1232 KMS is a 2021 Indian Hindi-language documentary film directed by Vinod Kapri.[1] It chronicles the Indian migrant workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of the lockdown on them.[2][3] The film was released on Disney+ Hotstar on 24 March 2021.[4]
| 1232 KMS | |
|---|---|
 Promotional poster | |
| Directed by | Vinod Kapri |
| Written by | Vinod Kapri |
| Produced by |
|
| Cinematography | Manav Yadav |
| Edited by | Hemanti Sarkar |
| Music by | Vishal Bhardwaj |
Production company | Bhagirathi Films |
| Distributed by | Disney+ Hotstar |
Release date |
|
Running time | 86 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Hindi |
Production
editIn March 2020, India went into a nationwide lockdown to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. During that time, Kapri was helping seven migrant labourers from Ghaziabad with food and other essentials.[5] But they would keep calling him after 3–4 days felt it was "embarrassing".[6] The next time the ration ran out, they decided to leave for their village in Saharsa which was 1232 km away from Ghaziabad.[6] On 27 April, seven of them had left. Kapri left with his associate director Manav Yadav in a car the next morning and found them near Sambhal.[6]
Kapri said "I advised them not to move out, holding them on for two weeks. When they decided to leave for Bihar, I wanted to document their journey."[7] Over the next week, the labourers traveled to their village on bicycles and hitchhiked trucks with minuscule money. Kapri felt that society failed them during the crisis, "these people build our homes, but when there was a crisis, we ignored them. This documentary gives them a face and tells their story".[7] Kapri shot the film with his assistant, without a proper crew.[7]
Music
edit| 1232 KMS | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by | ||||
| Released | 28 March 2021 | |||
| Genre | Soundtrack | |||
| Length | 12:25 | |||
| Label | VB Music | |||
| Producer | Vishal Bhardwaj | |||
| Vishal Bhardwaj chronology | ||||
| ||||
Vinod Kapri contacted Vishal Bhardwaj to work on the background score after watching the documentary, as he insisted to support the cause "musically and lyrically".[5] For this documentary, Vishal composed "Marenge Toh Wahin Jaakar" and "O Re Bidesiya" with Gulzar writing the lyrics. Gulzar initially had written a poem on the plight of the migrant labourers which he tweaked to make it lyrical.[5] The album released on 28 March 2021, featured three tracks; one being a reprised version of "O Re Bidesiya". Sukhwinder Singh, Vishal and Rekha Bhardwaj contributed the vocals.[8]
| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Marenge To Wahin Jaakar" | Sukhwinder Singh, Vishal Bhardwaj | 4:16 |
| 2. | "O Re Bidesiya" | Rekha Bhardwaj | 3:40 |
| 3. | "O Re Bidesiya (Reprise)" | Sukhwinder Singh, Vishal Bhardwaj | 4:29 |
| Total length: | 12:25 | ||
Release
editThe official trailer of 1232 KMS was released on YouTube on 17 March 2021,[9] and opened to positive response from critics and viewers.[10][11] The film was released through Disney+ Hotstar on 24 March 2021,[12] as the announcement of the nationwide lockdown to curb COVID-19 pandemic, happened on the same date.[13][a]
Reception
editTatsam Mukherjee of Firstpost opined "In a country, where most news channels with far-reaching impact have let this crisis unfold in the background without any coverage, 1232 km lies in an enviable position without a contemporary film tackling a similar theme."[14] Nandini Ramnath writing for Scroll.in said, "The 86-minute documentary is a timely reminder of the perilous journeys of migrants during the 2020 lockdown".[13] Giving 4 out of 5 stars, Roktim Rajpal of Deccan Herald stated 1232 KMS documentary is "hard-hitting" and a wise approach as it makes the documentary a lot more relatable.[15] Shubham Kulkarni of Koimoi stated "It isn't just another documentary that's preachy and self-indulgent. It is an effort to show you what the pandemic looked like for the people neglected."[16] Film critic Rhea Srivatsava gave 3 out of 5 in her review for LetsOTT stating "The film deserves one watch, even if it is to get off our privileged positions and see the damage and devastation of the pandemic beyond people's lives because it is one that will linger on for the unforeseeable future."[17]
Roktim Rajpal from Deccan Chronicle gave a rating of 4/5.[18] Amar Ujala rated the film 4/5.[19]
Notes
edit- ^ The nationwide lockdown to curb COVID-19 was announced by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 24 March 2020.
