Om-Dar-Ba-Dar(1988)
'Om-Dar-B-Dar' (1988) is a Hindi-language avant-garde film directed by Kamal Swaroop. The lead cast includes Anita Kanwar, Lalit Tiwari, and Aditya Lakhia. The story follows a teenage boy named Om in a small Indian village who experiences a series of surreal and nonsensical events. The film is a satire of traditional Indian village life and mainstream Bollywood cinema. It was produced by the National Film Development Corporation of India (NFDC). The movie is considered a pioneer of Indian avant-garde cinema and has developed a strong cult following. It is available for free streaming on YouTube in high definition.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- NFDC Amazon Channel, YouTube, Internet Archive
- Theatrical Release
- 9 January 1988
- Director
- Kamal Swaroop
- Language
- Hindi
- Runtime
- 1h 40m
- Rating
- 4.2/10
Storyline
A teenage boy named Om lives in a boring Indian village. He hates his strict father and the repetitive village life. Strange events begin to happen. Om tries to escape through his imagination. But reality keeps pulling him back. He must find his own path in a world that makes no sense.
“A carefully constructed nonsense.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Trivia
- The film was shot in the real-life town of Pushkar, known for its annual camel fair and sacred lake.
- Kamal Swaroop made the film with a grant from India's National Film Development Corporation after years of struggling to find funding.
- The movie was initially rejected by major film festivals in India and only gained a cult following years after its release.
- It features a cameo by actor Aditya Srivastava, who later became famous for his role in the TV series 'CID'.
- The soundtrack includes a song that mixes traditional Indian music with electronic sounds, which was unusual for its time.
- The film's title 'Om Dar-B-Dar' roughly translates to 'Om here and there,' reflecting its non-linear, surreal plot.
- Many of the film's bizarre props, like giant frogs and astrological charts, were created by local artisans in Pushkar.