ROAD TO SANGAM---THE REVIEW

Road to Sangam will remind you what is patriotism. The film is a journey of one Hasmat Bhai (Paresh Rawal) who is torn between his faithfulness towards his own community and his professional duty. Written and directed by debutant Amit Rai, Road to Sangam is a thought provoking film that will inspire you to sit up and think why people fight in the name of religion? Why people are divided on the line of religion and commuity? To what extent wily politicians can stoop to gain political mileage?

Hasmat Bhai (Paresh Rawal) is a mechanic engineer and is also the general secretary to the local Mosque Committee in Allahabad, U.P. He has been assigned the work of repairing an old Ford car. The condition of the car is bad and he and his small team starts working on it without knowing its historic significance. It was the car that transported the ashes of Mahatma Gandhi to be immersed at the Sangam (where the rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati meet). However, after a bomb blast in the city, Hamat life is going to change forever. Police pick suspects randomly for the blast and all of them happens to be Muslims youth who had no criminal background. The community decides to protest the arrest by shutting down shops. At this point of time Hasmat is in dilemma whether to continue with his work or stop his work and show his solidarity and support to his community. But after much consideration, he decides to continue to repair the car inviting much ire and ridicule from his close friends, President Nawab Kasuri (Om Puri), Maulana Qureshi (Pawan Malhotra) and his community.

Road to Sangam is Hasmat Bhai’s trials to complete the daunting task in the face of opposition and being labeled as betrayer. The path that he has chosen is laden with thorns and he must tread carefully and unwavering courage to reach his destination.

Road to Sangam is unlike any masala entertainer. But it is a film that will compel you to do some soul searching. Till date, Paresh Rawal acting is the best. He has shown what an incredible actor he is in Road to Sangam. No doubt, no one could have step in the shoes of Hasmat Bhai other than Paresh. Pavan Malhotra as the instigating Maulvi is mind blowing. His performance is too powerful to be ignored. The veteran actor, Om Puri as expected has done good acting, though he doesn’t get much scope.

If you haven’t watched Road to Sangam, I am sure you won’t mind booking your ticket right now after reading this review. Watch it and I bet you won’t regret it!


Starring : Paresh Rawal, Shaikh, Pavan Malhotra, Swati Chitnis, Masood Akhtar, Yusuf Hussain, G.P.Singh, Rajan Bhise and Tushar Gandhi
Release Date : 29th Jan, 2010
Language : Hindi