‘Last Man in Tower’: How Ben Rekhi’s ‘outsider’ gaze places Manoj Bajpayee at the heart of Mumbai’s redevelopment horror
Ben Rekhi’s film 'Last Man in Tower' explores the tension between traditional values and modern capitalism in Mumbai. The story follows a protagonist resisting a redevelopment project, highlighting the loss of community and empathy in a rapidly changing urban environment.
Why it matters
The film serves as a cultural critique of urban gentrification and the psychological impact of aggressive economic development on the middle class.
A stout battle between the old and new deconstructs the anxieties of the urban middle class dream in Ben Rekhi’s Last Man in Tower . The feeble, lifeless and singularly revolting voice of its frail protagonist, Masterji ( Manoj Bajpayee ) becomes an extension of his old housing society’s slow decay, which has witnessed the erosion of values and morals in its residents dampen the stature of its own cracked walls. The neighbours are pitted against Masterji as he is resolute to fight against the whims of the builder, Dharmen Shah ( Boman Irani ), whose plans to make a huge tower lulls everyone else to comply.
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