Ijazat - Gulzaar's Gull
I was always obsessed by railway stations and the aura of that place, random people together under one roof, waiting for train to come, until the train is there everyone is stranger to another, but there is possibility of you getting to know someone or find someone who you knew very well in your past, Ijazat is story of that happening.
Gulzar did an amazing job as a director, he did it in a very simple way yet it was a very complex to handle the characters and made them believable. Gulzar took forward story in a non-linear manner, when Naseerudin shah first met rekha at railway station, the audience felt that there is something between them and what has happened in the past and gulzar take that element and kept audience interested through out the whole film the dialogues very splendid and how they triggered flashbacks along the film was a good decision of gulzar. the idea of two woman in love with a same man and both of them understanding was very delightful to see, the innocence of maya and tolerance of rekha was very nice to see.
Many things were happening throughout the film, relationships changing and feelings murdered. Gulzaar created this beautiful film and gave it his touch, his magic of words. Beautifully written dialogues, and very well acted by the actors. Naseeruddin shah and Rekha were brilliant in their respective roles. Maya the other girl, the character was very different than usual characters, it was a girl with different tastes and ways to do things. the character died in a very "bollywoodish" manner and looked a little bit exaggerated. The ending didn't disappoint me, it was a good end to the film, it wasn't the conventional type of indian cinema but it was a logical one.
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Sunday, September 21, 2014
Sparsh(The Touch)
" Yeh bachay apnay hathon se dekh saktay hain" (These children can see through their hands)
It is said that the people who don,t have eyesight to see they develop a higher sense of touch,smell and a sight of heart.Sparsh explores these concepts delicately and beautifully.The film starts with Anirudh Parmar (Naseeruddin Shah) following a beautiful singing voice,a voice of a woman.He follows the voice and meets Kavita(Shabana Azmi) whom changes the course of his life.A relationship develops in a school for blind.We see real blind children delivering dialogues.And we also see a blind principal(Naseeruddin shah) understanding a new person in his life by his senses of touch,smell and feelings. It is the best natural performance ever done by this legendary actor.
As the reel of the film keeps on moving we start to get the glimpses of the conflict.The conflict being that the blind should not be considered weak and dependant.and for this very reason he doesn,t like help in the form of sympathy.The question is, does Kavita loves him or she is actually marrying him for sympathy?
Throughout the duration of film we get to know reakistic facts about blind people.For example,the blind readbooks through a method called prailing.They can be creative in the form of musical instruments and handicrafts.Another concept about getting extra attention is explored.How extra attention can make some people with eyesight feel degraded or a feeling of jealousy upsurging in them.A boy who can see actually wants to become blind just to be treated equally as them.
There are few songs,but their melody stays in our minds for quiet sometime.There is humour which is as natural as possible.For example in a converstion with an office boy who is complaining about his future mothe in law "Mein tou iss sadi mein rehta hoon per uski maa pichli sadi mein rehti hai"(I live in this century but her mother lives in previous century.)
Sparsh(The touch) is not just about tangibility it is about the inner essence of a being as well.Sai Paranjpae( one of the few and rare female film directors in the world) also explores the major conflicts in the lives of asian women as well.How a woman is usually caught in complex decision making regarding her future.
Sparsh is a film of many layers,but for that you need to tap into the layers of inside, and that is heart which has a sight of it,s own.
It is said that the people who don,t have eyesight to see they develop a higher sense of touch,smell and a sight of heart.Sparsh explores these concepts delicately and beautifully.The film starts with Anirudh Parmar (Naseeruddin Shah) following a beautiful singing voice,a voice of a woman.He follows the voice and meets Kavita(Shabana Azmi) whom changes the course of his life.A relationship develops in a school for blind.We see real blind children delivering dialogues.And we also see a blind principal(Naseeruddin shah) understanding a new person in his life by his senses of touch,smell and feelings. It is the best natural performance ever done by this legendary actor.
As the reel of the film keeps on moving we start to get the glimpses of the conflict.The conflict being that the blind should not be considered weak and dependant.and for this very reason he doesn,t like help in the form of sympathy.The question is, does Kavita loves him or she is actually marrying him for sympathy?
Throughout the duration of film we get to know reakistic facts about blind people.For example,the blind readbooks through a method called prailing.They can be creative in the form of musical instruments and handicrafts.Another concept about getting extra attention is explored.How extra attention can make some people with eyesight feel degraded or a feeling of jealousy upsurging in them.A boy who can see actually wants to become blind just to be treated equally as them.
