Aamir Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan starrer Laal Singh Chaddha is all set to hit the theatres on August 11. The movie’s songs have started to create a sensation, with Kareena already declaring Phir Na Aisi Raat Ayegi as the ‘song of the decade’. The movie’s trailer also created quite a stir upon its release. For the uninitiated, Laal Singh Chaddha is the official Hindi remake of the 1994 American film Forrest Gump, starring Tom Hanks, which itself happened to be based on Winston Groom’s novel of the same name. When the trailer of Laal Singh Chaddha released, while many fans were ecstatic to see Aamir and Kareena on screen after so long, some Forrest Gump fans couldn’t be more disappointed, going to the extent of calling Aamir’s latest a really bad ‘spoof’ of the 1994 classic. One of the scenes that was particularly talked about was where Aamir could be seen eating Gol Gappas in a train compartment, likening the popular street food to life.
Gol Gappas In Aamir Khan’s Laal Singh Chaddha Spark A Food War
Aamir says, “Maa kehti thi zindagi golgappe ki tarah hoti hai, pet bhale bharjawe, mann nahi bharta (Mother used to say life was like golgappa. Your tummy might be full but your heart never is). Now, for those who have watched Forrest Gump, you would recall the classic dialogue by Tom Hanks, “Mama said, life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get". Forrest was very close to his mother, especially since Forrest was ‘special’. As a child, Forrest struggled to walk, but later on, he not only fought the Vietnam War, but also became an award-winning athlete, all because his mother taught him to be optimistic no matter what, comparing every obstacle to a particular kind of ‘chocolate’.
The dialogue has its own separate fan base, and the desi rendition of the same may not have gone down too well with the fans. Popular film director Sanjay Gupta went on to question, who is even serving Aamir, Gol Gappas in a moving train. Gol Gappa, Phuchka or Panipuri, is indeed a popular street food snack, but it is far from being convenient to be served or eaten in a mobile vehicle. You need to puncture the puris, and fill it with masala and spicy water, chances of spillage are imminent. Could another snack have made more sense here? Maybe a Sookha Puri? Or snacks that you usually associate with train journeys in India. Think: Samosas, Pakodas, Bonda, Mathri... mann to inse bhi nahi bharta na?
Few are also viewing it as the ultimate showdown between ‘chocolates’ and ‘gol gappas’. Regardless, how ‘messy’ the whole ‘Gol Gappa’ eating business can be, we do happen to find an incredible appetite for the same each time we are around a vendor. Eating one too many chocolates may make us feel a tad guilty, but eating the most numbers of Gol Gappas among your friends is a feat worthy to brag about. While we are not saying, there aren’t enough chocolates or chocolate lovers in India.
But there’s truly something, inherently desi about Gol Gappas, that makes Aamir’s analogy hit home too. Views are personal of course. Guess, we all have to wait for the film to understand as to why he couldn’t think of a different place or a different snack to recreate the classic line. Till then, do let us know whether you are in #teamgolgappa or #teamchocolate?
