'S A H I B B I BI A U R G H U L AM' (1962)
Guru Dutt ji's 'Bhootnath' and Meena Kumari ji's 'Choti Bahu' together in this film make the best platonic relationship ever! Much more so than my extremely favourite Bill Murray's 'Bob Harris' and Scarlett Johansson's 'Charlotte'. To be honest there is no comparison between these friendships but I thought Id mention it because I love that film too!
Bhootnath is mesmerized by Choti Bahu the first time he saw her; much like us the audience would have in general I imagine! At least I was!
At my tender age of almost hopefully half my life, I finally watched this great classic of a film and it blew my mind! It literally blew my mind. The crap experience I had after 'Shamshera', I needed to restore my mental balance and faith in cinema. And this film did just that!
I cannot emphasize enough how good Meena Kumari ji and Waheed Rehman ji were and to almost an equal extent the late great Guru Dutt Saheb. What a wonderful film!!!! What a super wonderful film!!!! I found myself rewinding a few scenes a few times just to watch them, experience them, enjoy them again!
Meena Kumari ji were outstanding with her 'love-lorn' perofance. The only other two similar performances by Indian female actors I can remember were Late Smita Patil ji in 'Bhumika'and Rekha ji in 'Umrao Jaan'! But Meena ji's performance is far more superior and impressive keeping in mind the period this film was made. 1962!
Her's can be taken as one of the most impressive, deep, heartfelt, honest, realistic and touching performance by any Indian actor. Every expression, every ada, every single utterance of her's felt real and directly from the the deepest emotional depth. Her pain and agony and angst was the most realistic portrayal by any female actor ever I would say! She was just freaking brilliant!
Then there is the oh-so-super-lovely-young-fresh-breezy-sweet Waheed Rehman ji! Her appearance, her simple, mere presence on screen has a gravitation effect; she just grabs your eye balls and force you to just look at her, stare at her, watch her perform! I don't there would have been then or now or even in future who wouldn't fall in love with her and her character. She is spunky and bright, cheerful and teasing, genuine and honest! She is young at heart and mature in mind! What a lovely combination! She was, is also bloody awesome, awesome in this film!
And there is the character 'Bhootnath' played amazingly by Guru Dutt saheb! Honestly there were times when I felt he was over acting. But then again that was there makers' idea of how to show the character's naivety and innocence. He did it so beautifully! I won't say I was blown away with his performance but it is nothing short of a masterpiece. He was somewhat consistent but overall managed to stay true to the graph of his character.
One has to make, must make and inclusion, a mention of the great cinematography and lighting by the DOP V. K. Murthy ji and the at time the sweet, crisp, brilliant editing by Y. G. Chawan ji.
There are a couple of things about the story, narrative and the screenplay I would have left out but it is what it is! And I think this is gem of a film! It is cinema at its best! As they the heart, the mind and soul, the film touches all! I was left in tears and with sadness at the end revelation of the film!
Meena Kumari ji was indeed rightly known as the Tragedy Queen of Indian cinema and this film proves it 2000%!
My ratings: 8/10 ******** Must Watch for anyone who loves cinema, stories and meaningfulness in life!
Guru Dutt ji's 'Bhootnath' and Meena Kumari ji's 'Choti Bahu' together in this film make the best platonic relationship ever! Much more so than my extremely favourite Bill Murray's 'Bob Harris' and Scarlett Johansson's 'Charlotte'. To be honest there is no comparison between these friendships but I thought Id mention it because I love that film too!
Bhootnath is mesmerized by Choti Bahu the first time he saw her; much like us the audience would have in general I imagine! At least I was!
At my tender age of almost hopefully half my life, I finally watched this great classic of a film and it blew my mind! It literally blew my mind. The crap experience I had after 'Shamshera', I needed to restore my mental balance and faith in cinema. And this film did just that!
I cannot emphasize enough how good Meena Kumari ji and Waheed Rehman ji were and to almost an equal extent the late great Guru Dutt Saheb. What a wonderful film!!!! What a super wonderful film!!!! I found myself rewinding a few scenes a few times just to watch them, experience them, enjoy them again!
Meena Kumari ji were outstanding with her 'love-lorn' perofance. The only other two similar performances by Indian female actors I can remember were Late Smita Patil ji in 'Bhumika'and Rekha ji in 'Umrao Jaan'! But Meena ji's performance is far more superior and impressive keeping in mind the period this film was made. 1962!
Her's can be taken as one of the most impressive, deep, heartfelt, honest, realistic and touching performance by any Indian actor. Every expression, every ada, every single utterance of her's felt real and directly from the the deepest emotional depth. Her pain and agony and angst was the most realistic portrayal by any female actor ever I would say! She was just freaking brilliant!
Then there is the oh-so-super-lovely-young-fresh-breezy-sweet Waheed Rehman ji! Her appearance, her simple, mere presence on screen has a gravitation effect; she just grabs your eye balls and force you to just look at her, stare at her, watch her perform! I don't there would have been then or now or even in future who wouldn't fall in love with her and her character. She is spunky and bright, cheerful and teasing, genuine and honest! She is young at heart and mature in mind! What a lovely combination! She was, is also bloody awesome, awesome in this film!
And there is the character 'Bhootnath' played amazingly by Guru Dutt saheb! Honestly there were times when I felt he was over acting. But then again that was there makers' idea of how to show the character's naivety and innocence. He did it so beautifully! I won't say I was blown away with his performance but it is nothing short of a masterpiece. He was somewhat consistent but overall managed to stay true to the graph of his character.
One has to make, must make and inclusion, a mention of the great cinematography and lighting by the DOP V. K. Murthy ji and the at time the sweet, crisp, brilliant editing by Y. G. Chawan ji.
There are a couple of things about the story, narrative and the screenplay I would have left out but it is what it is! And I think this is gem of a film! It is cinema at its best! As they the heart, the mind and soul, the film touches all! I was left in tears and with sadness at the end revelation of the film!
Meena Kumari ji was indeed rightly known as the Tragedy Queen of Indian cinema and this film proves it 2000%!
My ratings: 8/10 ******** Must Watch for anyone who loves cinema, stories and meaningfulness in life!