Hyderabad Blues!

I desperately need a getaway. Would love to pack my bags right now and head off somewhere all on my own! That would be funnn! Why alone? Coz my idea of a trip doesn’t really match with anybody’s around me. Just the other day, I was planning a trip with a friend and realized that there are very few places I would really want to go to.

- Villages bore me. The silence and the laidback life is bearable for a day or two, at most. By the third day, I’m at my wits’ end.

- Goa is done to death. Despite being a water sign, I’m so sick of beaches now, I might just throw up if I go to another one!

- Hill stations are pretty annoying. Go to any one of them, you’ll see the same stuff. And thanks to global warming, even they don’t have lower temperatures anymore. Forget snow.

Hyderabad somehow is a very tempting option. I’ve been there before…but it was a family trip. So one day was spent in visiting Ramoji Film City, another one for parks, lakes, another one for snow park, and so on! The entire trip was pretty much a waste. Not to forget all the weird stuff people bring on their way back. I remember PuLa Deshpande’s ‘Mee Ani Majhe Shatrupaksha’ where he says that there is nothing in this world that you cannot get in Pune or Mumbai. How true!

What fascinates me about a city is its history, the cuisine, the markets (not for shopping, just love the noise!), the museums. I would give anything to stand atop a building and watch the Charminar in the moonlight, all decked up in yellow lights, surrounded by traffic! Or eat lip-smacking Biryani at the Taj; or walk aimlessly and endlessly through Laad Bazaar – a street bursting with bangles! Hyberabad has some of the best buildings I’ve ever seen.  Such beautiful architecture; whether its Golkonda Fort, Makkah Masjid, Qutub Shahi Tombs, or the Falaknuma Palace…grandeur is perhaps too less a word to describe it.

Its amazing how a place can draw you in itself, making you feel like you belong there. Hyderabad did that to me and I'm eager to go back and indulge in its opulence.

Movie Recommendation - Masoom

Cast: Naseruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi, Urmila Matondkar, Aradhana, Jugal Hansraj.

Release Year: 1983.

Director: Shekhar Kapur.

In the early 80’s, Shekhar Kapur, a failed actor decided to venture into direction. And I’m glad he did so. ‘Coz the result was a beautiful, heartwarming tale – Masoom. Most people think that the movie is ‘lifted’ from Erich Segal’s ‘Man, Woman and Child’. Yes and No. Shekhar Kapur had read the book and narrated the idea to Gulzar, who then wrote the entire screenplay without referring to the book.

Set in Delhi, Masoom tells the story of D.K.Malhotra (Naseruddin Shah), Indu (Shabana Azmi) and their kids – Pinky (Urmila Matondkar) and Mini (Aradhana). Indu and D.K's perfect marriage falls apart when D.K learns about his illegitimate son from an affair with Bhavna (Supriya Pathak). Since Bhavna is now dead, the child Rahul (Jugal Hansraj) is sent to Delhi by his guardian to stay with the family. Rahul develops a bond with the girls, as well as his father, but gets the cold treatment from Indu. Masoom is about the innocent child, caught in the crossfire, finding a family.

The performers shine in their respective roles. Perhaps that’s what makes the film so real, and believable. Naseruddin Shah gives an evocative performance as the dull D.K; while Shabana Azmi leaves no stone unturned to show Indu’s inner conflict, as she alternates between coldness and her maternal feelings towards the boy. One of the best things about her performance is that she conveys a lot (and I mean A LOT!) through her silence, and there many such moments in the film. Urmila Matondkar, Aradhana and Jugal Hansraj are a complete delight. Neither hammy, nor underplayed. Just perfect, and innocent. A welcome change from the 70’s movies where child actors were so over the top or today’s movies where they are portrayed to be far more mature for their age.

