Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; May 31, 2017)

The title track of Raj Kapoor's 1951 classic, Awaara, is set to be reprised in Madhur Bhandarkar's upcoming short film, Mumbai Mist, and will serve as the background score for crucial scenes. This is Madhur's way of paying tribute to the legendary actor-filmmaker, whose 29th death anniversary is on June 2.

"Awaara Hoon is my favourite track and is popular internationally. It fit the subject of the film. Instead of recreating it, I have used the original track with due permission," Madhur says. The song, written by Shailendra, was sung by Mukesh and composed by Shankar Jaikishan.

Mumbai Mist, starring Annu Kapoor, Parvin Dabas and child artiste Devrath Mudgal, revolves around the relationship between an old man and an orphaned child. The film is part of a directors' collaboration project for the Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa (BRICS) Film Festival in China, which will take place from June 23 to 27.

Madhur will represent India alongside globally-feted storytellers, including Brazilian filmmaker Walter Salles, Chinese director-screenwriter Jia Zhangke, Russian storyteller Aleksey Fedorchenko and South African director Jahmil XT Qubeka. Each will present an 18-minute short on 'Where has the time gone' theme, which will be compiled into a feature film and screened at the festival, followed by a theatrical release in China.

Madhur adds, "Awaara Hoon is a huge hit in Russia and China. Singers still render the song. That's why I chose it."

Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 23, 2017)

Mirror (April 18) had earlier reported that for the upcoming BRICS Film Festival to be held in China in June, five filmmakers from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa have come together to make five 18-minute shorts on the theme of ‘Where has the time gone’ that will be screened as an anthology. Madhur Bhandarkar, who will represent India, has roped in Annu Kapoor and child artiste Devrath Mudgal to play the leads in his short, titled Mumbai Mist.

“Our story revolves around an upper middle-class man played by Annu who befriends an 11-year-old ragpicker. It’s a sweet, emotional story written by Sanjay Chhel and Priyanka Ghatak,” reveals the 48-year-old filmmaker, whose film will be screened alongside globally-feted storytellers like Brazil's Walter Salles (of The Motorcycle Diaries fame), Chinese director-screenwriter Jia Zhangke, Russian storyteller Aleksey Fedorchenko and South African filmmaker Jahmil XT Qubeka.

Madhur shot the film in South Mumbai over five days. Japanese DOP Keiko Nakahara who worked with him on his upcoming feature, Indu Sarkar, shot this one too. Madhur, who had always wanted to work with Annu, is gung-ho about the 61-year-old actor who shared a great chemistry with his younger co-star. “The film will make you smile and cry too,” he promises.

The film premieres on June 23, followed by a theatrical release in China in September. It will be unveiled in other countries thereafter. The Motorcycle Diaries is one of his favourite films and Madhur is looking forward to meeting Walter, as also the other filmmakers, and seeing their shorts.