CityLights (2014 film)

CityLights
Directed by Hansal Mehta
Produced by Mukesh Bhatt
Screenplay by Ritesh Shah
Based on Metro Manila 
by Sean Ellis
Starring Rajkummar Rao
Patralekha
Music by Songs:
Jeet Ganguly
Background score:
Raju Singh
Cinematography Dev Agarwal
Edited by Apurva Asrani
Production
company
Distributed by Fox Star Studios
Release dates
  • 30 May 2014
Running time
 126 minutes
Country India
Language Hindi
Rajasthani
Budget INR7 crore (US$1.1 million)
Box office INR35 crore (US$5.6 million)(Lifetime)[1][2]

CityLights is a 2014 Indian drama film directed by Hansal Mehta starring Rajkummar Rao and Patralekha in the lead roles. It is a remake of the BAFTA nominated British film Metro Manila (2013).[3] The film was presented by Fox Star Studios in association with Mahesh Bhatt and Mukesh Bhatt.[4]

The story is about a poor farmer from Rajasthan coming to Mumbai in search of livelihood.[5] The film released on 30 May 2014, and won rave reviews from most critics. In spite of releasing in just 350 screens, CityLights became a success due to its low cost of production and consistent collections at the box office.[6]

Plot

An ex-Army driver who owns a garment store, Deepak Singh's life is tangled in the midst of poverty, hope and despair. Deepak's family consists of his ever-supporting wife and his little daughter. They tag along his journey to Mumbai as he is unable to repay money he owes on his store. With no contacts and addresses, except that of his friend, Omkar, Deepak takes extreme measures when stepping to Mumbai while searching for him.

He is easily tricked by two con-men who sold him a Flat for 10,000 RS, only to find out while searching them for the documents. With no details on them, the Mumbai police refuse to file an F.I.R. His wife meets an escort working at a night bar who provides them an unconstructed flat for time being and convinces her to be a bar dancer till Deepak becomes stable.

Deepak gets hired as driver for a security bureau with a monthly pay of 15,000 Rs. Deepak's senior realizes that he is far too innocent and forces him with a plan to loot a box filled with cash.

Cast

CityLights marked actress Anwita Paul's debut, known by her screen name Patralekha. As Paul was in a relationship with the lead actor Rao, the production house did not disclose her name until the trailer was released. When press kept questioning about the lead actress, the filmmakers dismissed the question by calling her a "new girl from FTII".[7]

Production

While the film was originally set to be directed by Ajay Bahl, due to creative differences he was replaced by Hansal Mehta.[8] In December 2013, it was announced that shooting would begin in Rajasthan.[4][9]

The film was first scheduled to release on May 1, 2014, which was subsequently shifted to May 30.[10] On May 5, 26 minutes of footage was previewed at a Mumbai event.[4]

Soundtrack

Citylights
Soundtrack album by Jeet Gannguli
Genre Feature Film Soundtrack
Label Sony Music India
Producer Mukesh Bhatt
Jeet Gannguli chronology

Youngistaan
(2014)		 Citylights
(2014)		 Singham Returns
(2014)

The soundtrack was composed by Jeet Ganguly with lyrics by Rashmi Singh. Rashmi Singh received Best Lyricist award at the 60th Filmfare Awards for her lyrics to the song "Muskurane."[11]

Track listing

No. TitleSinger(s) Length
1. "Muskurane"  Arijit Singh 5:34
2. "Darbadar"  Neeti Mohan 4:22
3. "Ek Charraiya"  Arijit Singh 4:46
4. "Citylights (Title Song)"  Ustad Rashid Khan 3:23
5. "Soney Do"  Arijit Singh 4:27
6. "Ek Charraiya (Unplugged)"  Jeet Gannguli 4:47
7. "Muskurane (Unplugged)"  Mohammad Irfan 4:59

Critical reception

Sweta Kaushal writes in a Hindustan Times review that Hansal Mehta's direction makes Citylights "intensely gripping and thought-provoking, the interplay of emotions and how the couple copes with city's hardships are the high points of the film." [12]

Box office

It released with a low opening but picked up soon and became a hit at the box office. Shah Rukh Khan said in praise of Citylights that, "I never thought that the film which was made on a small budget could earn five times more than it was made at. Patrlakha is the Katrina of tomorrow and Rajkumar Rao will be a better star than me one day." The director was also shocked with its impressive collection and thanked audience for making it a huge hit. The commercial and critical success made Citylights a modern cult hit.

References

External links