There are few songs,but their melody stays in our minds for quiet sometime.There is humour which is as natural as possible.For example in a converstion with an office boy who is complaining about his future mothe in law "Mein tou iss sadi mein rehta hoon per uski maa pichli sadi mein rehti hai"(I live in this century but her mother lives in previous century.)
Sparsh(The touch) is not just about tangibility it is about the inner essence of a being as well.Sai Paranjpae( one of the few and rare female film directors in the world) also explores the major conflicts in the lives of asian women as well.How a woman is usually caught in complex decision making regarding her future.
Sparsh is a film of many layers,but for that you need to tap into the layers of inside, and that is heart which has a sight of it,s own.
Cast
- Shabana Azmi - Kavita
- Naseeruddin Shah - Anirudh Parmar
- Sudha Chopra - Manju
- Mohan Gokhale - Jagdish
- Pran Talwar
- Arun Joglekar
- Om Puri - Dubey
Awards
- 1980: National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi
- 1980: National Film Award - Best Actor: Naseeruddin Shah
- 1980: National Film Award for Best Screenplay: Sai Paranjpye
- 1985: Filmfare Award - Best Movie: Basu Bhattacharya
- 1985: Filmfare Award - Best Director: Sai Paranjpye
- 1985: Filmfare Best Dialogue Award:[4] Sai Paranjpye
Music
Sparsh's music is by veteran music director Kanu Roy and lyrics are by Indu Jain.
| Song | Singer (s) |
|---|---|
| Concert (Sarod) | Amjad Ali Khan |
| Geeton Ki Duniya Men Sargam | Sulakshana Pandit |
| Khali Pyala Dhundhla Darpan | Sulakshana Pandit |
| Pyala Chhalka Ujla Darpan | Sulakshana Pandit |
Sunday, September 14, 2014
Ijazat - A Railway Station's Waiting Room
Ijaazat is a movie that has a flow very few other films
possess. Directed by Gulzaar, it understandably has the poetic quality wherein
the subject dictates the length and complexity of the narrative. A considerable
portion of the movie’s running time (more than two hours) is utilized in the
exploration of the multifaceted relationships between the main characters. And
while Mahinder (played by Naseeruddin Shah) is the protagonist, the character
is written to be anything but the conventional hero of a romantic Indian film. Similarly,
the two leading ladies are not the predictable ‘heroine and the vamp’ fighting
for the hero’s attention and love. This gives some much needed additional
layers to the sub-continental love triangle at the heart of ‘Ijaazat’.
From the beginning, where Mahinder comes across Rekha’s
character (Sudha) in the VIP waiting lounge of a deserted train station, the
audience is kept guessing about the nature of their past relationship and the
reasons for their marriage falling apart. We go on a journey through a series
of flashbacks piecing together the information, not knowing who to sympathize
with and who to blame. This, for me, is the success of the script since even
Maya – the puzzling third wheel in the marriage – is likeable in her childlike
love for Mahinder.
As Mahinder starts falling in love with her wife, the
growing chemistry between Naseeruddin Shah and Rekha (both during their
marriage and in the railway station) makes the audience want them to overcome
their differences and end up together. That seems more likely after a cleverly
placed but unfortunately weak point in the narrative i.e. Maya’s untimely and
seemingly forced death. Killing off a major character in that manner is perhaps
the only glaring fault one can find in a movie that otherwise broke the
conventions of the time. However, it makes it up for it to some extent by not
giving us the happy ending we hoped but would've been disappointed by.
Apart from Gulzaar’s beautifully written dialogue that is
natural yet very lyrical in its delivery, Rekha’s performance as a wife torn
between love, jealousy and self-respect is one of her finest in its simplicity
and elegance. And as she leaves with another man (Shashi Kapoor)at the end of
the film, the feeling that the story has come to the justified and logical
conclusion is praise enough for the film’s script and the people involved in
making it.
Saath saath(1982) -a story about a simple man with high moral values
How many times, do you, have heard someone say these following words " Log waqt kay saath badal jatay hain". The content of the film directly complies with these words. How with changing times meaning the environment the "staying forever" and "together forever" concept looses it,s grounding.How lovers who are "Saath saath " meaning "together" discover an unpredictable change.In simple words 'Avinash' played by Farooq sheikh,The Columbus of "Geeta" played by Deepti Naval changes into a materialistic person.It is totally in contrast to the person with whom she once fell in love.So,people change,but some don,t,like Geeta.
