Feminism of yore (Khushboo)

Given Gulzar's sensitive approach, it is but obvious that his handling of a proud woman's emotions would be different. And Khushboo does not disappoint on that count. No matter how sorrowful her life is, Kusum does not sacrifice her dignity and pride to attain happiness. She abstains from grovelling in self-pity and shuns any kind of sympathy from the world. Simply because she feels honoured to address her rights and expects her dear ones to acknowledge that. This is a girl who is strong, dignified and fiesty, yet sober, mature and loving. It is this Kusum who will grab your attention in Khushboo...
Kusum's character becomes even more attractive when it is juxtaposed against Brindavan. This 1975 love story is an unusual story set in a rustic backdrop. With a whiff of the soil, the execution is supremely subtle and pleasing to the eye. No loud characters, no garish costumes and dialogues that we can relate to completely. An engaging tale, it is even more noteworthy for the melee of strong female characters and an absolutely unique plot. And of course RD Burman's fresh music.

Kusum (Hema Malini) lives in Siddipur with her elder brother Kunj (Asrani), who sells toys. She looks after an elderly woman who suddenly falls ill. A medical practitioner called Brindavan (Jeetendra) is called from the neighbouring village of Badalgaon to treat her. Kusum is startled to learn the name of the doctor. Events reveal that as a young girl Kusum was bethrothed to Brindavan but a nasty property dispute separated the young souls. Despite several attempts by Kusum's mother (Leela Mishra) to convince Brindavan's father to accept Kusum, the marriage does not happen. Brindavan's family leave for the city. After many years they return to Badalgaon but now Brindavan is already married and has a son named Charan. (See Sarika as the young Kali here).

Being the village simpleton that she is (and also the woman who truly loves Brindavan), Kusum never marries because she has always seen herself as Brindavan's wife. She keeps waiting for him hoping that one day he will come and take her away. So, understandably she is very hurt to know that he is already married and has a son. But, soon she also gets the news that Brindavan is a widower. By a chain of events she meets Charan and eggs him to call her mother. Brindavan too, gets to know that Kusum is in fact Kutni, the girl he was engaged to, as a young boy. He tells his mother (Durga Khote) that the past should be buried and he should get married to Kusum now. That way, Kusum will get her due.

Khote meets Kunj and tells him that Brindavan should get married to Kusum, who is still a spinster. This agitates Kusum, for she is irked by the fact that Brindavan's family is sort of, treating her with sympathy and not much of love or respect. The situation worsens when Khote hands over two gold bangles to Kusum as an engagement gift without telling her clearly that they are now happy about the marriage. Khote carelessly tells her that initially she had to act according to her husband's wishes and now she has to bend before her son's likes. This angers Kusum. She returns the bangles and cries before her dear friend Manorama (Farida Jalal) that she is no beggar that Brindavan's family is giving her alms. They should not be treating her in such a nonchalant way. And moreover, Brindavan should be the one telling his mother that he wants Kusum as his wife, for he loves her, and not mere social service. In fact, he should not be leaving everything on the old lady.

A subtle power battle ensues between these individuals. Kusum's pride is hurt, Khote's ego takes a beating and Brindavan suffers from a dilemma as to how to tackle situations. In the meantime Kusum grows very close to Charan, Manu gets married as well as widowed and Badalgaon wilts under the grip of a ghastly plague.

Kusum is also unnerved that Brindavan did not love her enough. Why else would he marry another girl. But then when she hears about the circumstances that lead to his marriage with Kamla (an awesome guest appearance by Sharmila Tagore) she does not grudge the decision. She is all ready to accept him as her husband. Only if he is strong enough to make her his own with dignity.

I'm not sure why Gulzar's Brindavan is so weak. When he could take a sudden decision to marry a desolate girl like Kamla, what stops him from openly admitting to his mother that he loves Kusum? Why does he not say loudly that she deserves to be loved and respected? Why can't he be firm with his mother when she slights the alliance just because her ego is hurt? And, why is he so flaky when it comes to making decisions and keeping words? An educated individual, Brindavan is a responsible and talented doctor who is always saving lives. True, there are misunderstandings galore between him and Kusum, sometimes for his own doings and sometimes due to unforseen circumstances. But, why should I not be angry with him for being so meak and spineless. I almost feel that Kusum was crazy to wait for him. Even in the last scene he tells Kusum, "Hope I would be given another chance to come and take you."How many chances do you need, Mister? Even your little son realises that it takes one pinch of vermillion to convince Kusum, something that does not occur to you... How exasperating!!!

I liked Jeetendra as Brindavan (just his acting, not his character, I repeat). He was understated and simple. Why didn't he stick to such roles in his career, I still cannot gauge. As a hardworking village doctor, in a severe predicament regarding matters of the heart (O majhi rey by Kishore Kumar bears testimony to that), Jeetendra's performance was convincing. Much better than his commercial 'Jumping Jack' avatar!

The real lovable male character in Khushboo was Asrani's Kunj. Playing a loving and doting brother, Kunj shows how true love means sacrifices. Devoid of his signature gags, Asrani's performance was really blemish-free. Really heartening...

As mentioned before, Khushboo's women hog the limelight. Like Farida Jala, the ebullient village belle Manorama. Super excited about her marriage, she has no qualms in meeting her would-be-husband Birju on the sly. She giggles with excitement on the prospect of the rendezvous and at the same time is a dear friend to Kusum. She understands Kusum's sorrow and feels happy for her when Kusum is almost sure that Brindavan will take her away. Jalal looks so pretty in Bechara dil kya karein, a joyful track sung wonderfully by Asha Bhonsle. It is Gulzar's finesse that comes into play when he shows this same bubbly girl struck with grief when just after her marriage her husband dies of the plague. Shocking turn of events...

Notwithstanding its strong supporting cast, Khushboo is what it is for Kusum, portrayed to perfection by Hema Malini. With hardly any makeup, she is the epitome of beauty. But her beauty is simple, innocent yet elegant. In plain cotton sarees, she is oh-so-gorgeous sans makeup. She is sheer delight for the senses. And, she is not just looks, it is her subtle performance that is spectacular.

Kusum has immense pride and belief in her love for Brindavan. But, she does not wish for sympathy in return. When she realises that she is being accepted by Khote not because she is the rightful owner of the place but because the latter is feeling sorry for her, she shuns the alliance. She is believer of her rights. Do we see a flicker of feminism in Gulzar's tale? Maybe not the bra-burning type, but surely a more latent projection of it.

Kusum firmly holds that Brindavan should stand up for their relation. When Brindavan tells her that her negating the alliance has hurt his mother, she is brave enough to tell him that it is high time he thinks about how she felt! Great going girl!

Kusum keeps exercising her rights towards Brindavan. She does not let him spend his nights in Badalgaon because it is hit by plague (surely she loves him). In return she just expects him to take her to his house as his lawfully wedded wife. Surely one cannot expect her to go to her husband's house with a servant he sends (no matter how busy he is)! I can gauge her pain when Brindavan's servant comes to take Charan and feeling insulted Kusum decides to stay back again. This after she was happy the previous night expecting a blissful union and singing Ghar jayegi (Lata Mangeshkar).

The best is kept for the last when she very pointedly tells Brindavan (for me, the loser by now) that if he would have been brave and loved her enough he would have exercised his rights, respected her stand, shattered her pride and taken her home. But surely, Brindavan is not man enough for that. Or rather, not man enough for this strong and intelligent woman...