑ "The 43rd Filmfare Awards South 1996 Winners". Filmfare. The Times Group. Archived from the original on 28 April 1997. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  50. ↑ "Jerusalem Film Festival 1996". Jerusalem Film Festival. Archived from the original on 23 July 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  51. ↑ "1996 : 20th Matri Shree Awards". The Indian Express. 21 September 2013. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013 – via Readwhere.
  52. ↑ "43rd National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 January 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  53. ↑ "1997 Highlights". Dinakaran. Archived from the original on 15 June 1998. Retrieved 23 July 2021.

External links[edit | edit source]

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