Directed by Raman kumar, the film is about socialism in India.The depiction of the middle class of India and that is two hundred million people( the largest middleclass in the world).And someone like Avinash who is between poor and middle class lives in Bombay.His dreams are big,works hard for them,but when he fells in love and faces hardship in the form of necessities of life for his wife,he discovers an internal and external change.The external man improves while the internal man declines.This Ghareeb ki kahani meaning a poor man.s story, is all about content.If you want treatment in the form of camera and editing,this will film will then disappoint you.You might feel lost and notice abrupt jump but by focusing on the content only, will give you the overall impact.So the overall affect is the content and it is well supported by it,s brilliant scores.we hear the melodious voice of sir jagjit singh.Actually the last song 'yun zindgi ki raah mein' gives the clear picture of the situation in which Geeta and Avinash are caught in.
Saath saath is one of those films which gives you a picture of a realistic world.The world which changes and so do it,s people.
Directed by Raman kumar, the film is about socialism in India.The depiction of the middle class of India and that is two hundred million people( the largest middleclass in the world).And someone like Avinash who is between poor and middle class lives in Bombay.His dreams are big,works hard for them,but when he fells in love and faces hardship in the form of necessities of life for his wife,he discovers an internal and external change.The external man improves while the internal man declines.This Ghareeb ki kahani meaning a poor man.s story, is all about content.If you want treatment in the form of camera and editing,this will film will then disappoint you.You might feel lost and notice abrupt jump but by focusing on the content only, will give you the overall impact.So the overall affect is the content and it is well supported by it,s brilliant scores.we hear the melodious voice of sir jagjit singh.Actually the last song 'yun zindgi ki raah mein' gives the clear picture of the situation in which Geeta and Avinash are caught in.
Saath saath is one of those films which gives you a picture of a realistic world.The world which changes and so do it,s people.
Cast
- Rakesh Bedi as Rakesh
- Farooq Shaikh as Avinash Verma
- Neena Gupta as Neena
- Avtar Gill as Avtar
- A. K. Hangal as Professor Chaudhary
- Iftekhar as Mr. Gupta
- Javed Khan as Javed
- Deepti Naval as Gitanjali Gupta 'Geeta'
- Yunus Parvez as Jagat Murari
- Satish Shah as Satish Shah
- Gita Siddharth as Mrs Gupta (Voice)
- Anjan Srivastav as Dr. B M Acharya
- Helena as Helena
- Kiran Vairale as Kiran
- Sudha Chopra as Professor
Soundtrack
All lyrics written by Javed Akhtar, all music composed by Kuldeep Singh.
| Songs | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Playback | Length | |||||||
| 1. | "Yu zindagi ki raah mein" | Chitra Singh | ||||||||
| 2. | "Pyaar Mujhe Jo Kiya Tumne Toh Kya Payogi" | Jagjit Singh | ||||||||
| 3. | "Tum ko dekha to yeh khayaal aaya" | Jagjit Singh, Chitra Singh | ||||||||
| 4. | "Yeh bata de mujhe zindagi" | Jagjit Singh, Chitra Singh | ||||||||
| 5. | "Ye tera ghar ye mera ghar" | Jagjit Singh, Chitra Singh | ||||||||
Ijazat - A Poet's Film
When I first pick my pen and sit down to write a response on the Hindi film Ijazat' a picture of a certain train and a railway track appears in my mind.The green and yellow train coming on a platform where a certain passenger is waiting.The romantic feel of a journey, an association long being attached with it.Life is a journey,love is a journey, and humans are the passengers.
The easiness with which Gulzar "the director of the film" brings these concepts all in one film, is amazing.It has romance attached to it,tragedy,but not that tragedy that will spoil your romanticism with the train and railway track.He keeps the concept with the conventional feel but at the same time goes out off the box as well.A film whose name comes out off the last dialogue of the film in which the wife is asking for permission to step out off her husband,s life.And the director also explores the bond of love without the need of conventionality just like explored in Shakti Samantas film
" Amar Prem".
The film revolves around a separated couple who quiet coincidently meets again in the rest house of a railway station.And then in flashbacks and with the moment revisted and re explored we discover a new evolving relationship.It might look as a harsh night with regret and cries but it is totally opposite.Their interaction involves humor,warm and cold emotions, and rediscovery of themselves as humans,and now, objectively.
