Cast: Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan, Ramesh Deo, Seema Deo,
Sumita Sanyal, Johnny Walker.
Release Year: 1971.
Director: Hrishikesh Mukherjee.
Movie for the week is Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s multiple award-winning Anand. Not because Rajesh Khanna passed
away. This was anyway going to be this week’s movie coz it’s the only one I’ve
seen since last Friday. At the outset, let me warn you that this is not one of
my favourites. I usually love Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s films. This one, I like. But
given a choice between Anand and Mili (another Hrishida classic), I’d choose the latter. The story is
vaguely similar. Only a terminally-ill Rajesh Khanna is replaced by Jaya
Bachchan, which makes it a far more endearing watch.
Dr. Bhaskar Banerjee (Amitabh Bachchan) is a no-nonsense
physician with a melancholic approach to life. Dr. Prakash (Ramesh Deo), his
senior introduces him to Anand Sehgal (Rajesh Khanna), a jovial, terminally-ill
patient, who doesn’t have a lot of time to live. Anand decides to stay with
Bhaskar instead of the hospital. The story revolves on how Anand spreads
happiness in the lives of the people around him, including Bhaskar, who learns
to appreciate life in all its colours.
Rajesh Khanna as Anand is apt. He plays the jolly,
ever-energetic (and sometimes over the top) character to perfection. A similar version
of the character has been played by Khanna (albeit a lot better) in Bawarchi as well. However, the best part
of the movie is Amitabh Bachchan. Its so heartening to see him play a lanky Bhaskar.
More over the angry young man, I love to see him in such roles. Characters that
he played in Hrishikesh Mukherjee movies are so real and affable than the ones
in his masala films.
A review of Anand
cannot be complete without its music. Salil Chaudhary’s elevating compositions accompanied by powerful lyrics by Yogesh and Gulzar resulted in chartbusters
like Zindagi Kaisi Hai Paheli, Kahin Door Jab Din Dhal Jaaye, Maine Tere
Liye Hi Saat Rang Ke Sapne and Na Jiyaa Lage Na.
How much you’ll love this movie depends on how much you can
relate to Anand’s character. Although a one-time-watch wouldn’t be a waste for
sure.
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