BHPian RaviK recently shared this with other enthusiasts: Was watching Mandala Murders recently, when came across a scene set in 1951, yet featuring a Jonga, a vehicle that didn’t appear until late 60s. That part set me off thinking about how frequently Indian films and shows get their vehicles wrong, especially in period settings, even when the storylines themselves are otherwise quite meticulous in many cases. Few inaccuracies I can recall right off the bat:Dum Laga Ke Haisha – shows a Mahindra Major in a 1990s setting. The problem? The Major didn’t exist back then.Gangs of Wasseypur – features jeeps with front-sloped mudguards in its 1970s scenes, a design that appeared in 1980s Peugeot-engine MahindrasAnd then the annoying scenes where physics & logic take a back seat(apart from the regular flying cars, impossible vehicle spinning sequences that we’re used to nowadays):Smoky old diesel jeeps somehow keeping up with muscle cars like Impalas in chase scenes in some old moviesThe hero constantly revving the bike, yet the speed remains completely unchanged!Dramatic steering movements, enough to do a full U-turn, just to avoid a dog, a passerby or hero’s mumThe infamous “brake fail” trope in older movies, with vehicles continuing in a straight line with zero engine braking, until they crash into a conveniently placed stack of crates or fall off a cliff.While these are minor irritants, but sometime they break the continued interest in the story, especially when the stories are otherwise really well-knit. Surprising how such a basic oversight slips through in some of the movies/shows which are otherwise get so much else right!! Here’s what BHPian DicKy replied:Quote from BHPian RaviK:features jeeps with front-sloped mudguards in its 1970s scenes, a design that appeared in 1980s Peugeot-engine MahindrasEven non jeep aficionados like me could make out that many of the jeeps blasted in KGF-2 were the rounded fender ones (MM540?) launched in late 80s, whereas the movie was set in the late 70s. Add to that nowadays most get the Ambassador part wrong. They take care to not have the plastic bumpers of the Grand in period set movies, but nowadays almost all have the plastic pull type door handles introduced first in the late 90s Classic. In fact, if I post something in the Regional Movies thread, it would most likely be me complaining about how they didn’t get the cars correct in the movie.Quote from BHPian DicKy:….. And ofcourse. As an enthusiast, lemme go into my extremely annoying tendency to nitpick. 1. Pet peeve. Contessas with quad lights. In the 80s. 2. During the car workshop fight scene, can see a 1000/ Esteem in the background. 3. The Tata lorry used in the typical Indian scene of lorry hit and run has the new logo, not the old one.4. A few Omnis had the present ORVM fixed.But the rest is just A-W-E-S-O-M-E. Especially that parking garage (filled with old Omnis, jeeps and Ambys) fight scene. That said, nowadays many take care to get the period look of the cars correct, especially many Malayalam movies, that too if Dulquar Salman is acting in it. Quote from BHPian RaviK:Smoky old diesel jeeps somehow keeping up with muscle cars like Impalas in chase scenes in some old moviesThem destroying all those imports in the chase scene apart, I would rather appreciate them having good car chases in the old movies. Post 1990s, haven’t seen any proper car chases in Indian movies that felt satisfying or thrilling to watch.Here’s what BHPian tushky replied:The Hunt, recent web series based on Rajiv Gandhi, assassination which happened in early 90s. There are scenes of Madras bus stands and you can easily see a Blue coloured MSRTC electric bus and other new models of MSRTC red coloured buses. Even the Tata logo on the buses and pick up trucks is new. The registration plates on the cars is also black on white.Here’s what BHPian salilpawar1 replied:One Indian movie which got the period-correct cars absolutely spot on was Mani Ratnam’s Guru. Except for 1 scene where they didn’t change the number plate to black plates, I think all other vehicles were correct. They also got the correct version of the Ambassador. Most Hollywood movies have consultants to get technical or historical aspects of the movie right – a detailed often skipped in Indian cinema.Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.