Masoom gave us one of the most memorable soundtracks by R.D Burman and Gulzar. Tujhse Naraaz Nahi Zindagi tugs strings at your heart, Do Naina Aur Ek Kahaani is perhaps the most underrated lullaby ever, as for Lakdi Ki Kaathi… I’d read this in one of Gulzar’s interviews – ‘Nobody can write better nonsense than me. That explains why Lakdi Ki Kaathi is so popular!’ :D

Scenes to watch out for:

#1: A scene where Mini is watching TV, and Pinky is unable to study due to the high volume. So damn real! And their argument is so cute! Anybody who has a younger sibling knows what I’m talking about!

#2: When D.K. and Rahul return from Nainital, the girls go out to the door jumping. Indu gets up, a broad smile on her face, starts combing her hair, and stops midway when she realizes she is not on talking terms with D.K anymore. Her expressions are something to watch. Its amazing how somebody can portray so much without saying a word.

Why not to miss this movie:

Because it’s a beautiful story, adorned with outstanding performances. At times, the film is so good, it almost seems real. 

Its been a week since my last post. Sincere apologies. My boring schedule has kept me busy and will continue to do so for the next couple of weeks as well. 

5 Quick Thoughts:

- Baby Afreen breathed her last. RIP darling. I wonder if that demon of a father will ever be punished. Makes me think what kind of a society we live in; where mothers are worshipped and daughters are killed; some even before they are born.

- Famine in 9 districts. And people in Pune still need lessons on water conservation. 

- I am watching IPL5. I wonder why!

- Learnt to make (edible) Batata Vadaa. Wish I could have some control on eating it as well!

- There is a stack of books that I must attend to. Super Guilt.

Movie Recommendation - Mandi

Cast: Shabana Azmi, Naseruddin Shah, Smita Patil, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Saeed Jaffrey, Neena Gupta, Ila Arun, Soni Razdan.

Release Year: 1983.

Director: Shyam Benegal.

There are numerous Hindi films with a brothel as the backdrop. While some chose to show elegance and grandeur (Devdas, Umrao Jaan); others chose to show the sleaze and underworld connections (Chandni Bar).  But Shyam Benegal’s Mandi is different. Comprising of a huge ensemble cast and a healthy dose of black comedy, Mandi is unlike the other films.

Rukmini Bai (Shabana Azmi) is a madam runs her brothel with a strict hand, assisted by the bored-to-death servant Tungrus (Naseruddin Shah). Rukmini Bai is overtly protective about all her girls, especially the coy, yet rebellious, Zeenat (Smita Patil), who is always confined to learning music and dance, rather than attending to the kotha’s customers. Problems arise when she finds herself struggling against the hypocritical moral police, lead by Shanti Devi, who threaten to throw them out of the town, in order to keep the city ‘clean’. Her landlord, Mr. Gupta (Kulbhushan Kharbanda) offers a place outside the city, in exchange of the current one. The town’s mayor Agarwal (Saeed Jaffrey) finds himself stuck in the middle since he cannot afford to disagree with the social activists, and has to rely on Rukmini Bai to hide his secret. Other characters squeezed into the film include a mute girl (Sreela Majumdar), who is sold to Rukmini Bai by her husband; Agrawal's son, who is madly in love with Zeenat; a pervert photographer (Om Puri); Shanti Devi’s assistant (Pankaj Kapur) and of course, the brothel girls (Ila Arun, Neena Gupta).

Mandi focuses on the nature of relationships amongst all its characters, where double-crossing, betrayal are everyday affairs. Rukmini Bai’s love-hate relationship with Tungrus is perhaps the most complex of them all. Tungrus is ferociously loyal towards Rukmini Bai, doing everything as she says, word-to-word, yet yells at her when he’s drunk. Naseruddin Shah pitches in a classic act as the droopy, exhausted Tungrus. Shabana Azmi’s portrayal of Rukmini Bai is delicious. Her body language and the Hyderabadi intonation are to die for!

