4/5 Stars
‘Anand’, the film, is about hope in despair,
about finding trust in travesty, about finding life in death. Rajesh Khanna
gives one of his career-best performances in this ‘fun-filled’ tragedy of a man
who lives his life to the fullest despite death looming nearer. The film also
marks the emergence of Amitabh Bachchan as an actor to reckon with.
Rajesh Khanna passed away last week leaving
behind a legacy of unforgettable films. ‘Anand’ remains an important part of
his filmography. It not only shows how to die, but teaches us about how to
live!
Anand Saigal (Rajesh Khanna), a young man from
Delhi is suffering from a terminal disease (lymphosarcoma of the intestine) and
doesn’t have much time left to live. He comes to Bombay (now Mumbai) to meet
his friend Doctor Prakash Kulkarni (Ramesh Deo) to live his last days as well
as to get treated for his disease. Doctor Bhaskar K. Banerjee (Amitabh
Bachchan) is given Anand’s responsibility. Upon their very first meeting, Anand
blows the duo away with his spirited, fun-filled demeanour. Just like the two
doctors, even Prakash’s wife Suman (Seema Deo), Matron D’Sa (Lalita Pawar),
Bhaskar’s love interest Renu (Sumita Sanyal) are distraught after learning
about Anand’s condition. They feel even more helpless after encountering his
friendly behaviour and pleasant personality.
Anand and Bhaskar forge a wonderful friendship.
Anand is willing to help each and everyone around him. However, he doesn’t
believe in sharing his own pains in life with anyone. Being extremely talkative
by nature, Anand cannot bear being confined to the four walls of his hospital
room and runs away to stay with his much-adored ‘Babu Moshai’ Bhaskar.
The film was made in the year 1971 yet; it
still is immensely entertaining and relevant even in today’s times. Watching
Rajesh Khanna (who passed away last week) in his elements as the sprightly,
fun-loving and ever-so-enduring Anand lifts your spirits. Watching him die
on-screen which has been a cinematic marvel for years suddenly becomes
melancholic following his death.
The dialogue ‘Zindagi Badi Honi Chahiye, Lambi Nahin’ has remained a memorable
dialogue across decades. The line brings about vivid emotions within you. It is
indeed heart-wrenching to hear this line from a dying man. Other instances,
where Rajesh Khanna shares his ideas about life, love and death with Amitabh
Bachchan are touching, and brilliantly performed.
Rajesh Khanna was going through a purple patch,
career wise, during that time period and the glow on his face, the confidence
in his body language showed. Amitabh Bachchan gives a sedate performance as
Doctor Bhaskar. The final scene of the film, where he weeps on Anand’s dead
body, is excellently performed by Bachchan. Considering that the film was made
at a time when Bachchan was only beginning his career, shows that he had it in
him to be the next big ‘superstar’ after Rajesh Khanna.
Salil Choudhury, the music director has given
memorable numbers in ‘Zindagi Kaisi Hai
Paheli Haaye’, ‘Maine Tere Liye Hi
Saat Rang Ke Sapne’. Singers such as Manna Dey, Mukesh and Lata Mangeshkar lend their
voices in this simple four-song soundtrack.
The writing by stalwarts including Hrishikesh
Mukherjee, Gulzar, D.N.Mukherjee and Bimal Dutta, was exceptional. The story is
a simple one, a man, who knows he is going to die, refuses to give up on life.
However, the dialogues (Gulzar) strike a chord and make this simple story a
great one.
The director (Hrishikesh Mukherjee) extracts stupendous
performances from his leading men Amitabh Bachchan and Rajesh Khanna. Even the
supporting leads Ramesh Deo, Seema Deo, Sumita Sanyal and Lalita Pawar tailor
into the story seamlessly. One of the most significant scenes in the film comes
when Anand wants to record Bhaskar’s voice in his tape recorder but
deliberately takes time to speak so that he can create a lull period in between
(knowing fully well that the tape will be played when he dies).
Another important scene that plays out during
the film is when Rajesh Khanna approaches a pehelwan
Dara Singh to thrash a few eve-teasing goons. It was touching to see the
two great recently-deceased stars share the frame together.
It is these little moments that makes the film
so memorable and a classic, in the truest sense of the word. Hrishikesh
Mukherjee excellently conceives, writes and directs this wonderful film. (First Posted in MSN)
Shivom Oza
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