Pran Jaye Par Shaan Na Jaye(2003)
Pran Jaye Par Shaan Na Jaye is a 2003 Indian Hindi-language black comedy film directed by Sanjay Jha. The film stars Raveena Tandon, Namrata Shirodkar, Rinke Khanna, Divya Dutta, Dia Mirza, and Shweta Menon in lead roles. It is set in a Mumbai chawl where residents face eviction by a greedy builder. The story follows the lives of several women who struggle with poverty, domestic abuse, and personal dreams while fighting to keep their homes. The film is notable for its satirical tone, blending humor with social commentary on gender roles and urban development. It was released on May 2, 2003 in India.
Quick Facts
- Theatrical Release
- 1 January 2003
- Director
- Sanjay Manjerekar
- Language
- Hindi
- Runtime
- 2h 17m
- Rating
- 5.5/10
Storyline
A greedy builder wants to destroy a Mumbai chawl to build a shopping mall. The residents refuse to leave. A young man arrives pretending to be a researcher, but he is actually a spy for the builder. The women of the chawl must discover the truth and unite to save their homes and their honor.
“Honor is worth more than life”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Trivia
- The film was originally titled 'Chawl' but was renamed to 'Praan Jaye Par Shaan Na Jaye' before release.
- Director Sanjay Jha was a first-time filmmaker, and this was his only major Hindi directorial credit.
- The movie's title is a twist on a popular Hindi proverb, 'Praan jaye par vachan na jaye', meaning 'Life may go, but a promise must be kept'.
- Actress Divya Mirza, playing Saundarya, was relatively new to films, having started her career in modeling and music videos.
- The film's setting in a Mumbai chawl aimed to portray the lives of lower-middle-class families, a common theme in 2000s indie dramas.
- Despite its dramatic plot, the movie had a very limited theatrical release and is not widely remembered today.
- The story explores themes of gentrification and community displacement, relevant to Mumbai's ongoing urban changes.