The contraband empire of the infamous icon, Haji Mastan is back in focus with the recently released Bollywood movie Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai. The main protagonist of the movie so closely resembles the smuggler of the 70’s that there was a court ordered disclaimer which declared that the character of the movie (Sultan Mirza) is not based upon Haji Mastan Mirza.
In the movie, Sultan (played by Ajay Devgn) like Mastan always wears white designer clothes, drives a white Mercedes, smokes imported cigarettes and with the trademark mustache, bears uncanny resemblance to Mastan. The life of Sultan also has many similarities with that of Mastan. Sultan arrives from Madras to Bombay as a kid, learns the tricks of smuggling young, sets up a contraband network, romances and finances films of a bollywood actress, becomes one of the most powerful men in Bombay and towards the end decides to stop illegal business and enters politics.
Due to the larger than life persona the don evoked, Mastan has occupied a unique space in popular imagination, thanks to Bollywood movies like Deewaar and Mukkadar Ka Sikandar which were also partially based on his life. But Mastan was more than a flamboyant-yet-benevolent Don who romanced Bollywood heroines. Mastan was a person with powerful contacts in the political, business and film world. Whether it be Sanjay Gandhi or Karim Lala or Bollywood heavyweights like Dilip Kumar and Dharmendra, Mastan had connections with the who’s who of that celebrated era.
With the crackdown on smugglers during the emergency period, he was arrested and spent a year and a half in prison. However, after meeting Jayapraksh Narayan, Mastan decided to quit his smuggling activities, went on a pilgrimage to Haj and undertook major efforts in helping the poor of his locality financially. He even flouted his own political party- the Dalit Muslim Suraksha Mahasang, with Dalit leader Jogendra Kawade. So much intriguing and multifarious was his life that Bollywood could have had a good film on his actual life.
The story of Mastan brings into picture some larger aspects about Indian society. Mastan’s life showcased the importance of having the right connections, man’s fascination with Bollywood divas and the ultimate quest for power. Mastan made his fortunes by smuggling transistor radios and watches- both were a rage in India at that time but its import was highly taxed. So in that way, Mastan’s prominence could be attributed to state policies in a protected economy. Perhaps, Mastan’s efforts to help the downtrodden also portrays the inherent goodness in man.
Moreover, Mastan’s popularity among the people represents, to a certain extent, the disconnect of mainstream politicians with people and people’s reliance on alternative centres of power. In this way Mastan evokes sentiments resembling those received by the Anti-heroes of Godfather and Sarkar. As an outlaw receiving public support, there can be analogies drawn to Robin Hood and many angry young man roles of Amitabh Bacchan. In real life too, from Maoists to Veerappan to Bal Thackeray, local support for state enemies are not strange in India.
Most importantly, the story of Mastan showcases people’s vulnerability in trusting such leaders. Why do we admire men who do not follow the rightful means to power? Is it because the men who occupy the legitimate seats of power are unworthy? Or are we just people who will support anybody who gives us what we want- regardless of how it is done? Perhaps Mastan’s life and the popular support represents, simultaneously, the selfishness and altruism present in all men.