Scenes to watch out for:

#1: When Mr. Gupta comes to see Rukmini Bai for the first time. You see Shabana Azmi shouting instructions at one instant and managing a coy smile at the other. Also, its amazing the way Rukmini Bai cannot stop herself from looking into the mirror, whether it is in the middle of a prayer, crying, or even an argument!

#2: Again a scene between Gupta and Rukmini Bai, where he is offering her money to leave the place, and she is telling him to raise the price. Look at the way she says, “Paan khayenge?”

Why not to miss this movie:

Shabana Azmi’s performance. Need I say more? ;)

The Big Fat Indian Wedding? *Sigh*

There are people who get married. And then there are people who are actually happy about getting married. How lame. Today I realized that I kinda have a problem with the latter type, no matter how close they might be. Dimwits who think that suddenly the world is revolving around them. I committed the aghori paap of going shopping with one such dame today.

“Hii kashi ahe?”

“Changli ahe. Ghe ata patkan.”

“Nahi evdhi pan kahi khaas nahiye. Ti dusri dakhvaa. Haan, hii?”

“Bakwaas.”

“Mala avadli baba. Hich ghete. Ka nako…ti dakhvaa jara...tu pan kar na shopping!”

“Can you finish up like real quick?”

“Whaat? Its my big day, okay?”

“Yeah. Whatever.”

Four hours. Four precious hours wasted. And more than half the shopping is still remaining. Aarghh.

I don’t get this. Am I the only one who thinks this way? But seriously, what is the whole point of inviting a thousand people, (half of whom you haven’t even seen in your entire lifetime), splurging money, creating such a hullabaloo and turning a four hour ceremony into a four day extravaganza? No. I’m not against rituals. What I have a problem with is turning a private ceremony into a public one. And as if a day wasn’t enough, there are all kinds of other add-ons like mehendi, sangeet, blah, blah, blah!

Personally, I see marriage as a means to throw love out of the window! You start taking the person for granted; differences start showing up, egos too. ‘Happily Married’ is quite an oxymoron. I don’t understand the need to put a label on everything. ‘I now declare you husband and wife’ and all that crap! Just keep it simple, silly!

Song of The Week

After posting Aandhi as this week’s movie, can the song be any different? So song of the week is Tere Bina Zindagi Se Shikwa. I’m sure this song features in the top ten of every Pancham fan. The way the songs opens – with the santoor playing – grabs your attention. And then the lyrics do all the talking!

I’d read an interesting piece of info on this song a few years back in one of Gulzar’s interview. He’d gone to Pancham’s house when Pancham was composing a tune for a Durga Puja album with Gauri Prassano, one of Bengal's top lyricists. Gulzar saheb was so struck with the tune that he started writing a song for it. When Prasanno had left, Pancham asked him, “Now what do we have to compose?” and he replied, “Yeh gaana karenge.”

So the original tune was retained for the mukhda and a new one was created for the antara. When Gulzar saheb tried adding dialogues in the lyrics, Pancham had scolded him saying, “Do you have any understanding of sur or taal? You put in dialogues wherever you want. Its not done!” but eventually, the dialogues were retained!

* Kaash aisa ho tere qadmo se chun ke manzil chale

Aur kahin duur kahin

Tum gar saath ho

Manzilon kii kamii to nahi *

Song: Tere Bina Zindagi Se

Film: Aandhi

Music: R.D.Burman

Lyrics: Gulzar

Vocals: Lata Mangeshkar & Kishore Kumar

A li'l Flashback

I found an old diary today. 1996. Where my handwriting is round and wobbly. On going to today’s page, I discovered that I’d learnt to ride a cycle on this very day! What I’ve written there is quite hilarious. But that is one day that is still etched in my memory.

I had thrown all kinds of tantrums and finally, on a Saturday evening, my parents had bought me a red bicycle. The next morning, dad had woken me up early to teach me how to ride. He was holding the handle as well as the seat and kept yelling at me to look forward. Me, being the not-so-compliant kid, kept on looking left, right and back…but never in the right direction!

