Mani Kaul had an astounding understanding of women, and men who love them. Aashad Ka Ek Din(1971), based on the play by Mohan Rakesh of the same name is the prime example of this dynamics. Although Mani Kaul's 'Dwividha' (1973) is his most celebrated film, and has been remade as 'Paheli 'by Amol Palekar in 2005 starring Shahrukh Khan, 'Ashad Ka Ek Din'(1971) remains his esoteric masterpiece.
Mani Kaul's Kalidas is a misanthrope and emotionally distant character who has a profound love for Mallika. He takes refuge in the nature devoid of any human connection only to be found by a wounded fawn; whom he brings to Mallika because he knows that she understands him. His irony is he fails to understand her as a woman . We have all read about Kalidas as this literary genius who is God gifted , Mani Kaul has achieved to cement Kalidas beyond his works as a man of flesh and blood in our imagination.
Ambika warns her daughter Mallika of the inevitable consequences of her unadulterated love for Kalidas. She could not fathom the notion of her own daughter making herself worn out for another man's capricious pursuit. What Ambika fails to understand that Mallika is the very force of nature who propels every stroke of creation of Kalidas. Mallika loves Kalidas with her whole heart; even though her spirit withers with his subsequent creation.
When representatives from kingdom of Ujjain came to honour Kalidas , he refuses to go with them as he felt no honour is above his body of work, which is beautifully emphasized by Mallika to the foster Uncle of Kalidas , who was upset because of the denial of Kalidas. Mallika's persuasion of Kalidas going to Ujjain speaks volumes of her altruistic love for Kalidas .
Kalidas returns to his roots some years later , but as Matrugupt . His capricious mind could not gather courage to face Mallika , hence sends his wife who is a princess of the Ujjain Kingdom to her . She promises Mallika riches, rehabilitation of the house and the prospect of marriage to one of her chaperone to which Ambika seems enthusiastic ; Mallika refuses all offers with grace . For her they are nothing but outlandish display of status, which can never compensate her longing for Kalidas.
' Aashad Ka Ek Din' is a textbook of Staging. Contemporary filmmakers of Small and Big Screen take numerous POV shots of the actors to create Mise en scene . One can create Mise en scene without focusing on the actors face every time he/she tells a dialogue. 'Aashad Ka Ek Din' is a testament to that. A scene among Kalidas , Mallika and Arya Bilom is a perfect example of how to stage actors to heighten dramatic need. The whole movie is shot in one room, but it never feels claustrophobic. That is the power of cinema.
After several years, Kalidas meets Mallika, discerning the capacity of bureaucracy to rot creativity, only to realise Mallika has created her masterpiece with the torments of her longing for him. Although she never stopped longing for him; she has embraced life in different dimensions. Kalidas in the penultimate scene says to Mallika "Time is the most powerful, because it waits for none." Has Mallika moved on with her life while Kalidas was busy craving her in his creation?
A Review by Amattasiri Jena
A Review by Amattasiri Jena