Mesmerising Meena (Sahib Bibi aur Ghulam)

I'm upset. In a documentary, aired yesterday, featuring onscreen beauties of the past few decades, a mention of Meena Kumari was conspicuous by its absence. In the 50s, Kumari was a sought-after actor. Her beauty was legendary, her performances superlative. Dexterously handling a variety of roles, Kumari proved that she was definitely bankable. And, those docu-makers turned a blind eye to such an enigmatic personality! What were they thinking? Or not thinking, to be precise...
Miffed sufficiently, I rummaged through my collection to fish out a Meena Kumari classic. Sahib Bibi aur Ghulam surfaced. An attempt to explore the mysticism and passion that Kumari portrayed in this 1962 Abrar Alvi classic, a perfect balm! Though we could launch an endless debate on the immaculate portrayal of the decadence of feudalism in Bengal in the late 19th century, my mind focussed on the enigma called Chhoti Bahu, Meena Kumari's best peformance ever.
Based on Bimal Mitra's novel of the same name, this is a fascinating mood movie made by people gifted with acute sensitivity. While Alvi's direction is superb, he had the able assistance of Guru Dutt (the producer) to ensure that the final product was a masterpiece. There is a controversy regarding whether Dutt ghost-directed his protege's film. But on that, we'll deliberate some other day. The nostalgic and poignant drama is peppered with a fabulous score by Hemant Kumar, giving us path-breaking songs by Asha Bhonsle and Geeta Dutt. In the opening credits, there is a mention of Kumar as the male playback singer. In a film that has no songs lipsynced by a male, that looks like a silly mistake!! Whatever...
The film seduces you from the very first frame. A middle-aged architect, Atulya Charkaborty (Guru Dutt), is overseeing the works at a dilapidated old haveli. The eerie fact that he has been to the place before sets him reminiscing. To the haunting strains of Koi door se awaaz de, this architect flashbacks to the haveli's halcyon days.
Here he is Bhootnath, a village simpleton who has just come to this haveli to his relative. He is ignorant of city life and its pushy ways. He is extremely gullible, but good-natured. He gets a job at the nearby Mohini Sindoor factory, where he is attracted to his employer's daughter, Jaba (Waheeda Rehman).
But, back to the haveli, he is drawn to Chhoti Bahu, as he feels for her sorry condition. She is married to the youngest zamindar of the palace, who is disinterested in his wife and seeks entertainment at brothels from the enticing nautch girls (a done thing the Babus those days). He spends his days and nights in a drunken stupor and neglects his wife. Bhootnath discovers that Chhoti Bahu is a very beautiful but a very lonely woman. She requests him to bring her a box of Mohini sindoor that she thinks has magical properties. She believes its application will help her garner the love of her estranged husband. But...
Bhootnath and Chhoti Bahu come close, and if I may say, form a platonic relationship of understanding and trust. This enables Bhootnath to see the life of Chhoti Bahu through her perspective, the life she is doomed to live.
The film has Meena Kumari as its magnetic centre. She plays the complex, flawed but spirited Chhoti Bahu. She is the stunning wife in a feudal era who chafes at the bonds constricting her. She eventually crumbles due to a hopeless love and a debilitating addiction, but depicts that there can be dignity even in desperation.
Meena Kumari is a cinematographer's delight. The first scene where we are introduced to Chhoti Bahu, the camera moves from her feet to her face. Her feet are like the lotus, painted with aalta (traditional red paint that is used to decorate a bride's feet) and embellished with the payal. Then the camera moves to her face...sigh...
She is a beautiful vision, an ethereal charm, her eyes will invigorate like the madeira. Resplendant in a benarasi silk and gold jewellery, Meena Kumari is what dreams are made of... Her voice has that soft yet exciting pitch and her smile has the allure that lovers swear by...