After almost two hours, I learnt to balance and could manage to look ahead without being distracted. Dad had slowly let go off the handle but was still holding on to the seat and running behind with me. I told him to let go, very confidently. He did the same. I rode for a small distance without him and looked back to show him how well I was doing and bang! Straight into the wall!

My knee was hurt, and my confidence, shattered.  The only thing I wanted dad to do was to pick me up and go home. Instead, he put me back on the bicycle and made me ride it. I wanted to cry out loud. Just couldn’t. He held on to me till he was sure that I’ve got it right. And before I knew it, I was all on my own. I looked back for a second to see him smiling at me and I rode on J

I learnt a very important lesson that day which I have even written in my diary at the end (in capital, bold letters!) – NEVER GIVE UP!

Movie Recommendation - Aandhi

Cast: Sanjeev Kumar, Suchitra Sen, Om Prakash, A. K. Hangal. 

Release Year: 1975.

Director: Gulzar.

Another classic from the 70’s – Aandhi. I am always fascinated with the titles of Gulzar’s films. Be it Angoor, Ijaazat, Namkeen, or Aandhi, which literally means ‘a storm’. The film itself was in the eye of an Aandhi upon its release as it was supposedly based on Indira Gandhi’s life, who was the Prime Minister back then. As a result, it was not allowed full release and was even banned during the 1975 emergency.

Aandhi tells the story of J.K (Sanjeev Kumar) and Aarti Devi (Suchitra Sen), an estranged husband and wife, who meet after 9 years. Aarti is a well known politician while J.K is the Hotel’s Manager where she is staying. The story then unwinds in flashbacks, recounting how Aarti and J.K met, fell in love, got married. Aarti is a very strong and ambitious person, while J.K is somebody who prefers simplicity. Their ego clashes over Aarti joining politics and devoting more and more time to it, eventually leads to their separation. However, the affection is still very much evident when they meet 9 years later. Will the two reunite, or will they go separate paths again? The film handles the question in a very mature and sensitive way. And when actors like Sanjeev Kumar and Suchitra Sen (with a heavy Bengali intonation!) put in their best performances, the final product is sheer brilliance.

It would be unjust to talk about the soundtrack of this film in a single paragraph. I could do an extensive post on each song! As a kid, I was in love with the songs for their sheer melody. As I grew up, and understood the lyrics, all I could do was to hear it again and again and again (!) and go wah wah every single time! The songs are haunting - Tum aa gaye ho, Iss mod se jaate hai, Tere Bina Zindagi se Shikwa, all of them.

All in all, a must watch!

Scenes to watch out for:

#1: When Aarti and J.K meet after 9 years…the scene brings a smile to your face without you even realizing it J

#2: A scene in the song Tere Bina Zindagi Se Shikwa – the lines are to die for!   

             

“Yeh jo chaand hai na..ise raat mein dekho..yeh din mein nahi nikalta.”

“Yeh to roj nikalta hai..”

“Haan…lekin beech mein amaavas aa jaati hai…waise toh amaavas pandrah din ki hoti hai…lekin iss baar, bohot lambii thi”

“Nau baras lambii thi na?”

Why not to miss this movie:

For its bold take on politics, and its mature take on relationships.

Chai, anybody?

I made decent tea today. What’s the big deal with it? Well it is. For all those who don’t know, I can cook and believe me; I am damn good at it! But tea is something I could never ever get right. Now now, its quite a silly thing to make. Boil water and throw in a few things and TaDa! Chai Tayyar! But then, here comes the funda of proportion which I screw up every single time.

Honestly, I’d never even bothered about it. At my place, everybody except me makes tea in the morning, or evening, or whatever. A few days ago, I made the mistake of preparing it for my sister. The criticism broke my heart (!) and I decided to fight back. Since then, I’ve been making tea almost everyday, experimenting with proportions, spices…and the day has finally arrived when I’ve been successful. Phew!

