My Brother Nikhil
Encyclopedia
My Brother… Nikhil is a 2005 India
n film set in Goa
. The movie portrays the life of the protagonist, Nikhil, from 1987 to 1994, when AIDS
awareness in India was considerably low. Onir, the film director, stated that the film is based on true historical fact, and the standard disclaimer about fictitious content was just a compromise with the Indian government to gain permission to make the film.
between 1986 and 1994. Nikhil Kapoor (Sanjay Suri
) is the state all round swimming champion. His father Navin Kapoor (Victor Banerjee
) has raised his son to be a sports man, a dream that he never achieved for himself. His elder sister Anamika (Juhi Chawla
) teaches in a primary school and loves him dearly. His mother Anita Rosario Kapoor (Lillete Dubey
) adores him and from her he inherited his artistic side to his personality.
After Nikhil is diagnosed with HIV his life falls apart. He is removed from the swimming team and his parents throw him out of their house. One day he is arrested because he is HIV positive. He is kept in forced isolation by law as the Goa Public Health Act allowed the government to isolate HIV positive people. His parents desert him and his friends move away. The only two people who stand by him are his sister Anamika and his friend Nigel. Despite facing threats from the community, Anamika and Nigel are able to secure his release with the help of a lawyer. Nikhil is unable to find a job at first, but then becomes a music teacher. Anamika and Nigel start an AIDS assistance organization called Positive People. As Nikhil develops AIDS he is reconciled with his mother and finally his father. After Nikhil's death, his parents begin to treat Nigel like a son.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n film set in Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
. The movie portrays the life of the protagonist, Nikhil, from 1987 to 1994, when AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
awareness in India was considerably low. Onir, the film director, stated that the film is based on true historical fact, and the standard disclaimer about fictitious content was just a compromise with the Indian government to gain permission to make the film.
Plot
This film is set in GoaGoa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
between 1986 and 1994. Nikhil Kapoor (Sanjay Suri
Sanjay Suri
Sanjay Suri is an Indian actor who appears in Bollywood films.He made his debut in 1999 with Pyaar Mein Kabhi Kabhi. He went on to star in many supporting roles but finally got his big break with Jhankaar Beats in 2003, where audiences started to recognize him as a seasoned actor...
) is the state all round swimming champion. His father Navin Kapoor (Victor Banerjee
Victor Banerjee
Victor Banerjee is an Indian actor who appears in Hindi, Bengali and English language films. He has also appeared on a number of TV series on Indian television...
) has raised his son to be a sports man, a dream that he never achieved for himself. His elder sister Anamika (Juhi Chawla
Juhi Chawla
Juhi Chawla is an Indian actress, film producer and television presenter.After being crowned as the winner of the Miss India beauty contest in 1984, Chawla pursued an acting career...
) teaches in a primary school and loves him dearly. His mother Anita Rosario Kapoor (Lillete Dubey
Lillete Dubey
Lillete Dubey is an Indian actress who appeared on the stage and in Bollywood films. Dubey is noted for appearing in some of the most popular Indian movies, including Baghban, Kal Ho Naa Ho and Fanaa. Her another notable appearance is in the Mira Nair movie Monsoon Wedding.-Personal life and...
) adores him and from her he inherited his artistic side to his personality.
After Nikhil is diagnosed with HIV his life falls apart. He is removed from the swimming team and his parents throw him out of their house. One day he is arrested because he is HIV positive. He is kept in forced isolation by law as the Goa Public Health Act allowed the government to isolate HIV positive people. His parents desert him and his friends move away. The only two people who stand by him are his sister Anamika and his friend Nigel. Despite facing threats from the community, Anamika and Nigel are able to secure his release with the help of a lawyer. Nikhil is unable to find a job at first, but then becomes a music teacher. Anamika and Nigel start an AIDS assistance organization called Positive People. As Nikhil develops AIDS he is reconciled with his mother and finally his father. After Nikhil's death, his parents begin to treat Nigel like a son.
