Friday, 20 July 2012

Movie Recommendation - Anand


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.

No comments: