Khosla ka Ghosla: Still reflecting the plight of today’s consumers

Way back in 2006 with the release of ‘Khosla ka Ghosla’, Dibakar Banerjee touched the issue of ‘Real Estate fraud’ which was never screened like this before. Written by Jaideep Sahni of ‘Chak de’ fame the movie was a big success and has transformed into a cult cinema.

The movie blatantly describes the suffering of today’s middle class man who is caught in the web of real estate fraud. It also elaborates in detail how helpless we are as consumers who are cheated by big corporate firms in our day to day lives, and we can hardly do anything to get justice on time.

Some of the scenes in the movie are so funny and real that you will instantly connect with them. Yes, it is the connectivity in the film with the common man that uplifts the plot of the film.

Right from an old aged middle class man’s (played by Anupam Kher) dream of owning a house, his interaction with family and friends, meeting with fraud real estate agents and the mafia is amazingly captured in detail. Moreover, the ‘Gandhian’ effort of Mr. Khosla to get back his property is most touching.

The movie has some of the best performances from Boman Irani( Real Estate Mafia), Praveen Dabas( Khosla’s son) and Ranveer Shourey ( who plays a lunatic elder son of Mr. Khosla).

Every time, we see this movie it teaches a lesson for us to become a smart, well informed consumer rather than getting swayed away and investing our hard earned money in fulfilling our property dreams. Though, we must believe that a wave of change is being witnessed in the real estate sector.

Recently the Allahabad High Court ordered to demolish Super tech’s two 40-storey towers in Noida for violation of building norms; this has opened a window of opportunity for helpless buyers. Similarly, the law took its due course in the Sahara scam where Subrata Roy had played with the hard money of around 3 crore consumers.

In addition to this, recent Land Acquisition Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act (LARR Act), and Real Estate Regulation Bill 2013 have played key roles for consumer rights in real estate sector.

If the law takes it course and judgement like these happen for the betterment of consumers along with proper regularisation, than poor Khosla’s dream of owning a house would come up without the struggle.