References
edit- ^ Puri, Nikita (30 May 2020). "Vinod Kapri filmed migrants who cycled from Delhi to their Bihar village". Business Standard. Archived from the original on 8 August 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
- ^ "Vinod Kapri's documentary '1232 Kilometers' to release soon on Hotstar: SBS Originals". ABP News. 19 March 2021. Archived from the original on 4 November 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
- ^ Farzeen, Sana (16 March 2021). "1232 KMS trailer: Vinod Kapri's film brings alive the plight of migrant workers during lockdown". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 16 March 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
- ^ "1232 KM: Vinod Kapri shares teaser of film based on migrant labourers during COVID-19 lockdown". Free Press Journal. 16 March 2021. Archived from the original on 18 March 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
- ^ a b c Kaur, Gurnaaz (21 March 2021). "Vinod Kapri's documentary titled 1232KMS narrates the ordeal of the migrant workers". The Express Tribune. Archived from the original on 4 November 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
- ^ a b c "'To Understand These Brave People,' Filmmaker Travels 1,200 Km With Seven Migrant Labourers". Outlook. 6 May 2020. Archived from the original on 24 September 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
- ^ a b c "Vinod Kapri on 1232 KMS: Hope people realise their lack of empathy". Mid Day. 20 March 2021. Archived from the original on 20 March 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
- ^ "Gulzar, Vishal Bhardwaj come up with two songs for documentary 1232KMS". Outlook India. Archived from the original on 1 May 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
- ^ "'1232 Kms' trailer: Documentary captures the journeys of migrants during the 2020 lockdown". Scroll.in. 16 March 2021. Archived from the original on 1 May 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
- ^ "1232 KMS trailer: Vinod Kapri's film brings alive the plight of migrant workers during lockdown". The Indian Express. 17 March 2021. Archived from the original on 16 March 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
- ^ Entertainment, Quint (17 March 2021). "Trailer of Vinod Kapri's '1232 KMS' Released by Hotstar". TheQuint. Archived from the original on 1 May 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
- ^ "Watch: Trailer of Vinod Kapri's 1232 KMS, a documentary on migrant exodus during lockdown, film to be out on March 24 through Disney+ Hotstar". Firstpost. 17 March 2021. Archived from the original on 16 March 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
- ^ a b Ramnath, Nandini (24 March 2021). "'1232 KMS' review: A timely reminder of the perilous journeys of migrants during the 2020 lockdown". Scroll.in. Archived from the original on 24 March 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
- ^ "1232 kms review: Vinod Kapri's documentary on migrant labourers lays the truth bare". Firstpost. 25 March 2021. Archived from the original on 1 May 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
- ^ "'1232 Kms' review: A hard-hitting documentary on the plight of migrant workers during the Covid-19 lockdown". Deccan Herald. 25 March 2021. Archived from the original on 1 May 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
- ^ "1232 KMS Movie Review: In Vinod Kapri's Satirical Documentary The Have-Nots Tell Their Story Of The Pandemic & The Privileged Must Listen". Koimoi. 24 March 2021. Archived from the original on 1 May 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
- ^ "1232 KMS Disney+ Hotstar Original Documentary Review". LetsOTT. Archived from the original on 27 March 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
- ^ Rajpal, Roktim. "'1232 Kms' review: A hard-hitting documentary on the plight of migrant workers during the Covid-19 lockdown". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
- ^ "1232 Kms Review: सात दिन और सात रातों की इक उम्र, मरेंगे तो वहीं जाकर, जहां पर जिंदगी है..." Amar Ujala (in Hindi). Retrieved 5 October 2024.