I shall drink to that. (No. Not tea silly!).

Song of The Week

Insaan kisise duniya mein

Ek baar mohabbat karta hai

Iss dard ko lekar jeeta hai

Iss dard ko lekar marta hai

Yes, Song for the week is Pyaar Kiya Toh Darna Kya from K.Asif’s magnum opus, Mughal-E-Azam. At a time when films were made for less than 10 lakhs, the budget for the film was over a crore, and more than 10 lakhs alone were spent on this song. The song was written over and over again (an approximate 105 times!) by the lyricist, Shakeel Badayuni before the composer, Naushad approved of it! And since there was no way to provide the sound resonating effect, Lata Mangeshkar had to record the song in a studio bathroom!

The song was shot in the Sheesh Mahal of the Lahore Fort. The small mirrors in the area would sparkle due to the lights and it became impossible to shoot. So the mirrors were covered with a coat of wax, thin enough to prevent the glare and also, not affect the reflection.

Enjoy Listening!

* Chhup na sakega ishq hamara

Chaaro taraf hai unka nazara

Parda nahi jab koi Khuda se

Bandon se parda karna kya...*

Song: Pyaar Kiya Toh Darna Kya

Film: Mughal-E-Azam

Music: Naushad

Lyrics: Shakeel Badayuni

Vocals: Lata Mangeshkar

Growing Up

As MJ turns 5 months today, there are thousands of things in my mind, all revolving around one fact – that he has grown up. And that too, quite fast.

There are so many things lying around the house, waiting to be thrown away – deworming syrups, powders, a chotu bed. He won’t need any of it now. In a few days, even his collar won’t fit him anymore. I remember the day I’d got it…I’d bought the tiniest size available but even that was big for him! He looked so funny that I was on the floor laughing and my poor baby was probably wondering what was wrong with me! I’ve carried him around in baskets…cant do that anymore!

But the good part is that I haven’t missed out on him growing up. I’ve been there…from sickness to training, and everything in between. From marking his height on the wall every week, to memorizing vaccination schedules, I’ve done it all! It’s a strange feeling. All this while you keep wondering when he’ll grow up…and when he finally does, you want to rewind and go back into time!

* There have been nights

When I’ve looked out of my window

And wondered

Why the sky doesn’t have stars anymore

I don’t do that now

Coz I know

My baby’s eyes shine better

Than all of them put together! * 

Movie Recommendation - Amar Akbar Anthony

Cast: Vinod Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan, Rishi Kapoor, Shabana Azmi, Parveen Babi, Neetu Kapoor, Nirupa Roy, Pran, Jeevan.

Release Year: 1977.

Director: Manmohan Desai.

Hindi cinema of the 70’s was swarming with stories of lost-and-found siblings. A very clichéd and straightforward track. Two or three brothers get separated in a Kumbh Mela or some similar setting, are then reunited years later to fight against the baddie. Probably the biggest and definitely the most entertaining of this lot was Manmohan Desai’s super duper hit, Amar Akbar Anthony.

Kishanlal (Pran) is a driver working for a gold smuggler, Robert (Jeevan). When the latter commits an accident, he talks Kishanlal into taking the blame, on the assurance that his family will be well looked after. (Now anyone might wonder why such a big mafia is scared of the police pressing hit-and-run charges against him, but well, that’s 70’s Cinema for you!). When Kishanlal returns from jail (read: the iconic ‘Central Jail’), he finds his family in a state of misery. Angry and deceived, he goes to Robert, only to be humiliated. In a fit of rage, he picks up a gun and tries to kill Robert. (But well, the baddie is wearing a stainless steel type bullet-proof jacket. So the bullet can’t even scratch him!). Robert’s goons chase Kishanlal as he runs away with a car containing a box of gold.

