‘Delhi 6’ was released in 2009. At that time, many people did not understand the film. It did not do well at the box office. But slowly, over the years, people started talking about it again. Many now feel the film was honest and brave. Director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra feels the same. He believes the film asked hard questions about society. But he also feels that people were not ready for it then. Even now, he feels the same way.
The shocking opening scene
Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra revealed in an interview with SCREEN that the original version of ‘Delhi 6’ was completely unique. In that version, Abhishek Bachchan’s character dies at the very start. He explained it clearly. He said, “The original film opens with the ashes immersion of Abhishek’s character in the Ganges. And over that, a voiceover comes, in Abhishek’s voice, saying, ‘These are my ashes.’ That’s how the story begins, and in the very opening frame you are told that your hero is dead.”
This version was never released in India. Mehra still has it with him.
The Venice cut and global praise
Omprakash Mehra calls this version the Venice cut or the director’s cut. He said this was the version shown at the Venice Film Festival. He shared his memory and said, “That’s the original version. I still have it with me. That’s the one that went to the Venice Film Festival. They saw the film, they freaked out, they said ‘wow,’ and they gave it a lovely reception out there.”He also added that a popular magazine gave it a front page and called it “(un)Bollywood.” This made the moment very special for him as a filmmaker.
Why the ending was changed
Omprakash Mehra also spoke honestly about why he changed the film for Indian release. He did not hide his feelings. He said, “Out of foolishness. Sheer foolishness. We filmmakers are foolish people, mad, foolish, all of that.”He explained that many people asked him to leave some hope in the film. He said, “Everybody who saw the cut said, ‘Leave it with some hope,’ and all that. And I fell for it. I shouldn’t have.”Even today, he feels that decision was a mistake
Is India ready now?
When asked if he would release the original cut now, Mehra sounded unsure. He said, “I don’t know; I really don’t. If I were to re-release, I still feel the time isn’t right. I still feel the nation hasn’t evolved; in fact, we have gone down the hole in many ways.”He added that while India has grown in some areas, it has also fallen back in others. ‘Delhi 6’ may have failed once. But today, it stands as a film that dared to speak early.
Want to rewatch ‘Delhi 6’?
Check out what the ETimes review said. Our review reads, “Abhishek Bachchan proves he’s in crackling, quicksilver form as the ‘burger-chaap’ Amrikan who tells his bustee wallahs to ‘get real.’ Rahman’s Masakali music has already become a chartbuster, even as veterans like Waheeda and Rishi reiterate the truism about old being absolute gold. Watch it for the message of ‘Delhi 6’ and the ekdum desi India-feel.”