Reception
The film was highly appreciated world-wide and Juhi Chawla won the Zee Best Actress Critic Award for her performance.Cast
- Sanjay SuriSanjay SuriSanjay Suri is an Indian actor who appears in Bollywood films.He made his debut in 1999 with Pyaar Mein Kabhi Kabhi. He went on to star in many supporting roles but finally got his big break with Jhankaar Beats in 2003, where audiences started to recognize him as a seasoned actor...
as Nikhil Kapoor - Juhi ChawlaJuhi ChawlaJuhi Chawla is an Indian actress, film producer and television presenter.After being crowned as the winner of the Miss India beauty contest in 1984, Chawla pursued an acting career...
as Anamika - Victor BanerjeeVictor BanerjeeVictor Banerjee is an Indian actor who appears in Hindi, Bengali and English language films. He has also appeared on a number of TV series on Indian television...
as Navin Kapoor - Lilette Dubey as Anita Rosario Kapoor
- Purab KohliPurab KohliPurab Kohli is an Indian model, VJ and actor.He started his career as an actor with the popular tv show Hip Hip Hurray and earned recognition through video jockeying on Channel V....
as Nigel De Costa - Dipannita SharmaDipannita SharmaDipannita Sharma is a model and an aspiring actress.A well known supermodel and an actress, who came into the limelight after making to the final five of the Miss India 1998 contest. She was also judged the 'Miss Photogenic' in the same contest. She has also done a couple of television shows...
as Leena Gomes - Shayan MunshiShayan MunshiShayan ShayaMunshi is an Indian model turned actor who made his debut in the 2003 Bollywood film Jhankaar Beats. Haylinwho is from KolkzimiVJ and actress Peeya Rai Chowdhary in 2006. Shayan has also been seen in music videos and films like My Brother Nikhil....
as Kelly Menzes - Gautam Kapoor as Sam Fernandez
- Piya Rai Chaudhary as Catherine
- Sujoy GhoshSujoy GhoshSujoy Ghosh is a film director. He has directed Jhankaar Beats , Home Delivery: Aapko... Ghar Tak , Aladin and Kahaani .- Director :* 2011 - Kahaani * 2009 - Aladin* 2005 - Home Delivery: Aapko.....
in a Special Appearance - Dia MirzaDia MirzaDia Mirza Handrich nicknamed Dee and more popularly known as Dia Mirza, is a Indian model and actress who appears in Bollywood films...
in a Special Appearance
Soundtrack
| Track # | Song | Singer(s) |
| 1 | Aa Bhi Ja Aa Bhi Ja | Lucky Ali Lucky Ali Lucky Ali , born as Maqsood Mehmood Ali , is an Indian singer songwriter, composer and actor. Lucky is best known for his soulful but strikingly simple ballad-style singing and melodious voice.-Biography:... , Sunidhi Chauhan Sunidhi Chauhan Sunidhi Chauhan is an Indian playback singer, best known for her Hindi film songs in Bollywood. She has also recorded songs for Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Bengali, Assamese and Gujarati films and is credited with over 2000 songs.... |
| 2 | Bolo Tum Bolo | Kunal Ganjawala Kunal Ganjawala Kunal Ganjawala is popularly known as Bollywood playback singer. But he also did a very well contribution to Kanada film industry as well. Kunal began his career by singing jingles. He came to limelight with the song 'Bheege Honth Tere' form film Murder in 2004. It was his first biggest hit... |
| 3 | I Miss My Little Boy | Theme |
| 4 | Kabhi | Josh |
| 5 | Le Chale 1 | Shaan Shaan (singer) Shaan , is an Indian playback singer, and television host. He hosted the shows Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L'il Champs, Star Voice of India and "Star Voice of India 2"... |
| 6 | Le Chale 2 | KK |
| 7 | Le Chale 3 | Sunidhi Chauhan Sunidhi Chauhan Sunidhi Chauhan is an Indian playback singer, best known for her Hindi film songs in Bollywood. She has also recorded songs for Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Bengali, Assamese and Gujarati films and is credited with over 2000 songs.... |
| 8 | Mahiya | Sunidhi Chauhan Sunidhi Chauhan Sunidhi Chauhan is an Indian playback singer, best known for her Hindi film songs in Bollywood. She has also recorded songs for Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Bengali, Assamese and Gujarati films and is credited with over 2000 songs.... |
| 9 | Leaving Home | Theme |
| 10 | Mere Sapne | Kavita Krishnamurthy |
| 11 | Till We Meet Again | Vivek Philip |
| 12 | Woh Kaun Hai | Sunidhi Chauhan Sunidhi Chauhan Sunidhi Chauhan is an Indian playback singer, best known for her Hindi film songs in Bollywood. She has also recorded songs for Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Bengali, Assamese and Gujarati films and is credited with over 2000 songs.... |
External links
- My Brother… Nikhil New York Times Review
- Review of My Brother Nikhil at AfterElton