Upon returning home, he finds his wife Bharti’s (Nirupa Roy) suicide note. Kishanlal puts his three children in the car and runs away. (Yes, the goons are still chasing him). Later, he tells them to get down at Borivali Park to hide, while he drives away the thugs. On returning with the box of gold, he finds the children missing. The eldest son, Amar (Vinod Khanna) is adopted by a Hindu police officer, the middle son, Anthony (Amitabh Bachchan) is taken in by a Catholic priest, and the youngest, Akbar (Rishi Kapoor) is raised by a Muslim tailor. Talk of National Integration! Meanwhile, his wife, who’d planned on committing suicide, miraculously looses her eyesight. She also regains it 20 years later in the film (again, miraculously!).

Amar grows up to be a police officer who falls in love with Lakshmi (Shabana Azmi, in a blink-and-miss role). Anthony, a local goonda and owner of a Country Liquor bar falls for Robert’s daughter Jenny (Parveen Babi) and Akbar, a qawwal, has Dr. Salma (Neetu Kapoor) for whom he can sing qawwalis! How the brothers reunite and fight against Robert forms the rest of the film.

The film is interspersed with a lot of twist and turns, fun moments, and not to forget, songs! The soundtrack was composed by Laxmikant Pyarelal and Anand Bakshi wrote the lyrics. It consists of hits like My Name is Anthony Gonsalves, Parda Hai Parda, Tayyab Ali Pyaar Ka Dushman and Humko Tumse. Humko Tumse is one of my favourites, and as per my knowledge, the only song to have Mohammad Rafi, Kishore Kumar, Mukesh, and Lata Mangeshkar sing together.

Scenes to watch out for:

#1: Amitabh Bachchan drunken scene, when he is talking to himself in the mirror. Hilarious!  

#2: When Rishi Kapoor comes dressed as an old man, and is ordering for his sewing machine to be brought. He is irritating, yet so cute!

Why not to miss this movie:

Despite the film being a li’l more than 3 hours, its a complete masala entertainer!

A Thousand Splendid Suns

There is a book that I can read a million times, and not get tired of it. Khaled Hosseini’s ‘A Thousand Splendid Suns’.

Set from 1960 to 2003, A Thousand Splendid Suns tells the story of Mariam and Laila. Mariam is the illegitimate daughter of a wealthy man, Jalil, and has always craved for his love. Jalil has kept Mariam and her mother Nana, in a small hut, away from Herat, and visits her every Thursday. On her fifteenth birthday, Mariam decides to go to Heart to meet him. Disappointment and humiliation is all that she gets. Upon returning home, she learns that Nana has committed suicide. With nowhere to go, she is sent to Jalil’s house and married to Rasheed, a man 30 years older than her.

The plot then moves to Kabul, where war has led to most families leaving the country. Laila and her family are moving out too, when a rocket hits their house, killing her parents and leaving Laila wounded. Rasheed and Mariam take her in. Rasheed, who has by now become abusive towards Mariam due to her successive miscarriages, proposes to Laila. Laila, who is pregnant with Tariq’s child, agrees to the union on learning that he has been killed in a shootout on the border. Troubles arise for Laila when she gives birth to a girl, much to the frustration of Rasheed. He begins to abuse her, and sometimes, the child, Aziza as well.

Mariam and Laila bond over Aziza, and their late-evening tea parties. They plan to run away from Kabul, but are unsuccessful. The consequences are disastrous when Rasheed finds out about it. Years later, Tariq returns to Kabul, searching for Laila and they are reunited. When Rasheed discovers about the incident, he thrashes Laila and almost kills her, when Mariam hits him in the head with a shovel, killing him instantly. She convinces Laila to leave Kabul with Tariq. She then confesses to her crime and is executed in public.