They both break the cletiad of a strict conservative,very cultural,subcontinental,type of a couple.In fact they have a very openkind of relationship in which they are possessive and liberal at the sametime,For example the wife allowing the memories of her husband,s ex relationship, to live with them under the same roof.The film gives an ideal image of a modern liberal subcontinental couple who moves back and fourth in between there history and moment of re discovery.
Humour keeps the tragedic element of the story outside.For example amidst the cold and raining environment surrounding them and the husband willing to have a cup of visky, his wife stops him from drinking,in reply he says' visky na peejiyeh,jacket phen lijiyeh,aray aesa bhi kahan hota hai'"Don't drink visky,wear a jacket,think about it does it happens anywhere".A joke which comes out very naturally.And who can forget the poetic feel to the film enhanced with the songs for example "Meray kuch samaan lota do.We are introduced to romantic poetry back fourth,reminding us that gulzar is a poet.
It is a film in which the struggle and obstacles faced by the character won,t take you out off the romantic feel,won,t make you cry.The film is poetic,so are the characters,so are the songs and so is the director.
The easiness with which Gulzar "the director of the film" brings these concepts all in one film, is amazing.It has romance attached to it,tragedy,but not that tragedy that will spoil your romanticism with the train and railway track.He keeps the concept with the conventional feel but at the same time goes out off the box as well.A film whose name comes out off the last dialogue of the film in which the wife is asking for permission to step out off her husband,s life.And the director also explores the bond of love without the need of conventionality just like explored in Shakti Samantas film
" Amar Prem".
The film revolves around a separated couple who quiet coincidently meets again in the rest house of a railway station.And then in flashbacks and with the moment revisted and re explored we discover a new evolving relationship.It might look as a harsh night with regret and cries but it is totally opposite.Their interaction involves humor,warm and cold emotions, and rediscovery of themselves as humans,and now, objectively.
They both break the cletiad of a strict conservative,very cultural,subcontinental,type of a couple.In fact they have a very openkind of relationship in which they are possessive and liberal at the sametime,For example the wife allowing the memories of her husband,s ex relationship, to live with them under the same roof.The film gives an ideal image of a modern liberal subcontinental couple who moves back and fourth in between there history and moment of re discovery.
Humour keeps the tragedic element of the story outside.For example amidst the cold and raining environment surrounding them and the husband willing to have a cup of visky, his wife stops him from drinking,in reply he says' visky na peejiyeh,jacket phen lijiyeh,aray aesa bhi kahan hota hai'"Don't drink visky,wear a jacket,think about it does it happens anywhere".A joke which comes out very naturally.And who can forget the poetic feel to the film enhanced with the songs for example "Meray kuch samaan lota do.We are introduced to romantic poetry back fourth,reminding us that gulzar is a poet.
It is a film in which the struggle and obstacles faced by the character won,t take you out off the romantic feel,won,t make you cry.The film is poetic,so are the characters,so are the songs and so is the director.
Cast
- Rekha as Sudha
- Naseeruddin Shah as Mahender
- Anuradha Patel as Maya
- Dina Pathak as Principal
- Shammi Kapoor as Mahender's grandfather
- Sulbha Deshpande as Sudha's mother
- Ram Mohan
- Rita Rani Kaul
- Ashok Mehta
- Rajesh Bombaywala
- Ashfaq Ahmed
- Bhupinder Sharma
- Sunil Advani
- Monish Prem
- Shashi Kapoor as Sudha's husband
Crew
- Director: Gulzar
- Producer: R K Gupta, Rajinder Singh Bedi
- Co-Producer: Sweety Mehta
- Story: Subodh Ghosh (Jatugriho)
- Screenplay: Gulzar
- Dialogues: Gulzar
- Lyrics: Gulzar
- Music: R D Burman
- Editing: Subhash Sehgal
- Cinematography: Ashok Mehta
- Art Direction: R K Handa
- Costume Design: Leela Daru
Music
| Ijaazat | |
|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by R D Burman, Asha Bhosle, Gulzar | |
| Released | 1987 |
| Genre | Film soundtrack |
| Label | Sa Re Ga Ma |
The film has four songs sung by Asha Bhosle, who is the only playback singer in the film soundtrack. The songs were composed by R D Burman. Two of the four songs are Ghazals:
- Khaali Haath Sham Aayee Hai
- Mera Kuchh Saamaan
- Katra Katra
- Chotisi Kahani Se
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