In the song Pia aiso jia mein, Geeta Dutt suffuses a kind of deliciousness in her voice. Getting all dressed up to meet her husband, she is the epitomy of grace. The song is a poignant exploration of a woman's expectations and sexual desire. With the sindoor on her hair parting and a big bindi on her fair forehead, she looks like a devi. When those curly ringlets envelope her perfectly oval face, you can't take your eyes off her...Fascinating!
If this song has an heavy undertone of desire, Na jao saaiya is a signature of sadness and desperation. The scene where Chhoti Bahu is forced to drink alcohol by her cruel husband, played impeccably by Rehman, is the most heartwrenching. She gasps, stroking her neck, tortured by the burning sensation that the spirit hits her with, we empathise with this divine woman as she unwillingly walks down the aisle to her end.
And then, the musical masterpiece. Never ever had an inebriated woman looked so enchanting. Kumari's disheveled hair accentuate her perfectly melancholic face. Her eyes, mirroring her tormented heart, are absolutely intoxicating... When she sings, "Jo humse nazrey chura rahe ho, to hamari itni araj bhi sunlo", you can relate to her plea. She has almost given up her life and honour for this indifferent man. Is a little bit of attention and love too much to expect?
Even after that humungous moral sacrifice for the sake of getting some attention and affection from her husband, Chhoti Bahu is left alone. Rehman is bored of his gorgeous wife's company. It is then that you see the lovely wife transform into a ranting tigress accusing her husband for her misfortune and barren life. She angrily tells him how she has prostituted her basic values and morals to please him...
In the last few sequences where we see the haveli shorn of its majesticity and regal aura, Meena Kumari is a representation of the destruction that is about to hit the zamindar family. Instead of her rich attires, she is wearing plain sarees. Most of her shiny ornaments are gone. She has to barter her bangle for alcohol...
V.K Murthy's cinematography is astounding. Note how Minoo Mumtaz is bathed in light while the dancing girls stay cloaked in shadow in the song Saqiya aaj mujhey. Astute art direction create the period atmosphere in an authentic manner. Rival zamindars exhort their pigeons to fight each other while freedom fighters battle the British. The shallowness of the zamindars's lives could not have been underlined better.
Now coming to Guru Dutt. The most fascinating aspect of this fluidly-narrated film is the bonding between Bhootnath and Chhoti Bahu. Replete with emotional highs, the nature of their ambiguous relationship is subject to interpretations. Bhootnath's feelings for his Chhoti Bahu often give rise to a stab of jealousy in Jaba's heart. For, she is not able to comprehend the relationship in a clear light. Bhootnath's transformation, though subtle, from an apprehensive simpleton to a stronger person, happens through his interactions with Chhoti Bahu. He ultimately musters up the courage to jolt her into realising that she should not drink. But, he is too stunned with her scathing remark, "Tu ne mujhey haat lagaya, ek paraya stree ko haath lagaya..." Though totally considerate of her sacrifice, Bhootnath's respect for this woman is a tad dimmed... He realises that her end, though slow, is inevitable now...
Jaba, Bhootnath's sweetheart, is the naughty and mirthful contrast to Chhoti Bahu's dejection. In the song Bhavra bada nadaan hain, she teases her prospective lover. She playfully fights with him, knowing that he is too meek to talk back, but in her heart she is already smitten. She is the one who eggs him on to realise that he too loves her. Initially a bit rude, Jaba softens once she meets her match in the now wise Bhootnath. She sings another lovely melancholic number, Kuch baat rahi mere man ki...Awesome music!!
I read some trivia regarding Sahib Bibi aur Ghulam. Guru Dutt often toyed with the idea is introducing Biswajit into Hindi films as Bhootnath. Thank God, good sense prevailed...
Also, Waheeda Rehman wanted to play Chhoti Bahu. But Guru Dutt was adamant and cast Meena Kumari in the role. For, he said that Waheeda was too young for the role. Don't know about that. But, without Meena Kumari as Chhoti Bahu, Sahib Bibi aur Ghulam would have been empty and half-hearted. Almost like aam ras without the essential sugar...