The story is disturbing and heartbreaking. What breaks my heart even more is when Laila and Tariq visit Herat, and discover Jaili’s letter, telling Mariam how much he loved her. You end up feeling sorry for Mariam who never really got anything. How I wish the end was different. *Sigh*. But, a wonderful read nonetheless.

The title of the book is taken from the translation of an Iranian poem, Kabul –

Every street of Kabul is enthralling to the eye,

Through the bazaars, caravans of Egypt pass,

One could not count the moons that shimmer on her roofs,

And the Thousand Splendid Suns that hide behind her walls.

They just don't make men like Him anymore.

This week’s song reminds me of somebody. Back in school, I had a crush on this man who was almost 25 years elder to me. A mech engineer by profession, a wildlife photographer by whim, and a music lover at heart! Debonair, charming, and incredibly handsome. Someone who would create stunning car designs, convert them into miniatures, and gift them to me. Someone who had a camera lens so big, I could almost see craters on the moon through it. Someone who taught me that its OK to lose a game. And most importantly, someone who introduced me to Pancham’s music (Katra Katra was his favourite track. Still is!).

Only yesterday did I realize that I still quite adore him! ;)

Song of The Week

The magical duo, R.D.Burman and Gulzar have created some of the most melodious songs ever. Katra Katra, from Ijaazat, is one of them. Apart from being a fantastic film, this movie has a soundtrack to die for! So you have a ghazal like Khali Haath Shaam, a playful melody like Chotisi Kahaani Se, or a poetry-meets-prose Mera Kuch Saaman, or the heartwarming Katra Katra!

The film is considered to be Gulzar’s best work as a lyricist, and won him a Filmfare and a National Award. Pancham’s music is equally brilliant; music that has more emphasis on the words, rather than the tune. And Asha Bhosle’s soul stirring rendition only makes you want to play this song on loop! No wonder she got a National Award too!

One thing that I’ve always loved about this song is the twin track effect used by Pancham. He was the first composer to use this effect in a song. A little trivia on this that I learnt today – The song was redubbed and overlapped to create the echo effect (Courtesy Chinmay Morgaonkar!). Yes, Pancham was an absolute genius. *Bows*.

* Halke halke kohre ke dhueen mein

Shayad aasmaan tak aa gayi hoon

Teri sooni baahon ke sahaare

Dekho toh kahaan tak aa gayii honn *

Song: Katra Katra

Film: Ijaazat

Music: R.D.Burman

Lyrics: Gulzar

Vocals: Asha Bhosle

Movie Recommendation - Chupke Chupke

Cast: Dharmendra, Sharmila Tagore, Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Asrani, Om Prakash.

Director: Hrishikesh Mukherjee.

Release Year: 1975. 

If I were to list my Top 5 Hrishikesh Mukherjee movies, Chupke Chupke would be ranked at #1. The 1975 subtle comedy comprises of an impressive cast and manages to keep you entertained till the last shot.

Parimal Tripathi (Dharmendra), a Botany professor falls in love with Sulekha Chaturvedi (Sharmila Tagore) and they get married. Sulekha considers her jijaji, Raghvendra (Om Prakash) to be very clever and keeps on talking about how nobody can ever play a trick on him. Unable to take it anymore, Parimal decides to take him for a spin. So he goes to Raghvendra’s house as a driver, Pyaaremohan Allahbadi (who speaks chaste Hindi and prefers to call himself ‘vahanchalak’). There, he pretends to have an affair with Sulekha, and runs away with her. He also calls upon one of his friend to act as Parimal. Enter Sukumar Sinha (Amitabh Bachchan), an English Professor as a boring, but enraged Parimal Tripathi who is unable to bear the insult caused because of his wife running away. He decides to stay at Parimal’s friends’ P.K.Shrivastav (Asrani) house. Shrivastava’s sister-in-law Vasudha (Jaya Bachchan) is insistent on learning Botany from Sukumar, whom she assumes to be Parimal. Watch the confusion that follows when Sukumar falls in love with Vasudha, and elopes with her.

The soundtrack is melodious, with songs like Chupke Chupke Chal Re Purvaiya, Ab Ke Sajan Saawan Mein, Sa Re Ga Ma. The film’s music was composed by S.D. Burman, and lyrics by Anand Bakshi.  

Scenes to watch out for:

#1: When Vasudha asks Sukumar about Corolla, and he is telling her about Karela!

#2: Dharmendra’s entry scene as the vaahanchalak. The shudh Hindi is a delight to hear!

Why not to miss this movie:

Amitabh Bachchan at his funniest. A refreshing change from the ‘angry young man’ image that he had during the 70’s.

What's The Big Deal?

On my walk with MJ this morning, I overheard two women chatting about Bade Acche Lagte Hai and I decided to sit on the next bench and eavesdrop! Basically, the conversation was all ‘Hawwww! How can they show something like this on TV’ and all that. I came back home and browsed a few forums to find the same discussion, stating the episode to be ‘too bold’. Or ‘super hot’, which I’ll agree with. With all those candles in the room, it must’ve been like a furnace :P.

Seriously? Coz I found it to be quite similar to the other suhagraat scenes that they show on TV these days. Except that this one was done in better taste. The others even play the same old clichéd songs. Atleast the song used here was different…and better!

So what’s the fuss all about? Why should two people consummating their marriage become a topic of national interest? Even social networking sites have gone wild! Is it the lip-lock? Wait. Can you even call it that? The kiss was pretty lame (but too sensational for TV I suppose!). There’ve been smooches on television before. I remember some show on Sony itself that had one. Besides, it’s a 10:30 PM slot. If you are worried about kids watching it, let me assure you they’ve seen far more films for that!

One thing I’m sure of - the BCCC guys must’ve had a busy day taking all those complaints!

Oh! BTW

I saw Kahaani. Gripping, appalling, riveting, engrossing, enthralling, mind-blowing!

Aami Shotti Bolchi!

Song of The Week

A very poignant song from Guru Dutt’s Kaagaz Ke Phool – Waqt Ne Kiya Kya Haseen Sitam. The film, which is considered a classic today, had failed miserably upon its release in 1959. But all the songs in it were very well received.

The song happened entirely between the lyricist, Kaifi Azmi and the music director, S.D.Burman. Burman dada first created a tune to which Kaifi Saheb wrote the lyrics. When Guru Dutt heard the song, he loved it so much that he wrote a sequence in the film just to incorporate this song. However, if one looks at the film, the sequence was so brilliantly woven into the script that it does not seem out of place at all. Waheeda Rehman looks resplendent, and Geeta Dutt’s soulful rendition only adds to the beauty of this song.

* Jayenge kahaan sujhtaa nahin

Chal pade magar raasta nahin

Kya talaash thi kuchh pata nahin

Bun rahe hain dil khwaab dam-ba-dam…*

Song: Waqt Ne Kiya…

Film: Kaagaz Ke Phool

Music: S.D.Burman

Lyrics: Kaifi Azmi

Vocals: Geeta Dutt

Kahaani

I couldn’t stay away from here! So what if my house is in a mess, so what if the furniture is covered with dust, so what if things are at their chaotic best, I had to lift the purdah off my PC and I am glad I did so.

I am hearing so much praise for Kahaani, for the supremely talented Vidya Balan. Have loved all her performances from Parineeta to The Dirty Picture (yes, even Heyy Babyy and Eklavya!). For somebody who was written off merely for her dressing sense; its wonderful to see how she has bounced back with such strong roles. Even winning a National Award (ironically, Niharika Khan also won the National Award for Vidya’s costumes in The Dirty Picture!). It feels good to know that she is finally getting her due. More power to her.

However, one thing that disturbs me is she being called ‘The new Hero in Bollywood’. Why the need to address her with that term? I find it sexist. Or maybe its just me.